[suicide_circus]

Haeeere, giza shoh a yer fowin dair buuud

[TwoBirds]

Ah now. Depends on the situation I suppose, but I was very grateful to an Italian gent who let me send a text from his phone at the Luas stop a few weeks ago - I had no credit and was late for a work thing. Nil points to the Irish girl who claimed she didn't have a phone when I asked her could I send a text, only to take it out to check the time a few minutes later...

[Delancey]

I respond to strangers asking to use my phone the same way I respond to strangers asking me for a cigarette - '' Fukk Off ''

[Keno 92]

Statistically speaking it is someone you know who will rob your phone from you. Oh no wait that's sexual assault.

[fasttalkerchat]

Surprised by how many people would say no! It costs you nothing and would seriously help someone in need. I hope you're attitude would be different if you came on a minor accident or someone with a flat tyre.

[Coffeeteasugar]

I did, was a bit wary but turned out graand,depends on the circumstance I guess!

[u_c_thesecond]

Well i have a crap old nokia so off they go they wouldnt get a tenner for this thing.

Maybe an old biddy or someone hurt but even then id be wary

[Humans eh!]

Never ever except in exceptional circumstances. If it seems like an emergency offer to dial the number for them.

gangs set up ultra premium rate number accounts, usually at very extreme rates, ie €10 per min more if it is an international number.
Innocent looking distressed girl asks you if they can call their dad to come to collect them as they have lost their handbag etc.
She dials number and has a fake conversation in your presence makes call last 3 or 4 mins. Perhaps 'Daddy ' is upset? perhaps his office is trying to locate him? use your imagination the possibilities are endless. Every 60 seconds is another tenner.

Hot young vulnerable girl thanks you sweetly and gives you your phone back.
Viola! €35 - €40 onto your bill as you walk away feeling good about yourself.
Very lucrative and the potential to make huge amounts of money for the scammers in the space of a few minutes.
And as you willingly allowed someone to use your phone with your permission no crime has been committed.
Sweet!

[christmas2012]

just reading above never would have thought of that scam..eh but ya,i would offer to dial for them but i wouldnt be comfortable letting the phone in someonelses hand for obvious reasons..if it was a 999 or they were stuck with a bust car i would offer to ring AA or a taxi..after reading your post i wouldnt let them dial at all..

[Muir]

I think it would depend, if I thought they were in genuine need I probably would.

It happened to me one night and a guy kindly let me use his phone, so having been there I probably would.

[ferretone]

I really dunno how I'd feel about it if I lived in Dublin with a swanky smartphone, as most posters seem to. But as I live in Kansas (well, the arse-end of Leitrim, same thing!), with a 3-year-old samsung dumbphone , I have no probs with the odd local farmer's wife who has finished dosing the cattle and needs hubby to collect her, but has let her phone battery die. That's the only kinda situation where I've been tested. I suppose in the big, wide world I'd have to see where my judgement took me, as and when it arose.

It's 10 years since I last lived in Dublin, 600 quid phones didn't exist back then, although I did get my wallet swiped with 200 in back then, which was my weekly wages at the time. I guess you guys just reminded me what a different world it is down there, and how sheltered we are here. We rarely lock our cars in the local towns, and I often only lock the house when leaving if I'm leaving the dog home, as she would open the doors and let herself and the cats out. (Neighbour's dog is a cat-killer, very fond of the neighbour, but regard her dog as one of the biggest risks in the area for that!)

[dave3004]

When I am getting a chick's number, I memorise it.

I do not take out my phoen due to it being about a decade behidn current technology.

So I would take out my phone and offer it to someone to make a call, but I doubt they'd accept it !

[Lanaier]

No sorry, don't mean to be that prat with the smart phone but my phone is not just a phone.

Giving my phone is giving bank details, email access etc etc.

Originally Posted by charlietheminxx

I've been stuck myself and would probably never ask anyone though, I'd rather go to payphone than ask a stranger.

Exactly, neither would I.
Yet another reason to be suspicious.

Originally Posted by fasttalkerchat

Surprised by how many people would say no! It costs you nothing and would seriously help someone in need. I hope you're attitude would be different if you came on a minor accident or someone with a flat tyre.

Eh, well aside from the small price of the call it might cost you a phone.

[validusername1]

Nah I wouldn't risk it.. Don't wanna get an iPhone stolen.
Like someone mentioned earlier in this thread though, I've had the ''Can I have €2 for the bus, I forgot my ticket/card on the bus earlier?'' and he seemed nice so I gave him the €2, then I watched him as he walked down the street and joined a que to get onto the bus. He stood in the que for a minute or 2, then walked away. He must've joined the que to make me think he was genuinely getting on the bus in the hope I'd stop watching him then. It's not like €2 was any big deal though. But it's the same principle as the phone thing - even if someone looks genuine, it doesn't mean that they are. I was thinking afterwards though, most people would probably say no to giving someone the €2 so he'd hardly make much of a profit out of it.. Would love to know what he was really at!

If I was in need of a phone, I'd just go into the nearest shop and ask to use their phone, I'm sure they'd let you 'cause you're hardly gonna run off with a landline phone

[SmilingLurker]

Originally Posted by Sad Professor

Would you let a seemingly genuine person on the street use your phone under any circumstances?

But how do you determine if someone is genuine? Or are you a deeply suspicious person who would refuse everyone regardless?

I did recently, outside Lansdowne Road.

I assumed she was genuine, but being around a foot taller than her I doubt she was going to over power me.

Trust your instinct....be nice to someone who is stuck.