British Consulate Reveals Weird Requests
The British Consulate has revealed details of some of the more bizarre requests travellers contact Foreign Office staff with, including a request for Phil Collins' phone number and advice on getting rid of ants in a holiday villa.
The Foreign and Commonwealth office has released the odd requests in an attempt to clarify for travellers what the British Consulate is able to assist them with, as well as some of the limits to the support capabilities of its network of embassies. Strange requests that embassy staff were unable to help travellers with also included one man asking embassy staff what kind of clothes he should pack for his holiday, and another caller who contacted the embassy in Spain to find out Prince Charles’ shoe size so he could send him some footwear as a present.
One lady in Moscow was said to have called the British Consulate office to report a loud buzzing noise in her apartment, and to request that someone come to review the problem. Another man in Dubai phoned the Consulate to request that one of their staff meet his dog at the airport and help it through customs, as he was away on holiday and would not be there to meet it. Other consulates were contacted for advice on fishing spots in Greece, where to find a Christmas dinner in Malaga and even tips on installing a chicken coop in a garden.
“We will always try to help where we can but there are limits to the support that we can provide,” said Jeremy Browne, the minister for consular affairs. "Our priority is to help people in real difficulty abroad and we cannot do this if our time is diverted by people trying to use us as a concierge service," he added.
Travel Industry news posted by Jan Moys on 10 November 2011
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