Mine paid for itself when my car came to an abrupt halt at night on an isolated country road with no pavements and no streetlights. I was on my own and was able to contact roadside assistance without having to leave the car and hike about two miles down the road. Turned out that a fuel line had not been put on properly in my very new car and had come astray. At the risk of being flamed I admit that I am not and have no interest in learning about the mechanics of vehicles.

I've also used it to report a man being attacked in London on a quiet Sunday afternoon and to let the police know about a road accident that had just occurred.

We now have a programme that gives us 400 minutes a month in calls so I use the cell phone rather than the landline when I can. The technology is there and I reckon that I might as well make use of it.

Mine stays in the side pocket of my handbag and I've not had to find it....yet.