SC was furious, outraged, sick with anger!

[Mr Hero]

I've always wanted to work this quote into one of my posts. Anyways, on to the story. Short one today.

SC comes in asking to use our phone.

SC: Do you have a phone I can borrow? I might get a room here.
Me: I'm sorry we don't have a public phone?
SC: Could you let me use your phone as a friend? As a friend? I don't even know you!
Me: I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable with people I don't know knowing my number.
SC: They won't know your number. I'm just trying to call my dad. Then unless he has a landline w/o caller ID, HE will know my number.
Me: There's a payphone just a five minute walk down the street.
SC: Forget it then. It's not worth it to get a room.

You're right. You're not worth the $80 that our hotel could have gotten.

[NateTheChops]

What a sad world we live in when people won't even trust complete strangers with their cellpones. I mean seriously Hero, what if I needed your car? Why wouldn't you just hand your keys over to me inspite of the fact that I don't drive and you're not insured to let me drive it?

[Seshat]

It's one thing to ask for the use of a phone to call emergency - or for the other person to call emergency. Heck, I'd call a police non-emergency line for someone at need.

But not a random number.

[PepperElf]

Me: I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable with people I don't know knowing my number.

I don't mind letting customers use the work phone since our number is public information anyway but... if it was my own cell phone then I'd just tell them the truth...

"Sorry I don't have it." I keep my phone locked in the car while I'm at work.

[Merriweather]

Let's see, should I hand over something small, expensive and portable, full of personal information, to a person I've never seen in my life.....

Decisions, decisions.

Same standard answer I would have given a person knocking on my door saying their car broke down back in the olden days of land lines - if it's an emergency (911) or even semi-emergency (tow truck, etc) tell me the number and I'll make the call for you. Otherwise, the nearest pay phone is... Strangers are not asked into my house, nor given expensive objects not tied down, LOL.

[earl colby pottinger]

Don't forget the SCs who will dial long-distance or extra-charge phone numbers that will rack up your bill or chew thru your pre-allocated minutes like there is no tomorrow.

[Solacelawlz]

I agree with nate you shoulda given them your phone, your wallet, your keys, ne offshore accounts and hell might as well throw in your social for kicks and giggles haha

Yea seshat i agree, emergency is one thing, calling randoms another. and def wouldn't just hand over my phone while im behind a counter so that person could potentially just run off with it -_- also find it very funny that they might get a $80 room but won't go use a $.50-$2 payphone haha

I woulda been like hey if you get that room you'll have a phone =) lmao

[Sapphire Silk]

I can't believe the chutzpah of people who think it's OK to demand (he really wasn't asking) to use the expensive electronic device that comes with an expensive monthly service plan of other people.

Even if the person has a cheap throwaway cell, it's still an expense that has to be metered carefully by the owner.

Admittedly, many cellphones can block their own number for outgoing calls. But that's not the point.

A stranger will get my cellphone out of my stone dead cold fingers and no other way.

[Bright_Star]

I wouldn't let a stranger use my phone. You have no idea what kind of damage they might have in mind to do.

[MoonCat]

Quoth Bright_Star

I wouldn't let a stranger use my phone. You have no idea what kind of damage they might have in mind to do.

Or who they're really going to call. Could be planning to threaten somebody or do something else stupid and/or illegal, and then the record of that call would be on your phone. How could you prove it wasn't you that made the call?