If you get stuck in a foreign country and you've no money....

[Grace Johnson]

Just wondering, if you get stuck in a foreign country and you have no money will the British embassy have any obligation to get you home? And how would they help you?

Anyone know/have any experience of this?

Thanks

 

[peterkro]

From what I've heard they'll cash a post dated cheque and bill you about £50 for doing it.(someone I know did this in Cuba)

 

[silverfish]

They aren't massively helpful TBH. Running out of money isn't an emergency in their eyes

I always found selling my camera helped me grub up some cash in the bad old days

 

[wiskey]

I think they will facilitate someone at home sending you money. Or tell you to claim on your insurance if you've been robbed.

 

[Grace Johnson]

They aren't massively helpful TBH. Running out of money isn't an emergency in their eyes

I always found selling my camera helped me grub up some cash in the bad old days

Ouch, Surely it is an emergency if you have nowhere to stay and you're in like Kenya or something? What kind of things count as an emergency do you know?

 

[quimcunx]

Are you looking to plan an emergency?

 

[wiskey]

try this:Support for British Nationals Abroad PDF

If you run out of money abroad, we can give you
information on how to transfer money and we can
help you to contact relatives and friends who may
be willing to transfer money to you or to buy you
a ticket back to the UK. If we transfer money on
your behalf, we will charge you for this.

 

[silverfish]

Edit dp

 

[silverfish]

Ouch, Surely it is an emergency if you have nowhere to stay and you're in like Kenya or something? What kind of things count as an emergency do you know?

I worked in a british consulate for nearly two years and they only thing they got excited about was a british journalist who got kidnapped and was looking down the barrel of a very close haircut

'Scuse the mixed metaphors

 

[Pickman's model]

what about if you're lost in antarctica? what would the local consul do then?

 

[xes]

what about if you're lost in antarctica? what would the local consul do then?

bury your frozen arse?

 

[Grace Johnson]

Are you looking to plan an emergency?

Nah, just an adventure

Researching what kind of back-up plans I need to make.

 

[Grace Johnson]

I worked in a british consulate for nearly two years and they only thing they got excited about was a british journalist who got kidnapped and was looking down the barrel of a very close haircut

'Scuse the mixed metaphors

Oh dear, my plan needs to be better then

 

[QueenOfGoths]

what about if you're lost in antarctica? what would the local consul do then?

Send in Prince Harry. Or a penguin. Or a penguin dressed as Prince Harry

 

[Grace Johnson]

try this:Support for British Nationals Abroad PDF

If you run out of money abroad, we can give you
information on how to transfer money and we can
help you to contact relatives and friends who may
be willing to transfer money to you or to buy you
a ticket back to the UK. If we transfer money on
your behalf, we will charge you for this.

Thanks

 

[twentythreedom]

Don't expect / rely on anything more than tea, sympathy and advice from British consulate / embassy etc. Seriously, don't. They won't give you money.

 

[silverfish]

Oh dear, my plan needs to be better then

Get two credit cards, one to use/get stolen/mugged/lost and one to break out in an emergency

Or get a spare card off your old dears and promise not to spunk it on good stuff

I think you can preload a cash card or travellers checks.

Get travel insurance with a cash delivery plan in it

Don't spunk all your money on good stuff

 

[zenie]

Don't expect / rely on anything more than tea, sympathy and advice from British consulate / embassy etc. Seriously, don't. They won't give you money.

Yep have a relative 'stuck' in S.E Asia... We have no money to repatriate people, I always thought that's just what happened if you got stuck abroad, that somehow Blighty would get you home but sadly not!

 

[twentythreedom]

Yep have a relative 'stuck' in S.E Asia... We have no money to repatriate people, I always thought that's just what happened if you got stuck abroad, that somehow Blighty would get you home but sadly not!

