Beggers on stations

[Tomonthetrain]

I have a strict No Giving policy. Why should I give my money to find it ends up on drugs or cigarettes. Id rather donate to a charity I know the money will be used for something useful

 

[DelayRepay]

I have a strict No Giving policy.

Me too. I agree with those people who say the situation has got worse over the last 12 months or so, especially in London.

I was not long ago asked by a woman at London Bridge for £20 so that she could get home. Her story was that she was pregnant and had been robbed so had no cash, cards or train tickets. I asked her where she needed to get to and she said Bristol. Now call me stupid but I didn't think trains ran from London Bridge to Bristol for £20.

I told her I didn't have any money but said she should follow me as I would take her into the station where there would probably be a police officer who could help. She wasn't keen. Infact she said something that rhymes with duck your shelf.

 

[BestWestern]

I told her I didn't have any money but said she should follow me as I would take her into the station where there would probably be a police officer who could help. She wasn't keen. Infact she said something that rhymes with duck your shelf.

I hope you offered a suitably abusive reply?! No point being proper to low life like that, they've no place in a civilised society (apparently that's where we live!).

 

[Manchester77]

I only give money to buskers who don't smell of cigarettes/alcohol. There was one in sale today he was ok but I then proceeded to get on the met where there was one man who was walking up and down until the PSRs asked him to leave...

The thing is I ask the ones who roam around if they'd like a drink (coffee not an alcoholic beverage) and they then refuse. So when I ask them why they want it they run off... Hmm

 

[tsr]

I don't give to beggars as indeed it is hard to tell where any money is going, and, as implied in this thread, offers of food/drink/tickets (etc.) can be wasted.

However, if I notice that they are causing a nuisance, are verging on criminal activity, or look particularly distressed, I will alert station/train staff or a police officer. That way I feel I have ensured that somebody is aware that assistance may be needed imminently.

As I do not know how any given beggar/homeless person has got into their situation, I try to remain neutral in my mind, even though I have on occasion had journeys disrupted by such people, and have been occasionally inconvenienced in other ways. Life is hard on these people, no matter whether or not their circumstances are their own fault, so I do feel it's best to keep an open mind.

I have to say I try my best to remember to support charities which help the homeless & vulnerable, as these organisations are often able to assist in a far more widespread and effective way than I can.

 

[jon0844]

Me too. I agree with those people who say the situation has got worse over the last 12 months or so, especially in London.

I'm not sure the situation has got worse in the last 12 months. I can remember people begging for, well, almost forever. Working at Old Street for a long time might be one reason; one or more persons at every exit usually. However, I've seen them being given coffees and sandwiches and they do accept them (and eat/drink them).

I remember people asking for money for train tickets, then saying that to prove they were travelling, they'd go and buy the ticket in front of me (and then refund it later, obviously) and that didn't fool me. I've had people also asking for money for petrol as they've broken down just around the corner.. again, no sale.

What was most bizarre was a spell of being stopped between Euston and King's Cross (when walking between the two) and some other parts of London where some very well-spoken men in suits were asking for money, doing the 'just been mugged' story and insisting on taking your name and address so they could pay you back. Not only did they not get any money, but they weren't getting a name and address either!

Every time I see these people, I think 'surely nobody can fool for it' but you just stand around and see what happens; they get handed loads of money by people who are naive, or really do think they're helping and actually moan at those that don't help them. It's as if they can't see where the money is actually going to go.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Oh, and those that think an ATM is a good place to wait to ask somebody for change....

 

[jon0844]

Beggars only accept £10 and £20 notes these days...

I presume that they think when you take your wallet/purse out to get your card, you might be in a better position to find some change - but unlike other situations, I'm yet to ever see anyone do that.

 

[Clip]

I would have thought that there's surely something in the railway by-laws giving the "authorities" the right to ask somebody to leave the station area and if they return they are liable to arrest?

There was a crackdown on beggars in Bristol some years ago (and rightly so, as the situation was getting ridiculous) and I haven't seen a beggar at Temple Meads for years.

