Embassies plead 'big issues only'

[BlasterBates]

I used to work in a book shop, someone once asked for a pound of mince.

That would have been me when I was younger, we always liked doing things like that. Another trick was to phone half of all the phone boxes, from the other half of the phone boxes outside the Post Office in the centre of town, and have lots of phone boxes ringing. Oh those were the days.

[sal626]

Well in all fairness to him, about 10 years ago not only were most people clueless abotu the internet but also it was when WebTV was around, this was not watching internet TV programs on your PC but accessing the web on your TV.

Thank god it died a death, designing/coding to support their browser was a nightmare

Never had webTV in Saudi so the guy would not have been confused about that. Yeah, people were clueless about then internet 10 years ago....but even in Saudi 99.99% of the people realised that you do need a PC for it!

What we never figured out was what the guy did with the modem that the ISP sent him? Probably just put it on top of his TV and expected it all to work.

[Sysman]

Well in all fairness to him, about 10 years ago not only were most people clueless abotu the internet but also it was when WebTV was around, this was not watching internet TV programs on your PC but accessing the web on your TV.

Thank god it died a death, designing/coding to support their browser was a nightmare

Was that a bit like Teletext on steroids?

[Not So Wise]

Friend of mine was the manager of the support call centre of the first ISP to be set up in Saudi Arabia – about 10 years ago…
One day they got a call from a Saudi chap who was complaining that he had paid all the fees and his internet wasn’t working.
After a few mins, it transpired that the guy didn’t actually own a PC and thought the “internet would be on his TV”.

Well in all fairness to him, about 10 years ago not only were most people clueless abotu the internet but also it was when WebTV was around, this was not watching internet TV programs on your PC but accessing the web on your TV.

Thank god it died a death, designing/coding to support their browser was a nightmare

[rhubarb]

One of our users requested a password reset, which we did, and it contained the letter 'f'. To which they replied :

This password does not work for me as I don't have the "f "on my keyboard. Please set it to alphanumeric only. Please do not include special characters.
Thanks

Rhubarb.

[BoredBloke]

When I left uni I got a job on the Helpdesk at Shell in Aberdeen. We had a guy ring up complaining that his phone line in his lounge was worn and wanted it replacing while he and his wife were about to decorate. I tried many times during the call to stop him but he was starting to get @rsey - so I played along.

So you want me to get one of our engineers out to your house to fix your phone? I'm sorry I can't do that.

Then let him rant on for a bit longer.

No Sir I appreciate that you pay your bill etc but I will not be sending out one of our engineers. Eventually I had to explain that Shell Expro don't send their engineers to fix BT phone faults

[sal626]

True Story…

Friend of mine was the manager of the support call centre of the first ISP to be set up in Saudi Arabia – about 10 years ago…
One day they got a call from a Saudi chap who was complaining that he had paid all the fees and his internet wasn’t working.
After a few mins, it transpired that the guy didn’t actually own a PC and thought the “internet would be on his TV”.

[minestrone]

I used to work in a book shop, someone once asked for a pound of mince.

[DimPrawn]

I had to use the embassy last year on holiday in Turkey when I knocked some clown off his moped. I was waiting for a break in the traffic so that I could cut accross and park. I was indicating at the time and I was driving a 12 seater minibus, so not exactly hard to spot. As I started to turn into the parking space this pillock tried to overtake me, rather than passing safely on the other side, he bounced off the front wing. I had to deal with the local coppers who were a joke and who gave me the run around in terms of getting my driving license and passport back. After wasting 2 days they eventually gave me my driving license back but claimed they couldn't find my passport. One call from the embassy and this sweaty copper came running out with it about 2 mins later.

Serves you right for going to a 3rd world country like Turkey.

[BoredBloke]

I had to use the embassy last year on holiday in Turkey when I knocked some clown off his moped. I was waiting for a break in the traffic so that I could cut accross and park. I was indicating at the time and I was driving a 12 seater minibus, so not exactly hard to spot. As I started to turn into the parking space this pillock tried to overtake me, rather than passing safely on the other side, he bounced off the front wing. I had to deal with the local coppers who were a joke and who gave me the run around in terms of getting my driving license and passport back. After wasting 2 days they eventually gave me my driving license back but claimed they couldn't find my passport. One call from the embassy and this sweaty copper came running out with it about 2 mins later.

[gingerjedi]

I remember I guy ringing the DCSA (Defence Communication Support Agency) helpdesk when his laptop wouldn't boot, he said didn’t get it from new but would like some support as it appeared to be dead. When asked for the asset tag it became apparent that it was listed as stolen.

If you’re going to steal MoD equipment and sell it down the pub please remove the stickers.

[chef]

a member of the public went in to A&E with a carton of milk, because it was 1 day past its use by date, and although they had not consumed it, they were thinking of drinking it, and wondered if it would be ok.

wtf

if they were prepared to goto the A&E, why didnt they simply buy a new pint of milk ?

[Board Game Geek]

British embassies around the world are getting "frustrated" by travellers wanting weather reports and advice on how to deal with unruly children.

Consular staff have also been asked to help make jam, pack suitcases and find lost sunglasses.

A woman unhappy with the size of her newly-enlarged breasts and a man in search of shoes also sought help.

The Foreign Office says British embassies are there "to help Britons in real difficulty abroad".

Other inquiries include:

• A mother asked the consulate in Florida to help her teenage son pack his case and give him a lift to the airport as he was feeling under the weather.
  
• A traveller wanted the high commission in Zambia to phone his workplace to explain he would not be in because he was unable to get a flight.
  
• A holidaymaker visiting Italy wondered where they could purchase a particular pair of shoes.
  
• One caller asked: "I'm making jam - what ratio of fruit to sugar shall I use?".

Story Here

Do any of the esteemed members have similar stories of unusual requests from the public ?

I worked once on an IT Helpdesk, and we had a called asking about the time for trains from Exeter to London. Even more bizarre was the fact that the caller was not from within the company, but had seen our helpdesk number in one of our satellite offices on the wall through a glass window that was visible from the street.

More recently, a member of the public went in to A&E with a carton of milk, because it was 1 day past its use by date, and although they had not consumed it, they were thinking of drinking it, and wondered if it would be ok.