Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
smemorata · 09/11/2019 21:26

Actually I am abroad and when I phone my parents in the UK I sometimes get a UK tone and sometimes a foreign tone so it is possible.

Dollymixture22 · 09/11/2019 21:26

Phone might be switched off.

I know you are getting angry but you do sound obsessive.

If her parents can’t collect her I am sure they will contact her, it’s not your responsibility.

Whatever you have seen at her house will have to wait till she is home.

Take a beep breath and think about why you are so worked up about this. Is it a romantic relationship? Do you think she is in you? Do you think you might be controlling her?

If you were a man you would be getting much stronger responses here.

Celebelly · 09/11/2019 21:26

Why wouldn't you just assume technological weirdness v presumably a trusted friend concealing things from you? Confused

museumum · 09/11/2019 21:26

What if it’s on WiFi calling with no mobile data? What would the ringtone do then?

EpcotForever · 09/11/2019 21:27

If you are looking after her home, or even keeping an eye out wouldn't you know if she's back?

LipSyncForYourLife · 09/11/2019 21:27

You rearranged all her furniture didn’t you. I’ll bet you’re wearing her slippers.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 09/11/2019 21:27

WiFi on planes exists of course but you normally have to pay to access it and I can't imagine why anyone apart from business travellers would do so, particularly on a short haul flight.

I often get WiFi added to my ticket as a frequent flyer thing. I'm not even a very frequent flyer Grin And if I don't, I buy it. I'm self employed so can work and claim if as a business cost but I probably would even if I wasn't if I'm honest!

If her phone is roaming, she could get a UK tone but be abroad. But if you've been calling her often and this is the only time it's been a UK tone, it's probably more likely that she's home.

Wait for her to contact you? Must be a weird feeling though.

museumum · 09/11/2019 21:28

Or most likely it’s totally switched off. If so the network won’t know if she’s abroad or not surely?

Lizzie0869 · 09/11/2019 21:28

Why don't you send her a text for once, telling her what you've seen? Just because you're not testers isn't a reason not to text on this occasion. You can also ask if she still needs to be picked up from the airport. If she does, she'll definitely let you know!

Teachermaths · 09/11/2019 21:28

WTF.

Why do you need childcare to pick her up? Just take the kids.

You sound a bit stalker ish.

Nicknacky · 09/11/2019 21:29

Why would she lie to you?

Dollymixture22 · 09/11/2019 21:30

I am a bit worried now what OP has seen😂 does she even know this for end, has she broken into the house, assumed her identity😂😂😂

Lizzie0869 · 09/11/2019 21:31

Maybe assume that her parents are picking her up if she hasn't been in touch. You could also call them? Either way, why would you think she's lying?

Original poster
Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 21:31

It does sound to me like she's back.

But she wants picking up? How will she get around that? How weird

Exactly this.

She's called twice today (before lunch) to ask me to pick up a couple of bits for her while I was out shopping. I called back. International tone. She's had a lovely time, flying back in the morning, her parents might not be able to pick her up now, any chance I could. She's done the same for me in the past, of course I can, let me just see if I can sort childcare as DS back in the morning and he doesn't need a 5hr round trip to the airport and back.

Roll forward to this evening. I need to check what time her flight gets in tomorrow. I call. UK ringtone. No response from her since.

As it's Cyprus, she could be near a military base I think? Someone's mentioned that might affect it?

OP posts:
PlayingInTheShadows · 09/11/2019 21:31

Just a thought... Obviously most phones can do Wi-Fi calling this is supposed to improve the quality of a call, i wonder if your friend is on a Wi-Fi network with Wi-Fi calling so it does a different dial tone as it would be an internet call rather than a traditional 'line' call?

DialsMavis · 09/11/2019 21:32

My BIL's phone has had a British dial tone when he was most definitely in Missouri, we got very excited he had come over for family wedding to surprise us, but it was just a wierd glitch
That was a US mobile, no idea how it happened

theboxfamilytree · 09/11/2019 21:33

You only hear the "foreign" ringing tone once your call has connected to a foreign network. If the phone is switched off that doesn't occur so you only hear the UK ringing tone.

charactersonclothesaretrashy · 09/11/2019 21:33

It sounds as though you are stalking your friend op. Maybe she needs a break from you and so haven't been in touch?

DianaT1969 · 09/11/2019 21:34

Does she know you're watching her house?
I was about to make a joke that you should get binoculars and drive by her house regularly, when you posted "I'm watching her house.."Grin

Time to relax on this friendship IMO. "Hi friend, can you pick us up from the airport tomorrow? Mum & Dad can't make it'" "Ah no, sorry I can't. No time to sort childcare'. They get a train/coach/taxi. Job done.

NerdyCurvyInkedandPervy · 09/11/2019 21:34

There's different call sounds for different places? Eh?

Is a ring not just a ring?

WombleishofTheThighs · 09/11/2019 21:36

You rearranged all her furniture didn’t you. I’ll bet you’re wearing her slippers.

Lipsync Grin

UrsulaPandress · 09/11/2019 21:36

What response did you want?

SirVixofVixHall · 09/11/2019 21:36

Agree that her telephone is switched off /out of power. When she charges it or switches it on again you will get the other tone.

Northernsoullover · 09/11/2019 21:38

A phone often rings with a UK sound. I phone my parents in Spain a lot. I rarely hear the international tone.

Sagradafamiliar · 09/11/2019 21:38

Picking her up doesn't really sound convenient for yo, you shouldn't be arranging children especially when you're already doing her a favour housesitting.