The Phone Call...
At about 9:15 in the morning, an attractive woman in a smart business suit knocks on the door...

She looks a little distressed and embarrassed...but fit nonetheless

"I'm so sorry", she coos "but my car has just broken down around the corner. Bloody BMWs eh? Anyway, I'm now late for my meeting and my mobile battery is flat. I'm having such a bad day and really sorry to trouble you but would you mind if I used your phone for a second to call the office? I’ll pay for the call.”

*flutters eyelashes*

Your answer: “Why, of course, you fair damsel in distress. The phone’s over there”

Woman: “Oh, you’re really kind. I’m sooo grateful. I won’t be long” she gushes

(You start fantasising exactly how ‘grateful’ this woman is going to be…)

The phonecall: “Hello, It’s Penelope here, I need to speak to Pete….What? I don’t care if he’s in a meeting, get him out of it. NOW!”

“I’m so sorry” she says again…

“Oh that’s fine” you say.

A minute or so ticks by….

Her: “What do you mean, you can’t find him…hold on, is Rich there? Get him instead.”

…5 people and 15 apologies later...

Her “ Hi….Robert…at last!, It’s Penelope here. Look, I’m stuck here at _____ Road and my car has broken down. I need someone to pick me up and I need somebody else to make sure the Japanese Portfolio is presented before 10:00am or we’ll all be for it. Where is _____ Road? Well, you take the first junction off the motorway and……..

…Cue 2 minutes of directions…

*you check out her arse*

…and I’ll be waiting by my car. See you soon, Bye”

*hangs up*

Her: “Oh you have saved my life! – Please, let me give you this, it’s the least I can do”

*hands over a £1 coin*

You: “No that’s alright love, don’t worry about it”

*you flash a wink and a smile*

Her: “Oh you are sooo kind. If there’s ever anything I can do for you…Anyway, I’d better be getting back to my car. Thank you again for your kindness. BYEEE!”

…and off she trots.

No problems, right?

WRONG

What you didn’t know here is that all the time she was on the phone, all she was doing was chuntering on to the premium rate phone line that she and her partners in crime have set up…at a rate of £100 a minute.

Which you won’t even realise until you get your bill.

And even if you could manage to find them again…YOU GAVE HER PERMISSION TO USE THE PHONE!

Did this dastardly con ever happen to me?

…


Nah – I tell everyone who knocks on my door to fuck off.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Thu 18 Oct 2007, 15:25, 5 replies)

Good move
but just in case anyone wonders if this sort of shitconnery is real, it isn't

Maximum call charge per minute in the UK is around £1.50
( chart cat has an itch, Thu 18 Oct 2007, 16:21, closed)

Jesus
That con is almost as old as him.

It also doesn't work. Unless it's an overseas con line you're ringing. Brit rules are Waaaay stricter - I know as I worked in the industry.
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Thu 18 Oct 2007, 16:27, closed)

I first heard of it...
some years ago...and the mutants I was surrounded by at the time of the email release nearly shat themselves with fear - thus making it relevant for the topic. It never happened to me, I never worked in the industry or did any further investigation into it. I'm merely trying to amuse with the story until I can think of something else.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Thu 18 Oct 2007, 16:50, closed)

Mobile rates may vary.
Someone got themselves locked out of their car with their mobile inside it, so they asked me if they could borrow my mobile.

No problem, says I ... give me the number and I'll dial it for you.

(Turned out he was genuine)
(patently Was somewhere else on, Thu 18 Oct 2007, 17:23, closed)

Had to click
'I like this' as your final line conjured a lovely image of:
*Knock knock*
*Door opens*
"Yeah? What?"
"I was just wond..."
"FUCK OFF!"

Sweet...
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:02, closed)