There is, but with some stations having so many entry/exit points they just give you the run around.

One situation we used to have at The Cross was one junkie who had nominated Boots on the concourse as the place to pick up her Methadone every day, she would use front entrance then exit onto the concourse. Took us ages to get them to repeal her prescription there and use the one up the street. Didnt stop her comin in though, generally with only 1 copy of the big issue and then asking for it back after some mug gave her money.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Beggars only accept £10 and £20 notes these days...

I presume that they think when you take your wallet/purse out to get your card, you might be in a better position to find some change - but unlike other situations, I'm yet to ever see anyone do that.

Next we know they'll be taking Visa

 

[jon0844]

I'm sure some of them will take anything given a chance.

 

[Evvy73]

It does make you wonder what will happen when we do eventually become a 'cashless society'.

Granted it will be a while yet, but with things like Oyster Cards which can be topped up online or via a payment card and more places starting to accept NFC/Contactless Payment (i.e. using your payment card/phone for small amounts), there are less and less reason's to always have cash on you.

Will this cause the beggars to stop hassling us for "£5 for a train ticket"? I doubt it......but you never know.

I personally hate carrying cash around and will always use my debit card if I can.

As someone has said - maybe the beggars will start carrying Chip and PIN machines around with them?!

 

[AlexS]

Never have anything to do with em. Someone tried hassling me for money on my own station while I was in uniform once which seemed a ridiculously stupid thing to do. The same bloke doesn't seem to have learned as I believe the other week someone broke one of his crutches over his head.

You get used to your regulars, unfortunately. If you kick them off often enough some of them do get bored of it and stop coming back. Others you have to get dragged off by BTP or civils every time.

 

[Flamingo]

My personal peeve is the people who want a largish sum such as £21.50 at Paddington (the price of a single to Reading) because they've been mugged/chucked out by their parents/fired/etc. but seem very unenthusiastic about you going to the TVM and buying them a ticket.

If you have problems at Pad, let staff know, we take a dim view of it.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'll give money to buskers if they are good, I'll stop and listen even, as a musician myself I think they are working for their cash, more than Big Issue sellers are ( who I say a polite "No thank you" to). Romanians squeezing random notes on accordions or tin whistles don't count, except as noise pollution.

Everybody else - go get a job.

 

[mirodo]

I have a strict No Giving policy. Why should I give my money to find it ends up on drugs or cigarettes. Id rather donate to a charity I know the money will be used for something useful

Same here.

I used to think buying a copy of the Big Issue was a relatively good idea (in fact it probably still is usually), but the last time I bought one the person selling it claimed it was their last one and they wanted more money than the cover price.

Needless to say they got their Big Issue back, along with a few Big Words for free.

 

[Metrailway]

What suggestions do you have for a passenger who is fed up of beggers at a particular station?

Anyone who lives in Coventry will understand you can't even walk to the shop without being asked for money, but at Coventry station it seems you can't go without getting harrased by someone. If you don't have change, they'll offer to break a note (they'll probably start accepting donations by card soon too), last night I was only there a few minutes to meet someone off a train and was greeted by some low-life with "You got 90p?" and when I declared my lack of 90p, he wanted to use my phone to send a text.

All the time there are people harrassing others for money etc at that station but theres never anything that can be done.

This happened to me recently at Coventry station. The beggar seemed to be best mates with the staff at the station so I guess reporting him would have been pointless.

 

[Flamingo]

Report him to whoever operates the station.

 

[rebmcr]

It does make you wonder what will happen when we do eventually become a 'cashless society'.

Granted it will be a while yet, but with things like Oyster Cards which can be topped up online or via a payment card and more places starting to accept NFC/Contactless Payment (i.e. using your payment card/phone for small amounts), there are less and less reason's to always have cash on you.

Will this cause the beggars to stop hassling us for "£5 for a train ticket"? I doubt it......but you never know.

I personally hate carrying cash around and will always use my debit card if I can.