They'll buy you a takeaway if you're lucky

 

[gabi]

I remember running out of money for a taxi while fucked on E after a full moon party in thailand. sorry, this has nothing to do with the british consul but it just sprang to mind. i had also lost my shoes so i wore my feet literally raw after walking from haad rin all the way back to the beach i was staying at, on the other side of the island.

it took about 10 hours, in the space of which i managed to be knocked unconscious by an irate kick-boxer driver, massaged quite violently by a ladyboy and her mistress, dumped in the jungle with no fucking idea where i was and finally got home to sleep - when i took my clothes off i discovered 500 fucking baht in my pocket. which would have been more than enough to get me home. those were the days.

 

[Grace Johnson]

Get two credit cards, one to use/get stolen/mugged/lost and one to break out in an emergency

Or get a spare card off your old dears and promise not to spunk it on good stuff

I think you can preload a cash card or travellers checks.

Get travel insurance with a cash delivery plan in it

Don't spunk all your money on good stuff

That's good advice thank you, much appreciated

 

[Grace Johnson]

Yep have a relative 'stuck' in S.E Asia... We have no money to repatriate people, I always thought that's just what happened if you got stuck abroad, that somehow Blighty would get you home but sadly not!

That sounds horrible, hope it works out alright for them. Thanks for the story, going to have to b e a bit more careful than I thought. Good job I know now innit.

 

[Grace Johnson]

Thanks for the replies everyone, will have to put in a bit more graft before I set off to make sure I have a good safety net. Glad of the knowledge innit. Ta

 

[chilango]

Don't expect / rely on anything more than tea, sympathy and advice from British consulate / embassy etc. Seriously, don't. They won't give you money.

You'd be lucky to get "tea, sympathy and advice" frankly.

 

[weltweit]

I drove into Czechoslovakia years ago and filled my car up at a service station. Going in to pay they refused my visa card. They didn't accept visa only MasterCard iirc. I couldn't pay for the fuel, and I couldn't give it back, it was already in my car!

 

[weltweit]

I went over my credit card limit abroad once, as I was relying on it that was quite a shock. Luckily some late night phone calls to the UK got my limit increased and a day or two later I was back in business.

 

[Idris2002]

I remember running out of money for a taxi while fucked on E after a full moon party in thailand. sorry, this has nothing to do with the british consul but it just sprang to mind. i had also lost my shoes so i wore my feet literally raw after walking from haad rin all the way back to the beach i was staying at, on the other side of the island.

it took about 10 hours, in the space of which i managed to be knocked unconscious by an irate kick-boxer driver, massaged quite violently by a ladyboy and her mistress, dumped in the jungle with no fucking idea where i was and finally got home to sleep - when i took my clothes off i discovered 500 fucking baht in my pocket. which would have been more than enough to get me home. those were the days.

Sounds like a great night out!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Where are you planning to run out of money? This is important.

If you run out of money in somewhere like Thailand (for example) and aren't capable of making cash yourself, you could end up out staying your visa welcome which could land you in a not very nice prison. Don't expect help from any embassy. Only money from family, or friends in the UK will come to you.

If you run out of money in a country where the Red Cross operate, turn to them if you really are that desperate.

In most EU countries organisations who will help you do operate, but I would beg anyone not to abuse the service.

Personally, I consider myself to be very fortunate to have the skills necessary to make cash anywhere regardless of language. I have never had to ask for help and often travel on a day to day budget in pocket.

The best option for anyone finding themselves in such a predicament is to simply head to the airport and beg for help. People are very generous with their unspent currency and in a friendly 'after holiday' mood. I know many people who manage to travel the World this way.

If you are traveling to 'exotic' places DON'T RUN OUT OF CASH AND KEEP A RESERVE IN CASE OF LOSS/ROBBERY. Do this even if you have travel insurance.

 

[Quartz]

Having a discreet gold or silver necklace or ring or similar is a useful emergency fund. Discreet because you don't want to be mugged for it.

 

[Manter]

Yep have a relative 'stuck' in S.E Asia... We have no money to repatriate people, I always thought that's just what happened if you got stuck abroad, that somehow Blighty would get you home but sadly not!

God, if they did get you home can you imagine how many people would conveniently get mugged and need a plane ticket in the last week of their gap year/ round the world trip/ exotic adventure?