Being asked for money in the street

[3rd rail land]

I've had people come up to me lots of times asking for small amounts of money for a train/bus fare or to buy food etc...

I've also seen people say they've lost their wallet and need money to get to wherever they claim they need to get to.

I simply ignore these people and walk away. I doubt any of these are genuine.

When it is obviously genuine I do try and help but genuine cases are extremely rare.

 

[Bluejays]

I've just came back from walking through Argyle Street/Trongate in Glasgow and got stopped by a guy who came across the road to explain to me that he had lost some things and needed £15 for a bus to Edinburgh. I had a tenner but he kept insisting I went to get him more money from an ATM. I had to leave eventually but let him keep the tenner since I thought he genuinely needed it.

I'm 20 and am fairly inexperienced with situations like this. Do you think he was being genuine or was it a scam? The thing that made me wary was asking for ATM money which I know is an absolute no-no in case he was to try and obtain bank details (my parents have always insisted I never do this).

I feel really guilty if he was genuine. How should I have handled this? What do you do when asked for money in the street?

He seems like he must be in a bit of trouble. Much like myself to be honest. I urgently need £50 for uh, really important things. If you could send me the money I'd be much obliged.


On a serious note. Sounds like a blatant scam. I'd take it as a lesson learned and at least it was only a tenner you lost. It may sound harsh, but the only way to deal with these people is to be quite cold and just say no the second they start to ask . Once they've latched on its a lot harder to get rid of them. I'm sure a lot of us have fallen for this type of thing when we were young. I know i certainly did.

 

[ainsworth74]

If on the street where its just passive or similar: "Sorry I don't carry change" or if its near a shop or similar I'll sometimes offer to get them something to eat/drink if I've got time (and I've had a few take me up on that offer).

At a station where its often that they're just a "few quid short for a ticket home/to a homeless shelter/etc" then I'll offer to go to a TVM to buy them a ticket. Funnily enough no-one has ever taken me up on this offer (if they ever did I would happily buy them a ticket!).

I had one where it fell apart not so long ago. Asked if I could help whilst I was walking up to Middlesbrough station and I said maybe as it wasn't obvious initially that they were on the prowl for money. Told me that they were homeless and had been offered a place at a shelter in Durham but hadn't got the money for the train fare and their girlfriend was waiting at the station to buy the tickets but they were trying to get the money. So could I help out? There's a cash machine just there?

He's face fell when I said: "Oh, I'm going that way as I've got a train to catch so let's go together and I'll buy the tickets for you and your girlfriend" so then it was ah well I'm banned from the trains so I need to get a bus ticket. At that point I think he knew it had fallen apart so when I told him in response "nah sorry not giving you money" he just accepted it and wondered off. I think he was hoping I had parked in the big council multistory so his little scheme falling apart instantly must have been disappointing

But my default is always "I've not got any cash" and depending on location and my time I may follow it up with "but I'll buy you a ticket/some food".

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I'm very cynical about all these street beggars. A guy opposite me lives in a house on which the mortgage has been fully paid and he and his wife both get decent pensions - far better than anything I can look forward to. But he still goes to London every day to sit with a carboard sign saying that he's hungry and homeless. I think he clears around £40 a day.

 

[Merseysider]

I don’t entertain aggressive/bothersome beggars. “Sorry, no” as soon as they accost me and they’re normally gone. Anyone who gives them money is just encouraging them to hassle more people in future.

Passive beggars sitting on the pavement, including those meekly asking for change, will normally get whatever small change I have in my pocket (or a beer from my bag!). Even if not all are genuine, I’d hate to be in their shoes.

 

[Jamiescott1]

Used to be a really well spoken guy outside high wycombe station who always needed money for the night shelter.
Every time I saw him, I reminded him that the night shelter was free.

 

[midland1]

It is illegal to beg on railway premises, under railway bylaw.

 

[PeterY]

Keep walking.

That's me as well .

On the rare occasions I'm approached, I treat them like roundabouts, taking a wide arc and avoid eye contact.

I give to two charities directly and they are my chosen charities.

 

[dk1]

That's me as well .

On the rare occasions I'm approached, I treat them like roundabouts, taking a wide arc and avoid eye contact.

I give to two charities directly and they are my chosen charities.

Yes same here. I ain’t giving to a stranger on the street. I only buy alcohol for myself.

 

[Geezertronic]

Like someone said upthread, offer to buy the thing they want and their interest goes away. Once knew of a Mum whose young daughter was in the same class as my daughter who would regularly ask for money to buy her kid some food/cordial etc... but refused the offer of actual food/cordial etc... because she wanted the money. Turned out she was a druggie and her daughter was eventually taken into care

I once offered a beggar some food (two for one in the petrol station so it was no biggie) and he told me to 'f' off as he only wanted the money

 

[simonw]

Keep walking.

This. Don't engage with them in anyway. Give to the appropriate charities, but don't engage with beggars on the street.

 

[Fokx]

My advice is to simply walk around with wired headphones in if your alone and don’t make eye contact, even if your not listening to anything or there’s nothing actually plugged into the other end.

