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How do you handle strangers asking to use your cell?

I suppose prepaid is more prevalent in the UK, here you could just say "sorry, I haven't got any credit for calls" and walk away, no one knows whether it really is pay as you go or contract.
 
I say, "No, thank you."

I wouldn't let a stranger borrow my credit cards, wallet, little address book, calendar, movies, music or private notes either.
 
It's happened to me twice. I let them. It was closing time at a club and the place didn't have a in/out policy, they were with their with their friend and I was with mine. I let them. I got my phone back. They were very appreciative. I also give money or buy meals when I can to strangers. I'm a very nice guy.


And oh, I frequently, ask random strangers to pictures of me and my friends of us with my phone, too.
 
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siurpeeman said:
your students/parents aren't exactly strangers now, are they?
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It's not exactly setup as a personal place, it's more like students walk in and are matched with a random tutor. I get when it's more one-on-one and you get to know the person, but in my case you barely get to know them.

snowcrash said:
Just curious on why it would be different between a 5 and a 5S?
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I joined the party late with the 5, but I could sell my 5 and get the 5S for around $350.
 
Bargle said:
35 and only been proven wrong once. You call me naive and I'd call you someone who thinks they're "jaded" but is probably just a jerk.

Here's a tip folks. Don't buy things you can't afford to lose. Try being the Good Samaritan some time; apple's auto correct even capitalizes both words for you.

I'd like to think I'd give a man the shirt off my back if asked.
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Being raised Catholic, I think you're totally out of place, here.

You are being incredibly judgemental, and sound like a pompous, righteous individual. Most people here I'm sure are very nice and would absolutely help out a stranger in need. As many users have described, there are ways to help the person without handing over the phone they paid good money for.

You can ask for the number, call it yourself, and put it on speakerphone.

If it's a medical emergency, chances are they will not be in a condition to use the phone anyways, so it's perfectly understandable and right to make the call yourself.

You sound like you're far from a Good Samaritan.
 
Emergency calls. iE: Car broke down, Accident, Health...I'll make the call for them.

Just run of the mill calls, and they don't have a phone because of $$. Suggest getting the Obama Phone...It's free
 
In a word; NO. I'd make the call for them if it was an emergency, but if not, sorry no way. As a minor germophobe, I don't even let coworkers use my pens. I'd never let a stranger handle something that I put against my face. Yikes :eek:
 
I'm sorry, but I wouldn't let anyone use my iPhone. If it's an emergency I would make the call for them and leave it on speakerphone like the others here have done, but under no circumstances would they be handling my phone. No way. If they don't want me to make the phone call for them, then tough. They could find someone else. I love in NY and not in a good neighborhood so it's hard to trust anyone here. I have no problems letting people I know (people I work with, friends, family) use my phone, but a complete stranger? No way. They could easily run away with it and I've seen it happen once so yeah not gonna fall for that.
 
On my college campus they've launched a campaign advising us to direct anyone you don't immediately recognize asking you to use your phone to the nearest building where they can use a phone to call. A group of about 6 students had organized a plan of asking people to use their phones then running off with them. Bastards.
 
It's gotten rarer and rare that people ask to borrow my phone, but in the cases that people do ask, and I let them, I'm always holding the phone and dialing the call, and the phone's on speaker when they're talking.

I USED to be the guy who would readily lend out my phone to people. But that was back when phones were dumb and brickish (mine looked like this), didn't have any of my e-mail/contact/scheduling/deeply personal info, and didn't cost $700+ to replace.

Also: I've gotten a major case of OCD/germophobia since the dumbphone days, and realized how much gunk people's faces generate. I don't even let others use my fixed-line, work VoIP phone in my office. There are other, vacant "guest" phones nearby and I offer those instead.
 
I've never had a complete stranger approach me, and ask to use my phone. If I ever had that happen, I would politely say no, considering there is the chance they could run off with my phone.

I let my friends use my phone anytime they need to. But complete strangers? Absolutely not.
 
I will only let people I know use it.

What if a stranger rans away with it or make international / charge per second call to those sex services? Lol

Exceptions would be cases which are really life threatening / catastrophic emergencies ... you know what I mean.

But then I let or ask fellow international traveling strangers take pics of me. Travelers can be trusted.
 
Surprisingly I've never run into this situation. I'm pretty casual about letting family and close friends use it to make a call if the need arises, but I don't see myself handing it over to a random Joe in the street.
 
I let a guy use my iPhone 5 while we were in Vegas eating in & out burger in the parking lot. The guy was a construction worker who left his key in the truck, accidentally.

I dialed the number, let the guy use it, while waiting next to him. He called and asked help for his emergencies.

Not that I like doing it, but in emergencies, I'd help out while trying to minimize the fall out.

Once I got the phone back, wiped them out with baby wipes, thrice, and clean the glass up with eye glasses cleaner cloth.
 
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