As someone has said - maybe the beggars will start carrying Chip and PIN machines around with them?!

A true cashless society won't happen until all the NFC cards have a little screen and the capability to 'tap' another card directly, to transfer balance. Alternately, if cards are abandoned altogether and it's all done through a person's mobile.

However it's done though, we will have to be able to give our mates that tenner we owe them, away from infrastructure.

 

[Butts]

The only beggars I give money to are those with animals (normally dogs) - what a sap

If I've no change I normally offer them a couple of fags as most of them seem to smoke.

 

[bAzTNM]

What was most bizarre was a spell of being stopped between Euston and King's Cross (when walking between the two) and some other parts of London where some very well-spoken men in suits were asking for money, doing the 'just been mugged' story and insisting on taking your name and address so they could pay you back

I had this story in the middle of a rough housing estate in Glasgow, £7 they wanted. Had a cane too, looked really bizarre. Didn't give him in any money.

 

[Southwest]

A few years back I was in York. There were four of us and, as usual, our eyes were bigger than our bellies so I asked the friendly PizzaHut staff to box up what we didn't eat. I remembered seeing a few down and outs at the station and thought they could have some pizza.

Big mistake. One only wanted cash, another cigs and the third turned his nose up because he didn't like peperroni on his pizza.

Since that day, I've said "Screw 'em" and I don't give squat to beggars anymore.

So, if you hold you hand out to me at any London station expecting a handout, blame those northern bums for screwing things up for you!

 

[Roverman]

It has got gradualy worse over the last 6 months.

I blame the Olympics, there seemed to be no concerted effort to deport those outstaying their welcome after the Games.

I'll probably get called a Nazi but I really think the Australian attitude towards immigration is the right way.

 

[Yew]

I'll give money to buskers if they are good, I'll stop and listen even, as a musician myself

Same here, and I once saw someone draw some beautiful chalk and charcoal murals on lincoln high street. However on the other hand, there seem to be more and more out in the centre of lincoln begging, and swearing up a storm if you dont give them money.

 

[Flamingo]

I blame the Olympics, there seemed to be no concerted effort to deport those outstaying their welcome after the Games.

I don't think many of the current beggars are ex- olympians. I am willing to be corrected, however

 

[6Gman]

I remember hearing of several incidents back in the 1980's where troublesome beggers at Euston accidently locked themselves in the parcels cage of a BG, and had to be rescued and helped off the station by the BTP when the train got to Glasgow.

There used to be an overnight paper train to Lairg - that would have confused them!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I. Id rather donate to a charity I know the money will be used for something useful

...like the rather obscene admin wages of certain charities

 

[Flamingo]

...like the rather obscene admin wages of certain charities

As a rule of thumb, if they have TV adverts, I refuse to give to them...

 

[ryan125hst]

As a rule of thumb, if they have TV adverts, I refuse to give to them...

It's funny you should mention that. Only the other day there was an advert on TV asking for money (I think it was for children in Africa) and I said to my Mum and Dad that they must have paid a fortune to advertise on TV!

 

[weastebusdepot]

Haven't seen him for a while, but there used to be a guy who would hang around the bus stops in Manchester city centre claiming to have lost his wallet and need money for a bus to Stockport. Then the next day he'd be at a different stop and this time trying to get to Bolton etc. The amount of people who seemed to fall for his story, I figured he was probably making more money in an hour than most of the people who were 'donating' to him. Then at the end of a productive day, he'd get the bus home... and persuade the driver to let him on free because he'd lost his ticket!

There are still plenty of the traditional beggers in the centre of Manchester, including the men sitting in doorways half under blankets asking passers by for change in a weak feeble voice... but then suddenly develop a loud booming voice to tell the female Romanian beggers to F-off when they spot them encroaching onto their 'patch'.

 

[sheff1]

There used to be a couple of regular beggars around Sheffield station but the BTP put up posters and announcements were made asking people to report them. This seems to have worked as I haven't seen any beggars there for years now.