General Chat

I was coming out of Somerfield today when a non British lady approached me with a note saying she was living in a hostel and had 4 children and was an asylum seeker. She was pointing to the trolley asking for my pound, I tried to explain that it was a token and I only had my card -no money on me but her English was poor. Then when I got into the car I realised I had £1.40 in the dish and I ran after her and gave it to her. What do you think ? Ros

Sorry to sound cynical, I reckon it's a new trick.... Sylvx

Hard one this I think...but well done to you for being so kind...

A third of my husbands salary goes to the taxman. I am sure a lot of that goes to 'Asylum Seekers' in the form of benefits. I wouldn't give them a penny. Sorry. Dee x

I'm afraid I agree with Dee, and when I add on all the other stealth taxes I pay more like 50% of my salary to the tax man. As far as I am concerned, asylum seekers should be processed with one week and if they have no case, then sent back from whence. About 15 years ago I used to commute into London every day. Euston station at that time had a regular army of beggars. Most sat there often with a little puppy dog looking sad and forlorn. It was all a con to tug at the heartstrings. They used to take it in turns to beg - in between shifts they could be found in the cafeteria or the bar spending their ill gotten gains. The Evening Standard ran an article at the time about a number who lived in a well appointed leafy suburb in an expensive house, all paid for by begging in this way.

£1.40 wasn`t a lot to loose if she`s not genuine, Ros

That is true but if 100 people cough up £1.40 in a day....!

I love this debate..coz its the one thing I have an opinion on... Again Peter I agree and once they are here and have a case then they TOO should work and pay taxes.. However I can't say the same for the british people who are the scrougers ...who have some many babies and think the world owes them a living..this annoys me too...

I agree some are not genuine but come on it`s Christmas---season of goodwill Ros

I think it was a very kind gesture Rosalyn and, like you said, if she wasn't genuine then £1.40 isn't a lot to lose. When I see people begging, I ask them if they're hungry. That soon sorts out the genuine ones from the scroungers! If they say yes, then I nip into the nearest shop and get them something to eat, I never hand over cash. However, I do agree that we're already paying for asylum seekers via our taxes. I was horrified to read that one of their centres had all the latest flat-screen televisions - when people like us have to save up for such luxuries on top of paying tax! Mandy xx

I tend to do what you do Mandy - if someone asks me for money, I ask them are they hungry, if they say no, then - sorry, no can give. We have a regular team of beggars round here - the classic is 'Excuse me miss, sorry to bother you, but I'm trying to get to.... Brighton/Eastbourne/Hastings/Bexhill etc. etc. and I haven't quite got enough for the fare'. Sylvx

Thank you , David. As you may or may not know I won £50 on premium bond this week--, Ros

To be honest Ros I would have done the same as you did. Maybe it was a Trick---you will never know. C xx

I would have probably done the same as you Ros, then wondered later on if they were genuine!

It could have been true. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work and their allowance is very low. Mostly they get vouchers rather than cash. They can't work until they have permission to stay. I think it was a lovely gesture, I'd have done the same. Gwynne

Well sorry to be a KIll Joy ive seen these people working the underground, personally i think we give em enough, Lillx

Whilst I applaud your generosity and kindness, Rosalyn, and that of others who give from the goodness of their hearts, I am still of the opinion that these people are taking us for a ride. As Peter said, with stealth taxes, taxpayers are giving around 50% of their hard earned salaries to the state already. And I don't believe it is fairly distributed. I do agree that we have enough British spongers. However, if you happen to be a hard working, conscientious member of this society what you get when you need it is a big fat NOTHING. For example, my son, 27 years old, who has worked and paid taxes since he left school at 18, was in the past year taken very ill and diagnosed (eventually) with Crohn's disease. If you don't know what it is Google it and see. In short, it is a chronic disease, with ulceration of the intestines which prevents proper absorption of food, leading to huge weight loss, urgent diarrohea and general weakness and malaise. There is no cure. He has been off work for months this year, because of it, (doctors certificates provided) as his specialists have yet to get it under control, if indeed they ever can. However, his sick pay, from the firm he works for decreases with each week of sickness, until he cannot manage to survive on it. Fortunately, he lives at home with us. His mum and dad. UNFORTUNATELY he is denied any sickness benefit, while he is unable to work, BECAUSE he lives at home with us. Just because he is provided with a roof over his head and food in his stomach at OUR expense, despite the fact that he has paid National Insurance or whatever for almost 10 years, (and my husband has paid for 40 years) he is entitled to NOTHING. So I get no housekeeping money from him, he doesn't have it. Also he has to pay a fortune for the dozens of drugs he has to take to try and control this awful disease. These people who are begging on our streets are 99% of the time NOT people who are fleeing from some tyrannical despot who rules their homeland, many of them are criminals, and spongers who are sucking their own countries dry...so those countries are only too glad to be rid of them. And we are the mugs who are taking them in and paying for them at the expense of our own people. Dee x

begging is what it is and its illegal!! ;o(

Rosalyn you have an open heart i would have done exactly the same and i believe what goes round comes round June xx

My mum lives in London, and this type of begging has been going on at her local supermarket for years. On occasions there are so many of these beggers that it is very intimidating and the police have been called. They chase you to your car and grab your trolley, and quite frankly I echo what lots of peeps on here have said. I pay enough tax which they get a large share of and I be dammed if I will give them any money voluntarily. Sue