Sorry can’t stop, can’t hear you, won’t acknowledge you.

It’s my tactic around over-enthusiastic street marketing companies and street vendors trying to collect money for charity, sell me their latest mix tape or lucky heather, sign me up for vehicle recovery or wanting to change my electric supplier.

 

[dk1]

This. Don't engage with them in anyway. Give to the appropriate charities, but don't engage with beggars on the street.

Best way. We have a good local night shelter charity that I go out of the way to give too.

 

[Scotrail12]

OMG - just saw the guy hanging out with a bunch of other people outside a hotel and speaking another language (I only say that since it makes it seem like his persona yesterday was an act). I guess he likely wasn't off to Edinburgh after all and this confirms I was scammed.

Thanks all for the advice, as others have said, a worthy lesson and only had to 'pay' £10 for it. No major loss.

I think being 20, on my own and potentially a bit of a pushover does make me a magnet for these types. I've encountered other types of aggressive beggar before but they were obvious (e.g. Roma beggars) so I didn't give them the time of day.

 

[McRhu]

There exists a twilight world between out and out begging and genuine busking for reward. I remember a charlatan lying under a tree in Sauchiehall Street (the worse for wear) with his shoes off, wiggling his toes in a kind of half-hearted attempt at a puppet show. If he'd bothered washing his socks beforehand I might have felt more generous.

 

[Strathclyder]

I tend to give the more persistant/aggressive beggars a wide berth before they can even start attempting to engage me - wired headphones on ears, saying I don't have any change (which I only do if I have my wallet on me) etc.

The passive ones meekly begging on the street I occasionally give 5-10p or whatever spare change I happen to have on me, but no more than that. I sometimes have a internal conflict over this, but I almost always land on the 'don't get involved' side. I know it's rather cold and cynical, but life as a whole has taught me, sometimes with scarcely a punch pulled, that you shouldn't take sincerity at face value and to always keep your wits about you, especially when it comes to your wallet/money & smartphone.

Being in my mid-20s, often on my own when out in public, being of a skinny build & being fairly reserved/introverted must mark me out as being easy pickings for the former group. Even with all this in mind, I'd honest-to-god hate to be in their shoes.

 

[Hadders]

I used to pass a beggar everyday on my walk from Kings Cross to my office in Central London. Always sat outside a Pret store he seemed to do quite well. At Christmas someone bought him some new trainers and a tent. Within a week they were gone, replaced by his old tatty trainers and a piece of cardboard to sit on.

Clearly his takings dropped.

 

[nanstallon]

I tend to give the more persistant/aggressive beggars a wide berth before they can even start attempting to engage me - wired headphones on ears, saying I don't have any change (which I only do if I have my wallet on me) etc. They usually give up and move on after a few minutes if they choose to follow me, sometimes punctuated by a few muttered curses.

The passive ones meekly begging on the street I occasionally give 5-10p or whatever spare change I happen to have on me, but no more than that. I sometimes have a internal conflict over this, but I almost always land on the 'don't get involved' side. I know it's rather cold and cynical, but life as a whole has taught me, sometimes with scarcely a punch pulled, that you shouldn't take sincerity at face value and to always keep your wits about you, especially when it comes to your wallet/money & smartphone.

Being in my mid-20s, often on my own when out in public, being of a skinny build & being fairly reserved/introverted must mark me out as being easy pickings for the former group. Even with all this in mind, I'd honest-to-god hate to be in their shoes.

Where are the police? People shouldn't be hassled in this way. I accept that people may sit on the pavement (not so as to obstruct), but once they demand money, action should be taken. Another reason to do your shopping in out of town supermarkets or shopping malls, which don't tolerate this intimidation.

 

[Geezertronic]

I was on the London Tube Picadilly Line (to Hounslow West) a few weeks ago and there were a few beggars that come on the train showing signs which "explain their plight" etc... asking for money, and one who placed small tissue pouches down with a sign asking for them to be purchased (no price mentioned). There also seems to be one or two beggars at Tottenham Court Road that sit there with their sign asking for money.

I fear that with the current climate, it will only get worse

 

[Fenchurch SP]

I was on the London Tube Picadilly Line (to Hounslow West) a few weeks ago and there were a few beggars that come on the train showing signs which "explain their plight" etc... asking for money, and one who placed small tissue pouches down with a sign asking for them to be purchased (no price mentioned). There also seems to be one or two beggars at Tottenham Court Road that sit there with their sign asking for money.

I fear that with the current climate, it will only get worse

Has anybody texted the BTP when there are beggars as some announcements sometimes request? Used to be lots of tissue sellers in South London but the only one I've seen recently was on a Southend Victoria service.

 

[duncanp]

Talking of day travelcards, didn't LU once use to have a major problem, back in the days immediately before Oyster cards, with beggars asking for no-longer needed paper travelcards at "London Terminals" tube stations, which could then be onsold at a discount for cash to arriving passengers?

