Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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:
ffswhatnext · 09/11/2019 22:37

Maybe she lied to get an extra day of tranquillity. Sometimes I really don't blame people for this.

over50andfab · 09/11/2019 22:37

“What the chuffety-fuck does an international ringtone sound like??? Ju suis a la ring ring? Soy ring ring? Ich bein ring ring?”

Pmsl..well the English ring tone is bring bring, whereas the international one is briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing. [pedant point- It’s “ich bin” 😁]

OP I’m sorry you’ve come in for a lot of stick - blame it on Saturday night, some MNetters just having a bit of fun, and others being predictably goady. I really don’t know the answer to your question, but a quick google tells me that depending on how the call is routed you might get a U.K. dial tone.

HTH.

Wauden · 09/11/2019 22:38

I'm a bit confused about the date in London bit.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 09/11/2019 22:40

Hmmm, i'm getting a bit suspicious now

She hasn't given me details, just called me earlier to ask please can I pick her up tomorrow.

She phoned you from Cyprus to ask you to pick her up from the airport but didn't tell you what time to be picked up?????

I called back to check the specific flight time,

I thought you called her to tell her you'd seen something at her house?

Can't you see why your thread seems odd?

Lizzie0869 · 09/11/2019 22:41

It really would be better to text her via WhatsApp. That way you'll also get to know whether she's actually been online and seen the message. Then she can text you back at her convenience.

Original poster
Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 22:44

I thought you called her to tell her you'd seen something at her house?

I quite clearly say both this, and to confirm fight times. Why pretend you can only read half of what's been written?

She phoned you from Cyprus to ask you to pick her up from the airport but didn't tell you what time to be picked up

Correct. "Lunchtime" was the phrase I think she used.

OP posts:
Original poster
Courtney555 · 09/11/2019 22:45

It really would be better to text her via WhatsApp. That way you'll also get to know whether she's actually been online and seen the message. Then she can text you back at her convenience.

Well bugger me. What a great idea.

Have a read of the thread.

OP posts:
FourQuarters · 09/11/2019 22:46

Actually, OP, you’re being the weirdo here. It’s not a bunch of internet strangers who’ve concocted a story about your supposedly abroad friend lying about being overseas because of a dial tone.

Your issue is that for some reason you’ve agreed to do a five-hour round airport trip for an able-bodied person (who could perfectly well use public transport to get far closer to home than the airport), even though it involves arranging childcare — but you actually trust this person little enough that you think she’s lying to you, her best, friend about being abroad???

Also, if SHE wants someone to put herself out to the extent of a five hour trip, it’s surely up to her to give you definite information the previous day. If you haven’t had that, you don’t get her, and she needs to make other arrangements and communicate better in future.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 09/11/2019 22:47

Can't wait to see whats happened with this thread tomorrow.

Night all.

RhiWrites · 09/11/2019 22:49

So predictable the thread would go this way instead of answering the question.

When you ask for advice most people want to know some of the context behind the question to give good advice. People aren’t robots.

Speaking of robots I googled for the answer and got this, no idea if it’s true or not:
When you're abroad, the full mobile connection has two stages, one to the UK service provider, and one from the UK service provider to the foreign partner. If the phone is switched off, the second stage doesn't apply, because the call will go straight to answer, therefore the ringtone will be "British". If the phone is switched on and ready to receive calls, the UK service provider will route the call to the foreign partner, and the tone you hear will be the "foreign" tone.

Dollymixture22 · 09/11/2019 22:50

Op you seem lovely, no idea why anyone would hide from you😂

dontgobaconmyheart · 09/11/2019 22:51

If its so very dull OP, why are you still posting, if not just to make passive aggressive replies yourself about how petty everyone on here is.

I did manage to read the whole thread ( though wish I hadn't, and probably need to look into how much free time I have) - I do think you sound overinvested and the tone you use does make you sound like this is some huge deal about her 'lying'. Does she normally pick up dates at the airport at random and spend the night? The lengths you're going to over a dial tone are hardly the norm, which is what people are picking up on. I can speak with no authority on dial tones but was recently in Dover and my phone thought i was in France, i'm sure these things are open to error.

She's an adult, she can get herself home, it doesn't sound like you have any firm plans to collect her so just get on with your day and i'm sure you will hear from her at some point. No normal person will be expecting you to camp at the bloody airport in case you need them at an unspecificied day and time.

badbananabad · 09/11/2019 22:53

*Well bugger me. What a great idea.

Have a read of the thread.*

OP, I think you're brilliant! 😂

Still can't get over these replies, some people are so unpleasant.

Gertie75 · 09/11/2019 22:54

Am I the only one thinking the "friend" is actually the op's partner and she's suspecting an affair?

Catsandchardonnay · 09/11/2019 22:56

You sound really weird. Why would your friend lie about still being abroad? Hmm unless it was to avoid you - now that sounds more plausible! I’d avoid you too if in real life you’re anything like as aggressive as you’ve been on here. Get a grip.

ffswhatnext · 09/11/2019 22:58

She also might be waiting to hear back from her parents. So nothing to update.
And remember she's in a different time zone.
Didn't you say she lands at lunch and its a 4 hour ish flight. Chances shes having an early night.

Jarnsaxa · 09/11/2019 23:02

Op, are you actually the OW/cheating spouse worried the OH is on their way home early to catch you out?

ELM8 · 09/11/2019 23:03

Could you check flight arrivals from today to see if one arrived around the time the ringing tone changed?

Lizzie0869 · 09/11/2019 23:04

Tbh, this whole thread is weird. Who honestly asks a friend at short notice to drive 5 hours to an airport to pick her up, because her parents can't? And wouldn't she at least travel to a station closer to where she is?

If she can afford to travel to Cyprus for her holiday, she can afford to pay for an extra train fare? (I would have hoped she would have kept some money in reserve to pay petrol costs anyway.)

Personally, I would be mortified at the idea of a friend putting herself out so much for me, especially if she had to arrange childcare.

TheMustressMhor · 09/11/2019 23:06

This is a great thread to end a joyous Saturday night after watching SCD.

Op, you've been very entertaining.

MrsFezziwig · 09/11/2019 23:06

OP, if you wanted a simple answer to a technical question (which a PP has demonstrated that you could find out by googling) why would you post in AIBU?
Not sure we’re the goady ones here.

BenevolentEzza · 09/11/2019 23:06

OP - yes, he is having an affair.

Leave him. Or not. Up to you 🤷

MintyMabel · 09/11/2019 23:07

You are either fine to pick her up, or you aren't. She needs a lift tomorrow no matter what her plans are.

I can't understand why it matters where she is right now.

TatianaLarina · 09/11/2019 23:08

However, it looks like it is possible to randomly interchange between a UK and international tone from a couple of PPs experiences. And if that's a possibility, that's exactly what will be the case

I’ve experienced that too. U.K. ring tone when someone abroad, international tone when someone here. Happens quite a lot.

SandunesAndRainclouds · 09/11/2019 23:08

I’ve called DH while we are both away and I can get either international dial tone or UK. Never figured out why.

Swipe left for the next trending thread