It's a shame we have to be so suspicious
Discussion
So, there I was, cycling home from work this afternoon when I came to a crossing place on a dual carriageway. Just past the dropped kerb bit was a Transit van with hazards on, causing a fair bit of inconvenience for the passing traffic. I crossed over to the central island bit, then noticed that the chap in the driver's seat of the Transit was trying to attract my attention. I popped out my earphones and curtailed my Radcliffe and Forbes (WTF, BTW?) listening pleasure and strained my ears against the noise of the traffic to hear what chap was saying. Turns out he was asking if I had a mobile phone he could use.
So, I crossed back to his side and gladly offered my mobile, in a "helping out a fellow human being" kind-of way.
It soon became apparent that this fellow was a fully paid-up member of our beloved "travelling community" - his unfathomable accent, apparel and mode of transport made this more than clear. That and the buck-toothed, hoopy-ear-ringed lady friend in the passenger seat. I asked if he had broken down and he said "No, run out of diesel!"
He took my phone and proceeded to attempt to ring a few numbers taken from his mobile (I'm guessing he was on PAYG and had run out of credit, as well as diesel).
It seemed to take ages for him to get through to anyone (must have tried three or four different numbers) and it was at this point that, to my shame, I began to think that there may be more to this than met the eye.
I thought that this might be some kind of elaborate scam, designed to relieve me of my (newly upgraded) mobile. Any minute now, I thought, the Transit is going to magically start again and Pikey Boy will bugger off with my new Sony Ericsson W595, probably punching me in the face in the process.
Then I came to my senses and realised what a woefully random scam this would be - "break down" in your Transit van and wait for some passing pedestrian/cyclist to come along with a half-decent mobile? "The Thomas Crown Affair" it ain't.
As it happened, he got through to someone, told them where he was, asked them to bring him some (probably red) diesel, thanked me profusely and handed back my mobile.
I cycled off with mixed feelings; happy to have helped someone out, but disappointed with myself for fearing the worst.
Probably just a sign of the times, but a shame nonetheless.
And yes, I have given my phone a good clean with some antibacterial wipes.
So, I crossed back to his side and gladly offered my mobile, in a "helping out a fellow human being" kind-of way.
It soon became apparent that this fellow was a fully paid-up member of our beloved "travelling community" - his unfathomable accent, apparel and mode of transport made this more than clear. That and the buck-toothed, hoopy-ear-ringed lady friend in the passenger seat. I asked if he had broken down and he said "No, run out of diesel!"
He took my phone and proceeded to attempt to ring a few numbers taken from his mobile (I'm guessing he was on PAYG and had run out of credit, as well as diesel).
It seemed to take ages for him to get through to anyone (must have tried three or four different numbers) and it was at this point that, to my shame, I began to think that there may be more to this than met the eye.
I thought that this might be some kind of elaborate scam, designed to relieve me of my (newly upgraded) mobile. Any minute now, I thought, the Transit is going to magically start again and Pikey Boy will bugger off with my new Sony Ericsson W595, probably punching me in the face in the process.
Then I came to my senses and realised what a woefully random scam this would be - "break down" in your Transit van and wait for some passing pedestrian/cyclist to come along with a half-decent mobile? "The Thomas Crown Affair" it ain't.
As it happened, he got through to someone, told them where he was, asked them to bring him some (probably red) diesel, thanked me profusely and handed back my mobile.
I cycled off with mixed feelings; happy to have helped someone out, but disappointed with myself for fearing the worst.
Probably just a sign of the times, but a shame nonetheless.
And yes, I have given my phone a good clean with some antibacterial wipes.
now what a great idea for a scam.Fair play but you can never be too careful. I had a woman approach me in Winchester services last summer stating she was low on petrol, had lost her purse and had just come from a hospital. I asked a few questions of her and the longer she spoke the well spoken accent turned into a light shade of pikey - cue from me, try the bloke behind. 
Sciroccology said:
So far, no-one has answered the fundamental question in my thread: Mark Radcliffe and Emma Forbes? Which genius at Wireless 2 came up with that combination?
I'm so glad I had "twist of the dial" yesterday when Edith Bowman can on. Radcliffe and Forbes are as yyou say a genius combination.When the merc's radiator blew on the A3, I stopped in a layby and went to call the RAC only to discover the battery on the mobile was flat.
I asked a trucker in the same layby for help and he called the RAC on his mobile on my behalf and didn't venture out of his cab (although this may have been because he was sitting in his cab with the curtains pulled and apparently no clothes on his top half.)
I think is a great idea safety wise as you really don't know who you can trust, so its better to be the one calling on the phone rather than hand it to someone you don't know.
Oh and a friendly aussie woman and her henpecked british husband were the only people that stopped to help out when the radiator went supernova. (ie steam pouring out of the bonnet etc). But thats just surrey for you.
I asked a trucker in the same layby for help and he called the RAC on his mobile on my behalf and didn't venture out of his cab (although this may have been because he was sitting in his cab with the curtains pulled and apparently no clothes on his top half.)
I think is a great idea safety wise as you really don't know who you can trust, so its better to be the one calling on the phone rather than hand it to someone you don't know.
Oh and a friendly aussie woman and her henpecked british husband were the only people that stopped to help out when the radiator went supernova. (ie steam pouring out of the bonnet etc). But thats just surrey for you.
I often think about helping people I see broken down, even if it were to only offer the use of a phone, but never do.
The simple reason being that if the other person has the situation under control & is waiting for the AA or who ever, I think me approaching their window is only going to make them feel uncomfortable & create an awkward situation. Especially if they're women or with kids etc.
I think it's terrible that we can't help strangers out but just a sign of the times I guess.
The simple reason being that if the other person has the situation under control & is waiting for the AA or who ever, I think me approaching their window is only going to make them feel uncomfortable & create an awkward situation. Especially if they're women or with kids etc.
I think it's terrible that we can't help strangers out but just a sign of the times I guess.
On the other hand, he MAY have reconfigured your number to dial a call forwarding number.
This is a known scam.
The call forwarding number works like a calling card, the phone dials a prefix to connect to the call forwarding "service", then dials the number you've asked for.
The call forwarding service is usually a premium rate number. If he's done this, then the first time you'll generally know is when you get the bill.
Worth checking your phone set up perhaps?
This is a known scam.
The call forwarding number works like a calling card, the phone dials a prefix to connect to the call forwarding "service", then dials the number you've asked for.
The call forwarding service is usually a premium rate number. If he's done this, then the first time you'll generally know is when you get the bill.
Worth checking your phone set up perhaps?
A few years ago I was driving up past the Phoenix Park and came across a white Hi-Ace stuck at the lights near the gate on the NCR. He was blocking traffic and we got oput and pushed him about 50 metres up the road.
He then produced a tow rope and "asked" us to tow him just a mile or two up the road. His manner was such that I all but told him to feck off and we jogged back to our car an went on our way. No thanks for the uphill push.
Sure aren't our travelling bretheren a blessing.
He then produced a tow rope and "asked" us to tow him just a mile or two up the road. His manner was such that I all but told him to feck off and we jogged back to our car an went on our way. No thanks for the uphill push.
Sure aren't our travelling bretheren a blessing.
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