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do you let strangers use your phone to make calls?

C

Ceviche Lover

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 15, 2012
274
427
i take a train to work everday going thru some rough neighborhoods and maybe once every 3-4 months i get someone asking me to let them use my cell to make a personal call. i didnt mind letting them use it as it was a crappy phone(samsung epic 4g) and i never thought someone would want to steal it(thankfully no one has ever tried). today some dude asked me to let me borrow my phone(iphone 5) and i did but i was a little nervous. i even moved over towards the staircase in case he made a run for it. he did not and thanked me for letting him use the phone....


do you guys ever let people use your phone for calls? i dont think i am anymore as i dont have theft insurance, only applecare
 
Tell them, "sorry, I am a germ-ofob, if it's an emergency I can call 9-1-1 for you."
 
Ceviche Lover said:
i take a train to work everday going thru some rough neighborhoods and maybe once every 3-4 months i get someone asking me to let them use my cell to make a personal call. i didnt mind letting them use it as it was a crappy phone(samsung epic 4g) and i never thought someone would want to steal it(thankfully no one has ever tried). today some dude asked me to let me borrow my phone(iphone 5) and i did but i was a little nervous. i even moved over towards the staircase in case he made a run for it. he did not and thanked me for letting him use the phone....


do you guys ever let people use your phone for calls? i dont think i am anymore as i dont have theft insurance, only applecare
Click to expand...

Uhm, NO.
I'd offer to call a cab for someone or something like that, but my cell is not a public pay phone for strangers.
 
If you don't have a cell phone is 20012, you're either a 4 year old or killer. Either way, don't touch my phone. :mad:
 
Hell no!!!! Dude sad to say but my friend was on a bus and was texting, some dude just walked over snatch her iPhone 4 and ran! I wouldn't let others use my phone. If they're having a heart attack ill call 911 for them.
 
FWIW I'm from the South where everyone waves to everyone. I never "loan" my phone to a stranger & have been asked several times. Never.
 
Last year at my parent's apartment complex I had my old iPhone 4S in one hand and was getting my 2 year old son's diaper bag out of the car with my other hand while my wife and I helped my son get out of the car in what is a very busy parking lot. Some whiny looking teenager comes over and asks if I have a phone he could borrow. More annoyed at the fact that he was interrupting us while we were trying to get our son safely in the house, I said no. Then he has the balls to say "realllllly" in this whiny effeminate voice like I friggin owe him something. So I looked at him with my iphone in my hand and with fire shooting out of my eyes and said "yeah REALLY, get lost".

Short answer: Hell no! WTF do I look like a public payphone?
 
Good thing I didn't ask you people lol my iPhone 5 died yesterday so I had to ask a stranger if I could use their phone. I need another lighting cable for my car
 
I have, this chick was standing around her car in the parking lot, waiting for someone/something. I was by my car waiting for the people in my car to get out. She comes over to ask if she could use my phone, I said "uh...sure" *hand over phone*, she dials and finishes calling the person. I'm still by my car, and she's by hers. I get a call, but I don't pick up. I see a car roll around hers, honks (not even sure if the guy knew her), she goes to his window and exchange a few words then gets in her car and follows him.

I had the worst feeling ever...as if I helped her cheat on someone because I saw her on her phone afterwards :confused:
 
I do it by the way they look. If they look sweet and innocent I might, if they look like the kind of person to make a break for it I just say no.
 
Looks can be deceiving.

I wouldn't let someone use my phone, but I would offer to make a call for them. I have been stuck and dependent on the kindness of strangers a few times so I sympathize that stuff happens.

I figure if it is an emergency and they need a ride or to let someone know where they are, they won't mind me making the call. On the other hand if it's something shady they probably won't ask me to call.
 
I wouldn't let them use my phone unless it's an obvious emergency, such as a car accident, then it's perfectly fine to let them use it to call home. But these days, there is no reason to drive without a cellphone, at least a prepaid if money is insufficient.

You may not think of it, but they could do something really stupid by making a phone call to someone and you end up in trouble because your phone is linked to you and your information. Extreme example: They use the call to confirm the deal or to make a hit while you think they're just checking up on their cousin.

If they need to call a cab, you can offer to dial by looking up a local cab company and call one for them. When they dial a number, you really don't know who they're calling and the call recipient has your phone number and call log.

Otherwise, they can go to a nearby payphone and call collect. If you own a business, same thing, don't let them come in and ask to make a free call, unless they need a cab or an emergency, then you can look up and call for them. Your business has a lot more to lose.
 
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Ceviche Lover said:
i take a train to work everday going thru some rough neighborhoods and maybe once every 3-4 months i get someone asking me to let them use my cell to make a personal call. i didnt mind letting them use it as it was a crappy phone(samsung epic 4g) and i never thought someone would want to steal it(thankfully no one has ever tried). today some dude asked me to let me borrow my phone(iphone 5) and i did but i was a little nervous. i even moved over towards the staircase in case he made a run for it. he did not and thanked me for letting him use the phone....


do you guys ever let people use your phone for calls? i dont think i am anymore as i dont have theft insurance, only applecare
Click to expand...

Depends on what kind of an impression the person makes. But if someone asks if he or she can make a quick call, it's usually no problem.

I trust my instinct.

Also, I'm quite fast and if someone dears to even run away with the device (or any other (expensive?) personal object) he can expect a tackle from behind.
 
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