Intrigued by long-running advert in Guardian: Home help needed for female writer...

GumbyS

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Whether Cootcat gets in touch or not, I'd say that you need to listen to your gut instinct. And currently it's not sounding good.

MissP - The exact same thing happened to me. She asked me to bring groceries and when I said I couldn't without getting the money upfront she accused me of calling her a thief. She gave me the exact same story. Please contact me.

fleesaurus

Must be a secret plot to traffic prostitutes. Notice the advert specifically asks for females.

GumbyS

It doesn't ask for females. It's a female asking for help.

fleesaurus

GumbyS wrote: »

It doesn't ask for females. It's a female asking for help.

Whoops. Didn't read the title properly, but she's obviously seeking a suitor. Why else would she keep advertising?

DVardysShadow

miss.p wrote: »

she requested that i donegrocery shopping before coming to her house (and pay for it myself) and she said she would reimburse me, i thought this was an unusual request from someone who i had never met. she also insisted that i come the following day, (which would of been today) i told her it was short notice as i had other plans and that i was happy to meet with her next week. she went on to demans that i came today with the shopping and asked if i could take her kitchen bins out.

Mystery solved - it is a freeloading on groceries scam.

ViolaLass

If she wants groceries, tell her she can get them delivered by the company.

GumbyS

I think she's extremely mentally ill and gets her rocks off by manipulating people and making them feel guilty. She told me the same thing as she told MissP - that I needed to pick up a bunch of groceries for her and pay for them myself without meeting her first and that I was a horrible person for questioning the normality of this request. It was interesting that she also barked at me "no one else has had a problem with this"; yet, I read on this forum that in fact, others did question her demands....very odd, creepy, potentially sociopathic behaviour.

GumbyS

I suggested she order the groceries online and she refused flat out.

GumbyS

She said that the grocery shopping was very involving - that she needed to call me while I was at the shops and ask about what's in stock and what's fresh that day and that I would need to go to a variety of shops.

fleesaurus

GumbyS wrote: »

I think she's extremely mentally ill and gets her rocks off by manipulating people and making them feel guilty. She told me the same thing as she told MissP - that I needed to pick up a bunch of groceries for her and pay for them myself without meeting her first and that I was a horrible person for questioning the normality of this request. It was interesting that she also barked at me "no one else has had a problem with this"; yet, I read on this forum that in fact, others did question her demands....very odd, creepy, potentially sociopathic behaviour.

Either she's trying to scam you or she's a bitter loner who's wanting some company. When I was working in retail, there's this old guy who comes in every day expecting an employee in the store to help him do his shopping. He carries a shopping list and chats away each time. As if he's incapable of shopping himself.