In the news this week, an Aussie asked his Embassy for a loan to pay a Thai prostitute. They have been asked to pay for jetski repairs, and to get a polecat off a roof.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-30305971

I remember people on TV complaining that the Embassy didn't pay 3 flights home when they lost their holiday money after leaving their bags unattended.

What do you think they should do for you?

I've actually found the Australian embassy reasonably helpful and efficient. The few times I've used their services I've managed to get everything done. Unusual for a government department.

Embassy of OZ probably helpful. US embassy no help unless you are a visiting Congressman or the like.

In the recent past the head of consular affairs at the US embassy in Phnom Penh was suppose to co-ordinate with Cambodian ministers so that Cambodia would be taken off the ban list for US citizens receiving Social Security benefits. Consular head Anita Allegra (sound like a strippers name) was too busy greeting traveling feminists and lunching to do her work. It took me 6 month of 6hrs a day to go around her and get the law changed. I believe she is now in a third floor basement office in Washington DC.

BTW: During the Thai tsunami crisis Mrs. Allegra was the point person at the Bangkok US embassy for information for the families of victims, but didn't even know the names of towns in Thailand and refused to give information. Also her husband, Charge a' Affairs at the US PP embassy got a big job in Washington DC and bigger pay raise for cementing relations between the US and the Cambodian government, but in a wiki-leaks document he called the Cambodian government crooks, thieves, can't govern themselves and Cambodia a haven for terrorists and money laundering.

Yes, the US embassy in PP a real piece of work.

I've learned to expect nothing from my government.

From my own experiences so far I think with the British Embassy my attitude is to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised if they exceed my expectations.

I think that more emphasis appears to be placed on the business/trade angle of the Embassy's function, so if something happens to you while you work for a prominent company they can use their Embassy contacts and influence to obtain better assistance. With the cut backs, outsourcing and rationalisation that has taken place in the last few years I think basic levels of expected service has declined. Look at something as simple as passport renewal, access times are based on a pure business model of efficiency not convenience for the citizen. A sign of the times unfortunately. If you are purely an individual travelling or living independent in a country you've got far less chance.

Going to backtrack slightly on the above, during my one and only political upheaval evacuation we had to rely on information being provided by the U.S. Embassy real time and joined a military escort to the airport coordinated by the joint Scandanavian Embassies. I think the UK staff fled before the trouble started without telling anyone, probably emptied the drinks cabinet before they left mind you.

Being from Northern Ireland I should have a choice of embassies, but there isn't an Irish one, and the British one is a waste of space.

I 've learned to expect the Cambodian rent a cops to run the entrance with an iron hand. On the positive side I have never encountered more pleasant public servants than the Cambodians behind the windows where business is done. The Cambodian visitors who come to the embassy generally treat the Americans as visitors who strayed in the wrong building. And the Americans who work there, especially those who are tasked with Social Security duties do their best to do nothing at all, referring all questions to Manila. No, they don't contact Manila; they expect you to do it. And when I've asked for a contact name or an email address to register a complaint the response is always to play CYA and give me no info at all. It's a mixed bag, but operating at a far too low level of social awareness and efficiency.

i never expected them to be much help, but my embassy won't even issue a fucking passport these days

General Mackevili wrote: I have heard they are the most helpful here I Saudi Arabia if/when shit were to hit the fan.

Hey GMAC, do you know how to find the US embassy in Saudi Arabia?

Just pick up a rock and follow the crowd.