Big Issue sellers & intimidation tactics.A rant!

hollydays

Dont give BI sellers a hard time,they are trying to get their life on track. They are trying to turn around a chaotic lifestyle and turn into 9-5 workers.That deserves recognition.A lot of big issues are sold to people who arent registered.Big issue ARE quite strict.http://www.bigissue.com/Gary_Pyne_67.php
http://www.bigissue.com/Bob_McLeod_68.php

marywooyeah

santer wrote: »

Going between railway stations I walked past a Big Issue seller, then, as it was Christmas turned round and offered the cover price, to which he declined saying that he was looking for " at least a score "

So left him to it as he was probably nothing to do with the big issue

a score? for a magazine?!

I walked past a BI seller a couple of weeks ago in the town centre and everyone was walking past ignoring him and he went "oh !!!!!! I'm so effing thirsty" and I felt a bit sorry for him so walked back with the bottle of water I had in my bag. when I got there he was talking to someone so I held out the bottle to him and smiled and he looked at the bottle, grabbed it and said thanks but didnt look at me then turned back to talk to his mate and ignored me.

I wasn't expecting a hug or anything, but it would have been curteous just to actually acknowledge me!

chewynut

I remember when one of my friends and I were about fourteen. We were walking down from the train station in Nottingham and a group of Big Issue sellers started following us!

I don't buy TBI. Nor do I donate to The Salvation Army any more because they don't like gay people. I give a tenner a month to my local animal shelter and things like Help the Heroes and Ride to the Wall instead.

spike7451

I've just phoned the main office up & it turns out the B.I in Northern Ireland are a separate entity & are looked after by a company in Eire.I found a listing for a company in Belfast but no contact details apart from an address.So it seems that the 'beggars' can get away with anything as the's little or no one to police their conduct.Makes you wonder if they are genuine as well...

trumpton

I don't give money to BI sellers anymore as so many of them seem to be eastern european. They are basically economic migrants not the people that I believe the BI was set up to help. I stopped after a read a profile of a BI seller in the back of the BI - it was a Romanian woman with 3 kids who lived in a house with another Romanian with 2 kids (no dads on scene) and both seemed to live on benefits and sell the BI.

Gillyx

Alot of the BI sellers in Belfast, actually only have 1 copy of the BI with them and it's usually about 3 months out of date. I normally say "NO THANKS" loudly in there face.

I once saw a man playing an instrument and someone was just throwing coins at him, bit much really.

The best one is the woman outside Apartment, Donegall Square, she just wails and moans constantly, if you walk by there often you'l know who I'm talking about.

redped

A lot of the beggars in Belfast mumble "... Issue" as you walk past them - if you look closely at what they're actually selling, it's usually Ireland's Issues rather than the Big Issue. I didn't realise this until a work colleague bought one, and found there was even less in it than the BI - he felt he'd been cheated out of his £1

darkpool

when we have british people that are struggling financially it really is shocking that we allow east european beggars into the country

spike7451

Gillyx wrote: »

Alot of the BI sellers in Belfast, actually only have 1 copy of the BI with them and it's usually about 3 months out of date. I normally say "NO THANKS" loudly in there face.

I once saw a man playing an instrument and someone was just throwing coins at him, bit much really.

The best one is the woman outside Apartment, Donegall Square, she just wails and moans constantly, if you walk by there often you'l know who I'm talking about.

redped wrote: »

A lot of the beggars in Belfast mumble "... Issue" as you walk past them - if you look closely at what they're actually selling, it's usually Ireland's Issues rather than the Big Issue. I didn't realise this until a work colleague bought one, and found there was even less in it than the BI - he felt he'd been cheated out of his £1

I was parked opposite the Opera House next to the Subway sarnie shop,never looked at what they were selling,I remember whatever it was was wrapped in plastic like them Kleeneeez mags.And I noticed tho that the woman camped next to the ticket machine I used didn't have the ID's which I was told they had.

GemJar_2

When i worked in Manchester center there was one in particular I walked past every day who was always smiling, always friendly and just a generally nice bloke. I used to give him £20 when I got paid and would have a chat to him most nights. I've since looked for him and haven't seen him for at least 3years so I hope he managed to properly get back on his feet, would love to meet him again.