Brit called Foreign Office to ask where to buy bacon abroad
Brits abroad contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office last year for advice on a number of bizarre issues, ranging from where to buy English bacon in Europe, how to hire a butler in Lebanon and how to avoid nudists in Spain.
The FCO has released details of the 10 strangest calls as a reminder to the travelling public that it only provides an emergency service.
The calls included:
· A man planning to move to Spain who was worried he would encounter nudists walking through the streets
· A homesick expat asking where he could buy English bacon
· A lady in Lebanon looking for help to recruit an English butler
· A holidaymaker trying to find travel advice for a visit to Coventry
· A European filmmaker looking for an English pensioner to play a part in his new film
· A woman who was disappointed the British Embassy had not sent someone to give her a tour of St. Petersburg on her arrival in Russia
· A British man asking for assistance to get illegal employment in Singapore
· A mother asked for the contact details of a young British YouTuber, as her son was a fan of his Minecraft videos
· A confused businessman looking for information on the construction of plug sockets
· A man in South Korea asking what he could do with his old pound notes
Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister James Duddridge said: "Our consular staff are a helpful bunch and do an amazing job helping out Brits in trouble around the world – but it is important that people remember they are there to help with genuine emergencies and not as an alternative to directory enquiries.
"Every minute they spend handling a call requesting advice on butlers or nudists is time taken away from dealing with life and death cases, so I urge the public to think before picking up the phone."
Almost half a million calls were made to the consular service last year and the FCO assisted with numerous cases, helping 3,250 Brits who were hospitalised, 4,770 who were arrested, and the families of 3,670 who died overseas. Almost 38,000 replacement travel documents were issued.
FCO staff can assist Britons abroad in certain circumstances, such as visiting them in hospital or in prison, advising on how to transfer money and helping those caught up in a crisis.
However, recent research revealed that 74% of Britons thought the FCO could get them out of jail if they were arrested, 22% thought the FCO could arrange for them to get home if they lost their ticket and 15% presumed the FCO would lend them money if theirs was lost or stolen.
Head of the FCO’s Global Contact Centres, Kelvin Green said: "We receive thousands of calls a year, and do all we can to help people who find themselves in difficulty abroad. But we cannot help people make travel arrangements or lifestyle plans, lend them money or pay medical and other bills for them.
"I would urge people to prepare well before they travel, making sure they have valid travel documents and insurance."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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