Forum Topic

Big issue seller by Turham Green tube

Is this guy ok or fake .He wanted today tap my phone on his mobile phone to pay or donate.When I asked a few questions he got quite upset and then ignored me.Just asked can I pay by cash .Normally buy from the guy at Marks and Spencer’s but I haven’t seen him .

John Kennedy ● 840d19 Comments

Presumably he is licensed by The Big Issue, so perhaps you should address your query to the publishers ?

Richard Greenhough ● 840d

Big Issue sellers are sometimes part of an organised 'gang',quite often of Roma origin.I worked for many years in Hammersmith and they worked King St on a regular basis,often having a bloke playing an accordian.I dont know why they have come here to sell magazines,it's hardly an essential occupation and we have plenty of homeless and needy of our own.Selling the magazine for 16 hrs a week entitles the seller to a NI number and the right to claim benefits beyond the basic.Like many things,it was a great idea when it started but has morphed into  dodginess in some cases.

Keith Iddon ● 840d

I lost interest in all charities after the Oxfam Haiti scandal. Fat cats living in luxury and taking 90% of donations. It seems you can’t trust any of them these days. So sad what the ‘human’ race has become.

Steve Taylor ● 840d

Have you never noticed all these various big sellers we have had around all have one thing in common ? They all have 2 crutches and a bad leg. That is enough to tell you where the money is going. And most likely get picked up down some back road doing a hop skip and jump into the van back home to a room shared with the others.

Julian Pavey ● 840d

In one of the back streets off the Edgware Road I witnessed people being handed crutches as they got out of a mini bus just as you said Julian.I also saw a lady from the Middle East hand a fifty pound note to a beggar who had a regular pitch outside Bond Street Station. There are big bucks to be made.

Adrian Irving ● 840d

The man who normally sells the Big Issue for many years on his familiar patch outside M&S has always displayed geniality to shoppers and passers-by.In no way does he fit alongside the wrong type of sellers categorised previously in this thread.

Denis Ian Fox ● 840d

There are clearly some who need help and deserve our sympathy and support not disrespect. What I’m not sure about is the Romani types who all look similar and all have crutches and a shaky leg. There seem to be dozens around London. Either they all came to harm (perhaps courtesy of a gang) or they are all faking it (on behalf of a gang). What’s the score?

Emma Elizabeth ● 840d

“ no way does he fit alongside the wrong type of sellers categorised previously in this thread.”But you still don’t know where the money he collects is actually going to. My issue is that I don’t trust the ‘bosses’ of these charities.

Steve Taylor ● 840d

In the case of the Big Issue, the money is going directly to the vendor (unless of course they are being exploited as discussed in this thread).  The vendor buys copies of the Big Issue from the charity for £2 and sells them for £4, keeping the difference.

Andrzej Kowalski ● 839d

Big Issue sellers were given access to card readers during Covid 19 as fewer people were carrying cash (if you google Big Issue card readers you will find it).  Selling the big issue isn't actually that easy,  and in my experience,  the sellers often have an interesting story to tell if you engage with them.  And it's important to take the magazine,  so that the Big Issue can sell their advertising and keep up the good work.  If you're unsure about using the card reader,  you can always give them cash.

Nora Watkins ● 839d

Thanks Nora I did offer cash but he  asked for card and tap on his phone . Hence I asked  why not take cash ???

John Kennedy ● 839d

Yes it seems suspicious that when you asked to pay cash he got upset / ignored you.

Steve Taylor ● 839d

It's a shame if that is happening.  It's difficult enough to get people to buy The Big Issue.  The other option is to check if they have a genuine Big Issue ID.

Nora Watkins ● 839d

Best thing to do is ignore thosewith crutches then you knowyour not giving it to someone else.There are quite a few of these people around London.If they got 50people in London selling 5 a day for £2 profit that adds up and they most likely living in a room of about 8 with basic food supplied.In fact someone on here purchased one of one of these people way back before COVID and the person said the copy he later found out was about 5 months old.

Julian Pavey ● 839d

There has been the same bloke selling The Big Issue in Brentford for at least the 22 years I have resided there.He stands outside a supermarket,where there are often vacancies for jobs and makes no attempt to get one.If he is homeless(that's what the Big Issue was..homelessness)I am Lord Lucan.I asked him once why he didn't try to get a job at the supermarket and was met with a muttered response.Doesn't fancy paying his way in society me thinks.

Keith Iddon ● 839d

Andy the Big Issue seller who is sometimes outside Waitrose is legit and registered. Nice bloke too, likes a sandwich and a pint of gold top milk if your doing your shopping.The girl that used to sit outside Greggs told me that the 'shaky leg' chaps on crutches are all fake and get dropped off round the corner. Give away is to look at their shoes as a person with a real disability would have shoes that have worn in a certain way.If you are going to get The Big Issue just give your money to Andy and buy him a sandwich!

Chris Blackwell ● 838d

There used to be people in rural parts of some countries who were called the equivalent of 'maimers' and their job was to disable young people so they could be more convincing beggars on city streets. I don't know if such a thing still exists, but the people on the street are definitely victims.

Davey Harris ● 835d

see for instance this article about child maiming in Indiahttps://www.crc.cnlu.ac.in/post/amputation-or-maiming-of-children-for-the-purpose-of-begging

Davey Harris ● 835d

Yep the beggars on the street are victims of criminal gangs unfortunately. And unfortunately the only way to stop the criminal gangs is to stop donating to the beggars because the money goes straight to the gangs. Likewise if criminal gangs know it’s lucrative to send illegals in boats across the channel, they will continue to send them. If boat people know they will be sent straight back or sent to Rwanda they will stop paying thousands to criminal gangs.

Steve Taylor ● 834d