Crisis loan when stranded away from home

Ma_Boswell

I wonder if anyone can help with a query i have? A friend who is currently unemployed scraped together the money to visit his ex who lives 200 miles away, to see if they could patch things up. Unfortunately while he was staying there the ex ( who is an unpleasant piece of work) got hold of his bank card and emptied his account ( silly friend had not changed his PIN and the ex knew it), then went away ( out of the country, i believe) with a new partner (!). My friend was left without funds to get back home ( yes, he should have bought a return ticket...). He went to ask for a crisis loan but was told they couldn't help him unless he signed on there - but he is already claiming at his home, and i understood that this is precisely the kind of emergency that a crisis loan is for (he had reported the theft to the police, so had a crime number to back up his story). Were the Jobcentre wrong, or could it be that they didn't believe his story?

viktory

What a c0ck and bull story!

tcr_3

I'd be amazed to find anyone who believes that story.

But, yes, your friend should've been advised to apply for a Crisis Loan. They might've made an award for the cheapest method of transport to get them home.

Ma_Boswell

To be honest i found it very hard to believe...but i did just wonder if i was being a bit cynical. This friend is very gullible and always having to be "rescued" from situations no sensible person would get into. Your replies are much appreciated for giving an unbiassed perspective. He has been lent the money to get home ( not by me) and I'm collecting him from the bus station in the next town - i think he's going to be told that this is the last time we rally round - he's in his 40s and needs to take responsibility for his own life.

atomicsheep

The issue with crisis loans for a case like this is that although situations like this MAY be possible. THe decision maker on crisis loans has to look at things ona civil law basis ; "on the balance of probabilities".

If something is 49% likely and 51% less likely then they have to go with the 51%.


Glad he got sorted as i think this would have given the DM a headache lol

Oldernotwiser

Why couldn't he just hitch back?

Errata

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why couldn't he just hitch back?

Too easy ?

Ma_Boswell

I think he would have been too scared! Useful info about the percentages atomicsheep.

Oldernotwiser

Ma_Boswell wrote: »

I think he would have been too scared! Useful info about the percentages atomicsheep.

A forty year old man? Hardly!

FleurDuLys

He did report this to the police, yes? They would have sorted him out and made sure he got home.

Ma_Boswell

Ah, Oldernotwiser, not everyone is a Free Spirit - i don't think he has ever hitched and he's not what you would call enterprising...I wouldn't do it myself now but back in the day we met some great people when we were hitching.And we had fun picking up hitchers too - those who were prepared to sit in the back of the van with the dog and the cat and the guinea pigs!
FleurDuLys ( what a pretty name) he said he did and they said they couldn't do anything until they had checked the CCTV - i suggested he ask their advice as to how to get home but he said they weren't interested...i did think it was a bit odd, they usually at least can offer advice - especially as its a tourist area and its probably not the first time its happened.