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Tonight, a random guy knocked on the door & asked if he could use our phone because his dad dropped him off & hadn't come back yet. He was probably late 20s- early 30s & spoke funny & gave me a kinda creepy feeling. I said we didn't have a house phone (true) & my cell phone was dead (lie that just kinda came out). My phone's been stolen before & our neighborhood isn't that great, so I didn't want him running off with it/ dropping it & didn't want to say "I don't trust you" (real reason I wouldn't let him use it) & most of all, I didn't want him in my house. However, I feel horrible & it was freezing outside & I kinda feel like a jerk.
Would you let a stranger use your cell phone?
It depends, if i did not get the creepy feeling then yes, but I am an overly trusting fool. However, if your gut is telling you no, then NO is the right way to go.
This is a tough situation. My sympathetic side would want to say yes and let the stranger use my phone because I feel we should help each other out if possible BUT that sounds creepy! My survival instinct wants to say NO! You never know what malicious thing people are thinking.
I have let a stranger use my cell at work. Some teen who couldn't find his mom or dad so I let him use my cell phone but that was a work, it's more of a controlled situation.
If someone gives me the creeps, I don't let them stick around at all. The circumstances would have to be dire for me to consider it. For example, someone who is clearly in trouble I likely would not have any issues letting them use it for emergency purposes, and you make sure they don't run off with it. A random stranger wanting to make a general call, no.
if he needed to come into my house I would say no, unless my FI or both my parents were at the house..
I've let a stranger use my cell phone at mcdonald's before and I was scared he'd run away with it, it was when I first got my new iphone so i treated it like a baby and he was a teen with a bunch of friends .. I was so happy when he gave it back.. haha looking back on it i would've given him quarters to use the pay phone there..
It honestly depends. I wouldn't do it if they knocked on my door, but I also probably wouldn't open my door for a stranger if I was home alone (probably paranoia related to my advocacy work!). If it was a student of mine I'd let them, b/c they already all have my cell phone number anyway! Also the office phone is screwy. My phone is crappy (partner is getting me a new phone for my birthday in a few weeks!! yay!!) so I wouldn't really worry about someone stealing it.
It depends on the situation. I don't think it's something you 'have' to do, but if you feel comfortable at the time, then fine. I've let someone use mine when LRT (public transportation) system wasn't working properly and there was a huge delay. She offered to pay me (it was a while ago when pay as you go was more common), but I didn't take it.
In your situation, I probably wouldn't have even opened the door to the guy.
I've offered my phone to strangers before, but I can't recall ever having a stranger ask to use mine. In one situation it was on a street with enough traffic that there would've been plenty of witnesses if I had to scream and run or whatever, and the other time it was to a lady with a baby so I figured she wouldn't be too sketch. The first person needed my phone, the second one did not.
Someone on the train asked me if he could use my phone to call his friend since his friend was picking him up. I hesitated for a second but then I did. He offered me some money to do it. I refused his money. I have plenty of minutes on my plan since I have a lot of rollover minutes, so I agreed.
ETA: I don't always do this. If I felt like that guy was a creepy and shady, I wouldn't have done it. We were in a train so I knew he couldn't just steal and run with it.
Ok so I don't feel like a complete jerk anymore. Yea, doesn't help that I watched a scary murder movie last night (thought it was a romantic comedy, boy I was so wrong!) & that's what I thought in the back of my mind. DH heard him & said he sounded off.
You have to be careful lending out your cellphone because not only could they steal it, but they possibly could call long distance or order things just by dialing a number and putting it on your bill.
On the other hand, if I felt like they were honest, I'd dial the number and let them use it or pass along their message.
I once asked to use a stranger's phone because I didn't have a ride and at the time didn't have a cellphone... I just wanted to call my mother, but she said no! I had to really work up the courage to ask and I really hate begging so I just gave up on asking anyone else and had to walk 2 miles to the closest pay phone in the hot sun by a super busy road. So yea, if I can help somebody I would. Been there. :P
I don't think I'd let some stranger who just knockd on my door use my phone, but I have let people use my phone in public- especially at work. My SO's dad's car broke down once, and dunkin' donuts wouldn't let him use their phone and there weren't any pay phones around so he had to rely on the kindness os a stranger.
