To think that stories with a GoFundMe attached should have to be more honest?

The gofundme campaign to raise money for the RLNI in farages name has me tempted though.

would love to see a lifeboat named “The Flying Farage” patrolling the south coast…

I agree. I have donated to loads of GFms for similar situations for people I don’t know. I have enough critical thinking ability to read between the lines and work out whether something seems genuine. I wouldn’t donate to someone who didn’t buy travel insurance tbh.

I'd hate to add up how much we've spent over the years on various types of insurance, which thankfully we never had to claim on. Could we easily afford it - no. But neither could we afford not to have it. So i do not ever donate to GoFundMe appeals for people who thought they'd take a chance.

I’m in two minds about this because some people do all the right things and insurance still doesn’t pay out on some technicality like forgetting to declare HRT or having a random misdiagnosis on your records from 20 years ago that you couldn’t declare because it was wrong and the GP never corrected it, while others are uninsurable. And it’s not loved ones’ fault if someone dies suddenly with no plan for what to do with the body, but the UK makes your nearest relative pay for it if they possibly can and hospitals have tracing departments to try to make sure someone claims the body so if you’re flat broke and don’t qualify for any help you’re stuffed. But on the other hand, I do think Gofundme is riven with chancers.

The only time I’ve donated to holiday related go fund me was because she went into premature labour and gave birth at 27 weeks, the insurance covered the birth but not the baby in nicu in the USA! Baby was released on the ward at 32 weeks and home at 34 (7 weeks of us medical bills) but not fit to fly for a further 6 weeks … 3 months total, insurance did cover her and her husband’s flights and as a good will gesture £50k towards the baby’s bill but not even close. This was genuinely unforeseen and they were only in the USA due to a funeral.

I will donate from time to time. I'm more sympathetic with insurance issues than some, it's often young people and I too took stupid risks when I was young. I'm drawn to those for disabled people as they get such a shit deal with social care and social attitudes.

Yes there's a risk it won't be spent properly but I'd argue that risk is there with charities too, it's not as if charities are known for using every penny wisely.

I understand that 25% of people go on holiday without travel insuance or say they dont have existing conditions. Sometimes it works in their favour. Other times they just caught out.

No,there was a chap a few months ago all over the media. Massively overweight, diabates etc and said he no existing conditions because he couldnt be bothered to pay the excess. His family wanted tens of thousands to get him home.

I have a friend whose late Father brought insurance claiming he had no illnessness when in fact I am surprised they didnt stop him getting the plane as he could barely walk. Eventually he gave up travelling but not before he told his daughter that if anything had happened he would have expected her to pay because she was 'loaded'.

I think this sort of attitude and the 'British Counsel' will sort me out is rife.

I’d be more inclined to donate to a personal story if it was fully truthful though

But how would you know?