Brits asked embassies for hairdressers and duck pâté advice
British holidaymakers asked UK embassies where to get blonde highlights, and how much duck pâté they could bring home, the Foreign Office has revealed, as consular staff handled more than 328,000 enquiries over the past year.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the total works out at nearly 900 calls a day to embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide.
While the vast majority were genuine requests for help, the department published a list of its most unusual enquiries ahead of the summer holiday season, when millions of Brits travel overseas.
Among them, a holidaymaker in Jordan asked the embassy if it knew where they could get blonde highlights, while a caller contacted the embassy in Paris to ask how much duck pâté they could bring into the UK.
Another individual in France asked staff to help locate a car they had parked somewhere near the Eiffel Tower, and a Brit in Georgia asked whether their two pets could be granted British citizenship to guarantee diplomatic protection.
Other requests included a holidaymaker asking the embassy in Egypt to do something about the temperature of their hotel showers, a traveller in Nigeria seeking help with a refund for an unsatisfactory restaurant meal in Abuja, and a Brit asking the FCDO how to get in touch with their postman while away.
With the World Cup quarter-finals approaching, one caller in Italy asked where they could watch the Scotland v Haiti group game in Milan.
The FCDO said it cannot advise on hairdressing or resolve restaurant complaints, but set out what it can do for travellers who run into genuine trouble.
The department issued more than 29,500 Emergency Travel Documents last year to people whose passports were lost or stolen, while 8,573 people contacted consular staff because they were receiving medical care abroad.
Staff can also provide lists of English-speaking lawyers and translators to those arrested overseas and raise concerns about detention conditions with local authorities.
“Whether it is helping to replace a lost passport or supporting people in crisis, the FCDO has expert consular staff available 24/7, 365 days a year to help,” said Sarah Taylor, Director for Consular and Crisis at the FCDO.
“To ensure you enjoy your time and stay safe abroad, remember to check our Travel Advice and make sure you have appropriate insurance before you travel.”
The department urged travellers to check the latest FCDO Travel Advice for their destination, sign up for email alerts and take out appropriate travel insurance before flying this summer.
