When Did You Last Use A Public Telephone?

[naomi24]

A discussion on radio this morning about BT’s intention to remove a number of the remaining telephone boxes posed the question, ‘When did you last use a public telephone?’

Should they be abandoned – or do they still serve a useful purpose?

I can't remember the last time I used one.

[sanmac]

I remember as a kid going around town and pressing a button on the phones to see if any pennies dropped into the coin return slot...Sometimes I got lucky.

[Cloverjo]

I last used one about 5 years ago because I forgot my mobile. I was shocked that it cost 60p for just a few seconds.

[Mamyalynne]

Some of the repurposing of the old red decommissioned ones is inspired.

[ummmm]

I think there is one at the end of my street.

I can't remember the last time I used one. It was over 10 years ago.

[fender62]

last time mmm 1980's there's one in our village, two pubs on either end of street, phone box between these pubs.. id like to think it's not used as a urinal..but im not opening the door to check.

[Tuvok]

Village box has gone.

Box at bus station in town has gone.

There were boxes on the High Street - 1 group of 3 has gone, don't know about the other 2 as location is behind construction hoardings!

[Ken4155]

A friend of mine had a red phone box in place of a front gate. Obviously all the glass and workings had been taken out but the door remained in place.

[Tuvok]

Ps. I don't have a mobile.

[johnny.5]

let's not be too hasty


Where Is Clark Kent supposed to get changed ?

[Theland]

Ours is silver. Five years ago I think.

[Tilly2]

I was sure that the OP was going to end in... toilet, when I looked at latest posts. :-)

[tiggerblue10]

I haven't used one since I've had mobiles. First one I got was in 1995.

Also, I've never gone into one alone after I saw the film La Cabina!

[Jackdaw33]

We used to go round the boxes of an evening sticking paper up the button B chute. We would return the next morning to remove the paper and collect our ill-gotten gains.

[Arksided]

Took some thinking back, but I didn't have a land-line or mobile in the flat I was living in at the time 2001... Phoning a Lady I'd met in a nightclub after the weekend. At the time it cost a bomb 50p after 50p, etc... gawd only knows what it costs now.

[GymLadTim]

I have never been in one!!

[Jackdaw33]

When I wa growing up in the 50s very few people had home phones. Those who did were regarded as posh. The phone box was then a necessity; there were often queues outside and people would bang on the door if someone was taking too long in making a call.

[Canary42]

To answer the OP, I'm not sure, but it was certainly last century.

The problem with their upkeep is that due to our ridiculous laws which allow dogs and horses to freely urinate in public, people are frorbidden to do so (unless you want to be fined and go on the sexual offenders register for Christ's sake). Hence people perform in telephone boxes, and regular cleaning would be too costly for BT.

[Arksided]

I don't believe that BT recouped the expense they pay to having the rights to screen Football (mainly) and need to cut costs else where.

Having them in Cities is still vitally important IMO, for folk that have being robbed etc... and need to report it quickly, don't have their mobiles or that it was that was stolen etc... Its lacklustre responsibility in my eyes even though time moves on not everyone is equipped to use the latest tech.

[tonyav]

1996 ( I think ), remember 'Dial a Disc.

[naomi24]

pp, //Interesting idea that if Ni doesnt use a thing
then no one does.... //

Don't kid yourself. Your ideas are never interesting.

BT aren't talking about the kiosks but the actual phones. As has been said some villages use the boxes for other things. One I know posts village news in theirs.