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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think she's in the UK

358 replies

Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 20:58

Anyone who has a bit of tech knowledge greatly appreciated here....

My friend is abroad. Been there since Weds due back tomorrow morning. I've called her mobile a couple of times, got the international dial tone, as per normal.

Today, called at lunch. International tone still. She's told me again she's flying back in the morning. I called her just now to double check flight time and it's ringing with a standard UK ringtone like the phone is in the UK?

Does this mean she's in the UK now? She's a really good long term friend with no reason at all to fib. There's literally no reason why she'd tell me she was back tomorrow morning instead of tonight (it's like 14hrs difference) so can this happen by accident? Google is not helping.

I know she's on EE. Could the phone have picked up a UK network out there (Cyprus) and that's why the dial tone has changed this evening.

I hope this is a common occurrence with phones, I'm just a bit "hmmmmm" because since it's rung like it's in the UK she hasn't read my WhatsApps or returned the call.

Please tell me you've had experience of this to put my mind at ease. I know it's really none of my business at the end of the day, but I'd like to know if she could still be legitimately out there and it's just the phone playing silly buggers.

Thank you in advance...

OP posts:
LadyGuffers · 09/11/2019 20:59

Not much of a friend if you don't believe her...

babysnowman · 09/11/2019 21:01

I don't understand, are you worried about her or something?

theboxfamilytree · 09/11/2019 21:01

Are you ok?

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/11/2019 21:02

Why do you need to know? Why does it make a difference when she’s back?

Lj8893 · 09/11/2019 21:02

Why do you keep ringing her?

Anotherlongdrive · 09/11/2019 21:03

Maybe she had to fly back early?

Do you stress this much usually? Or expect a high leve of contact?

Original poster
Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 21:03

Oh and if it's relevant...

Last contact was 6pm, she sent a smiley face, I replied with one, it delivered straight away on WhatsApp (albeit still unread), so it's unlikely she could have been in the air, or it wouldn't have delivered... unless of course the plane had WiFi...

OP posts:
StateOfMind · 09/11/2019 21:03

Why is this so important to you?

MrsAJ27 · 09/11/2019 21:03

I have experienced this

Why don't you trust your friend?

Original poster
Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 21:04

"I know it's really none of my business at the end of the day, but I'd like to know if she could still be legitimately out there and it's just the phone playing silly buggers.*

I thought this might eliminate the predictable "but why is it your business" responses. Alas no Hmm

Anyone actually know the technical answer if it's possible, which is all I'm interested in...

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 09/11/2019 21:04

Why does it matter?

That’s a lot of contact with a friend.

midnightmisssuki · 09/11/2019 21:05

Errrr wtf?! Confused

Anotherlongdrive · 09/11/2019 21:05

Of course it would deliver mid flight.

I talk to my best friend at least twice a day. But when she is away, I just leave her too it.

This all seems very intense. Cant imagine checking if she was coming back when she said she was.

UrsulaPandress · 09/11/2019 21:05

No it’s not.

1Morewineplease · 09/11/2019 21:05

Maybe she’s back in the UK already but doesn’t want to take your calls.
Why would you keep wanting to phone someone who’s abroad on holiday?

zippyswife · 09/11/2019 21:05

Weird

malmi · 09/11/2019 21:06

The ringing tone is generated by the network. When roaming callers may hear the UK or the foreign ringing tone.

Sparklyring · 09/11/2019 21:06

You sound very intense as a friend

Anotherlongdrive · 09/11/2019 21:06

Maybe try one of the more tech based boards?

TrickyKid · 09/11/2019 21:06

I don't understand why it's so important you know where she is, there must be more to this otherwise you sound very intense.

thetardis · 09/11/2019 21:07

not so much a friend as a stalker...

theboxfamilytree · 09/11/2019 21:07

You sound like a stalker not a friend.

littlehappyhippo · 09/11/2019 21:08

You could be right.

Some 7 years ago, someone I knew, said she and her DP were going to Southern Italy for 2 weeks in June. She texted me - 3 days in - saying it's so beautiful and the journey was smooth and enjoyable.

Yet when I texted her back (PAYG phone,) the 11 word text of mine cost just 10 pence. The cost of an inland text. Then I rang her phone and it just gave the 'UK ringtone' dialling tone. She didn't answer and it went to voicemail.

She came back (from Italy) Wink ... 2 weeks later, and didn't have a single bit of suntan - nor her DP didn't - even though the temperature had been 30 C (86-87 F) the whole time, with not a single drop of rain! I never saw any photos either, as she kept forgetting to show them to me. Wink

I think it's safe to say she and her DP probably went to North Wales, where HIS half brother lives.

midnightmisssuki · 09/11/2019 21:09

Technically - no, or I don’t think so anyway. She’s probably in the UK, and hasn’t told you, or came back early and had things to do. Typically you’ll only get a uk ring tone if your in the UK. I haven’t had my phone on while in flight so can’t tell you if the ring tones are the same if she gets a signal. You can turn your airplane mode on and read a message and it won’t show as being read, if her phone is on mid-flight and she has WiFi it’ll show as delivered. Please also for gods sake don’t quiz her on it - she’ll think your a bit off.

TabbyMumz · 09/11/2019 21:10

Yes I agree. Give her some space. You sound heavily invested.