I told them I'll/I'd be online at 8:30

[Ashraful Haque]

Normally I say "I told them I'd be online at 8:30" where the whole sentence is in the past form. But is it possible to say "I told them I'll be online at 8:30" where I'm basically repeating exactly what I said before?

I have two more questions:
Can i use this form when:
1) I told them at 7:30 that I'll be online at 8:30. Now it's 8, so the statement is still valid.
2) I told them at 7:30. But now it's 9 and the entire incident is a past.


Few similar sentences- "I told them I won't/wouldn't be able to do it", "I told you that you'll/you'd lose."

 

[jutfrank]

If it's before 8:30, I'd say it's more likely that a speaker would use will instead of would.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

If it's before 8:30, I'd say it's more likely that a speaker would use will instead of would.

Is 'would' possible if I'm just talking about what I did/said in the past even when it's before 8:30?

 

[Tdol]

The rules on reporting and backshifting are flexible- grammars that suggest they are automatic don't always reflect usage.

 

[Ashraful Haque]

I came across this sentence:
"When I called Laura last night, her husband told me she had gone out."

Would it be correct to say it without back-shifting:
"When I called Laura last night, her husband told me that she went out."

Here I'm just saying what her husband said instead of back-shifting. According to the answers it should be correct to say it that way. Please let me know what you think.