That's kinda weird that he came to your door. I can honestly say nothing like that has ever happened to me. If I was in a public place, like a store or mall with lots of people around, I would totally let someone use my phone as long as they don't look like a serial killer. If someone came to my door and asked, I would probably ask my FI to come to the door with me and watch them. He's 6'5" and about 325 pounds, so I imagine he wouldn't try any funny business with him standing there. Haha.
@serabell: in your situation - knocking on your door at home, getting a creepy feeling, and not the best neighborhood - you did the right thing by following your instinct! If your story had been "i let him in my house to use my phone", i would think you are a little naive! He may have been harmless and that's why you have that "i'm a jerk" feeling. In fact, odds are he was harmless....but you didn't know for sure and i think its better to be safe than sorry.
that being said, several years ago, i was waiting for a bus and a guy who looked my age-ish and also a student asked to borrow my phone. i was hesitant as i thought it a weird request, but i had no reason to say no, so i let him. After he was done, we ended up talking the whole bus ride into the city too and i made a friend for a day, so it was actually fun. but that was totally different than what you described!
I have let a stranger use my phone, but this was while I was out shopping. I was fine with it but if I had any reservations like you did, I wouldn't.
@serabell: come to think of it, in your situation, if it was already dark out and say past 8 or 9pm, i would not have even answered my door.
I think it is a lot different asking someone in public to use their cell phone and coming up to someone's home. While I would allow someone to make a quick call if there were in a tight spot out in public, I'm certainly not going to allow a strange person into my home or open up for them to feasibly get inside. Instead I would offer to call a taxicab for them if necessary.
Side note, in Southern California there was a string of robberies in the late 90's that started in just such a way....someone would ask to use a phone, get into the house as the owners would open the door, and rob them. Sad but true and alas it makes me not as willing to help out.
No not anymore i used to once I let someone use my phone and they ran off with it before... I couldnt run after them because I had a baby in a stroller. Luckly I ran into a friend who let me call fi to tell him to report my phone stollen.
@MsPanda: OMG. They stole your phone while you had your baby? What a dispicable human being.
OP- you did the right thing. Always go with your gut at times like this. Its better to feel bad now, then have anything bad happen.
If it were me, if I got a creepy feeling, then hell no. I have a pretty crappy phone, but its the only one I have! I'm at home alone at night allot and if its dark and someone knocks on my door, I answer with my pistol- not in a obviouse way, but behind the door, in case someone trys to push in- I dont have a peep hole. If they seemed okay, ya, I would prob let them borrow it, but in no way would I let anyone in the house. I live in a good area, but my SO made me promise long ago to do things like that. Seemed silly at first, till he said his world would be over if he lost me. How can a girl say no to that?
@MsPanda: what a piece of work! I'm a big believer in karma, and that *&#$ has some coming his way.
Wow, I feel bad now. I'm the one who usually asks strangers to borrow their phone!! Not door to door but I've done that quite a bit at school or around town when my phone dies lol I ride my bike everywhere so I have a good excuse!
@serabell: Like @purpleunicorn said don't open your door in the first place! My roommates and I have a rule never to open the door to strangers. It's especially useful with door to door salesmen.
@MsPanda: Some people have all the nerve. I'm sorry that happened to you.
@ serabell: I think you did the right thing. We have instincts/gut feelings for a reason. If it were me, I don't even know if I would have even opened the door to see who was there, especially if I was home alone. A few years ago I read some article in a magazine (can't remember if it was Cosmo or which one specifically), but it talked about how a lot of women are afraid of seeming "rude" or "racist" etc and it basically told stories about women who didn't trust their first instincts and something really bad happened to them.
Maybe I am paranoid, but I am one of those people that believes in "better safe than sorry." I've gotten my fiance into the habit of always locking the door behind him when he leaves (I also lock him in if I leave first) or even as soon as we come in the door. We live in a high-rise building and I still "bolt" the sliding glass door.
If it's an emergency, you could always call the police, 911, AAA, etc for them (behind your closed door)...It's unfortunate that there are people out there who prey on good samaritans!!!
It would depend on the situation. What you described (getting a creepy vibe, gut saying something was off, etc), no, I wouldn't let them. But if everything seemed on the up and up and normal, I wouldn't mind helping someone else out. I never know when I might be in a similar situation (phone died and needing to call DH or something).