I remember arriving at Kings Cross tube station late on a Friday night and going to the ticket machines to buy a ticket.

Two people came up to me and offered to sell me a used one day travelcard at a discounted price.

A heated argument developed between the two of them about who had the greater "right" to sell me their used ticket.

I told both of them to **** off.

 

[johnnychips]

I used to pass a beggar everyday on my walk from Kings Cross to my office in Central London. Always sat outside a Pret store he seemed to do quite well. At Christmas someone bought him some new trainers and a tent. Within a week they were gone, replaced by his old tatty trainers and a piece of cardboard to sit on.

Clearly his takings dropped.

I think the same thing happened to a beggar in York. Somebody must have given him a North Cape jacket, which certainly kept him warm, but nobody gave him anything.

 

[david1212]

I feel sorry now for anyone genuinely and unexpectedly without money but somehow I would almost instantly realise they were genuine to give.

The last couple of weeks a beggar has appeared outside Aldi on the out-of-town retail park.

While stretched we do have support systems. I often wonder how many on the street are ' only ' collecting for extra food, booze and/or cigarettes and how many are illegal immigrants or part of an organised operation. Going back a while, maybe a TV report using hidden cameras, they showed a van dropping beggars off around a town then collecting them later.

The bottom line is if nobody gave directly to beggars but supported the night shelters, Salvation Army etc street begging would cease.

I am wary of street charity collectors too. I prefer to give online so gift aid can be claimed.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Some (over 25) years ago, in a residential street between the station and my house, I was approached:
"Can you give me £5, I need to get to Sheffield on the bus tonight".
Looks at my watch.
"Sorry mate, the last one has already gone". (It had, it was a timetable I knew well from personal use).

Much more recently, on one of the main roads leading south from the city centre (Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent) towards Stafford I had:
"My partner is about to give birth and has been transferred to Stafford Hospital, I need money for a taxi".
Like he was going to walk the distance otherwise.

 

[HST274]

I feel sorry now for anyone genuinely and unexpectedly without money but somehow I would almost instantly realise they were genuine to give.

The last couple of weeks a beggar has appeared outside Aldi on the out-of-town retail park.

While stretched we do have support systems. I often wonder how many on the street are ' only ' collecting for extra food, booze and/or cigarettes and how many are illegal immigrants or part of an organised operation. Going back a while, maybe a TV report using hidden cameras, they showed a van dropping beggars off around a town then collecting them later.

The bottom line is if nobody gave directly to beggars but supported the night shelters, Salvation Army etc street begging would cease.

I am wary of street charity collectors too. I prefer to give online so gift aid can be claimed.

I do think a little change here an there can help, especially on a cold day/night. I have always though more money will go to the person if I give them 10p, than if I give £10 to a charity. However food is usually a safe substitute if you want to help without contributing to any shady habits (e.g. drugs)

 

[nanstallon]

I did once give someone 4p, who was in front of me in a shop, and was ever so slightly short of the total (about £9 something). She was very grateful, but it was just common sense.

 

[Cdd89]

Talking of day travelcards, didn't LU once use to have a major problem, back in the days immediately before Oyster cards, with beggars asking for no-longer needed paper travelcards at "London Terminals" tube stations

At Stockwell, the (now gone) photo booth by the entrance was the Travelcard Touts’ private office!

 

[DelayRepay]

I do think a little change here an there can help, especially on a cold day/night. I have always though more money will go to the person if I give them 10p, than if I give £10 to a charity. However food is usually a safe substitute if you want to help without contributing to any shady habits (e.g. drugs)

You are right about food.

In terms of giving cash directly vs donating to charities, I think you are wrong. In the short term, yes the person will get more cash, but the charity will aim to help get them off the streets, so in the longer term it's a better solution. A local charity I deal with are very good at this - they provide hot meals and overnight accommodation, but also aim to support dealing with the underlying problem. They have had quite a degree of success in helping people to turn their lives around and find accommodation and work. Of course not everyone wants to be helped, but for those that do the charities are a godsend and need our support.

 

[D365]

I was in Liverpool about ten years ago, out side a coffee shop a young girl asked me for money because she had been thrown out of her family home.
She appeared to be quite upset so I gave her twenty pounds, I wish now that I had tried to do more for her because the thought of a young girl sleeping rough in a big city is quite disturbing.

Realistically - assuming that this was 100% genuine - what could you do? Other than send her to a local charity/shelter via taxi or bus. Anything else would have put you at risk.

 

[DelayRepay]

I was in Liverpool about ten years ago, out side a coffee shop a young girl asked me for money because she had been thrown out of her family home.
She appeared to be quite upset so I gave her twenty pounds, I wish now that I had tried to do more for her because the thought of a young girl sleeping rough in a big city is quite disturbing.

Realistically - assuming that this was 100% genuine - what could you do? Other than send her to a local charity/shelter via taxi or bus. Anything else would have put you at risk.

Depending on their age, I would have considered calling the police. I am not sure if they would do anything but if there is a vulnerable minor then I hope they would.