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Big Issue vendors - what's the story with them?
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So for the past few days I've been buying the magazine from a young lad in town (he told me he's only 15) and got talking to him, although he can barely speak English. He refuses any food or extra money which is fair enough as he's a worker and not a charity case, but I bought his last magazine today and was surprised to see him happily take off his Big Issue vendor jacket, stuff it in his bag and walk off with a smile on his face. It was only 2pm and I was wondering where on Earth he would have went at that time. Aren't the vendors homeless? Or are they in a hostel somewhere? How are they supposed to move forward in life or get on their feet by only making a £1.25 profit on every sale?
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Probably got enough for 20 Bensons and a 6 cans of Spesh, what more do you need?
Every Big Issue vendor in our town is trying to flog their "last copy".
So is the one in Stevenage and Letchworth. They even bring stools with them!
As discussed in some detail a few weeks back. Seems that immigrants
(especially from E. Europe) have discovered they need only sell the BI for 16 hours per week to put in for Benefits - such as the Romanian / Bulgarian woman with 2 or 3 children who was thus able to claim around £27k with housing allowance and what else comes with it !
I'd ask how you get such nice benefits and assistance, but I'm guessing the leaflets and forms are mostly in any language but English...
As you said you bought his last magazine , maybe he went to his hostel or homeless shelter or somewhere for food, this weather if you had sold your last one you would hardly want to to be standing around, and he may be smiling as he had sold out. there are some con artists out there but also genuine ones who will be happy as they made a few quid.
I remember when it was just Brits who sold it.Now,it's mostly Romanians.
I think the Big Issue started out as a good idea.It meant something.Now,it's loads of Roma scammers.
The filthy looking woman stood outside Superdrug in Letchworth certainly would fit that description. Once she's no doubt made enough cash, she travels over to neighbouring Hitchin and sells there
All the way from Romania?
In Glasgow, all the sellers were beaten up or intimidated by Romanian gangs so that they could put their own people in place to get money.
The good hearted,well meaning UK have been like lambs to the slaughter to these people.
And what are the police and Home Office doing about it, I wonder?
More lies, hot air and broken promises from Theresa May about 'getting tough' on these criminal immigrant gangs
As soon as I see the headscarf.I know who they are.I'm particularly wary of the ones that have their pitch right next to the cash machines.ATM scams are a speciality of the Romanians.
I was sat in a pub once and a Big Issue "seller" came in and asked me to buy his last copy. I did and then he went "oh you don't actually want it do you?" and I said "er, yes?" and he said something like "oh I thought you would just give me the money". I then realised he wasnt a Big Issue seller at all, just someone who had bought a copy to try this stunt. I just went "oh f*ck off, keep it, don't come near me again".
There IS a genuine B.I. seller at the entrance to the train station who I don't mind buying from as he is official, so I round it up to £3
I believe they only get so many copies a day and it's intended to help them become independant, work for their money and get back on their feet. This I don't mind.
For the record, the guy isn't Romanian. Call me predjudiced, I don't care, but I *never* buy off a Romanian for the reasons stated above. I just don't believe they're doing it for the right reasons, I believe the guy outside the station is.
It's the 1st I've heard of this Roma gang stuff,has anyone,public or media,contacted Big Issue about it and recieved any sort of statement
I used to buy it from her, but stopped.
During this time she has had 2 children, and has at least one more as she sometimes brings her older son along with her.
I also thought the big issue was a stop gap to help people back on their feet while they were homeless, but it must be lucrative enough for someone to bring up a family I guess, as this is what she is doing.