It depends on the circumstances. I would NEVER allow anyone into my home to use my phone. I've seen too many scary movies. Even that innocent looking female could turn out to be a psycho. If I was in public and someone wanted to use it then I'd have to see how generous I'm feeling. I have an iPhone 4 so to replace it wouldn't be cheap. If I felt that the person wouldn't try to jack it (like a little old lady or a kid who needed to call his mom) then sure, but if I get a weird vibe then nope. If I has loose change on me and there was a pay phone close by, I'd give the person a couple quarters and send them on their merry way.
Never. If they need to use a phone they can go to a gas station or some other public place and use theirs.
I'm not a naturally trusting person so I would never let a stranger use my phone for any reason. If they needed a cop, emt or tow truck I would probbaly make the call for them but they would never touch my phone. It sounds so rude but that's just how I feel about it. And I never ever let people I don't know in my house.
I've let a stranger use my phone in public before, but I would never ever let someone in my home!
@serabell: I had some guy trying to sell us new siding for our house ask to use my cell phone. It was a pushy sales kid and I kept telling him it wasn't my house. Then just for a 'consult' he was going to call his boss but "left his cell phone in his car down the block" so I let him use mine. FH came downstairs and cursed the kid out and kicked him out. Then told me that he used my cell phone so his company could keep calling and harassing me to get the siding. He called the company and ripped them a new one and they took my cell number out of their database.
So I know its not the same thing as you, but after that I am leery to let anyone use my cell phone regardless of the situation - I just feel like I'm being taken advantage of in one way or another.
I let someone use my phone once to call for a ride and they later found my number on their caller ID and called/text me constantly. I was engaged at the time but the guy just didn't get it. haha
Definitely not if they came to my house. You can't use my phone, or washroom. Sorry!
However, I have been on the train, my phone died, and the train was stalled at a station and we had to get off and wait. It was cold and my DH was picking me up at a certain time and would wonder where I was. I asked a lady to use her cell phone and she let me. I was very grateful!
Out on the street, waiting for a bus or something, of course. Letting some guy I don't know, into my house at night - um, no. I would have done the exact same thing you did.
I would have to seriously assess the situation first, but in theory yes I would lend it to a stranger. As long as the person looked totally normal and was clearly in a bind and just needed to make a quick call or send a text, I would do it.
I totally would NOT have in your situation though, I would never let someone into my house. We don't live in a world where it's safe to do that, regarldess of how nice the neighborhood is.
And I"ve turned someone down before, DH and I were on a train and a woman asked if she could call her friend to say when she was arriving and we said no. Our stop was only 1 or 2 minutes away and we didn't want to stress about her finishing the call on time for us to get off. I felt bad, but it wasn't our fault that she didn't have a cell phone and I was confident that she could use someone else's who was also getting off at her same stop.
Probably not, especially if I got a funny vibe from him. Definitely not if I'm home alone and he had to come in. Probably not anyways, cause if he has my cell phone, and there's no other phone, and god forbid he's as creepy as I thought, then now he has my only way of calling for help. I think I'd say no, close the door and immediately call someone just to have them on the line with me.
In public, on the streets, no problem.
I wouldn't have even opened the door! I've seen way too many scary movies and don't trust strangers!
@serabell: I haven't read through all of the responses yet but this reminded me of an episode of American Horror Story when the guy knocked on the door with what looked like an injury and asked to come in and use the phone and then killed the two girls that let him in. I think you did the right thing by listening to your instincts.
That being said, I have let people on the street use my phone if I kinda know them (i.e. - people I see on my bus every day). But not total strangers because I'm always scared they'll run off with it....especially where I live in the Bronx. 
If I am alone I won't even answer the door... I have seen too many episodes of criminal minds.
Lol I think it depends. Like other PP's said, It comes down to the vibe. Some people seem like people who cant or wont run away with your Phone ( like a 65 year old woman looking for her lost grandaughter in the mall ) lol.. but I guess overall, I dont mind people using my phone in general, but I ofcourse will be near and cautious to it (:
I have let strangers use my cell phone before. In your situation, if I had gotten a creepy vibe, I probably would have offered to make the phone call for him.
in any situation, I'd offer to place a call for the person. I recently did that for a guy who got locked out of his apartment.
you could ask their name, dial the number and say "hi, I'm calling on so-and-so's behalf, he needs a ride, he is located at this address......." etc.
I think the only time I would not do this is if I were out in the city at night. in that situation, I wouldn't even take my phone out. there have been a high number of phone related muggings in my neighborhood. I'd just point to where the nearest payphone might be.
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