To be disappointed that we now have a Bright House store on our high street?

[hiddenhome]

Perhaps the final nail in the coffin.

The have also built a YMCA homeless hostel and the people there spend a lot of their time harassing and shouting at passers by. We can no longer make it to the supermarket due to being harassed.

We used to have a nice high street, but it's just full of scruffy thrift stores and charity shops now.

I know there's a recession on and we do like to visit thrift stores sometimes, but don't want an entire street to decline like this.

Our street is so crap even Bon Marche have left

I think you've been given a hard time, OP.

Why the hell shouldn't someone hate being spat and shouted at? And just because all hostels aren't like this, it doesn't mean this one isn't.

As for sweetening up the alienated shouters/spitters by engaging with them:
a) if it's because of drink, that could offer encouragement to intimidate
b) if it's because of mental illness, your average person on the street might say the wrong thing and exacerbate the situation (not being professional, and not being aware of all issues). Or might be of the "wrong" race...

And the Brighthouse model is exploitative; you can be "disappointed" to see it without being sniffily disappointed in people who use it! And zukiecat makes an excellent point about not being able to use freecycle and gumtree without access to the internet.

so what we have a brighthouse and its right next to a shop selling shabby chic stuff and kath kidson. they are everywhere.

if there was no need for stores like this they wouldn't be there.

as for the homeless shouty people, it is an offence to abuse people verbally so call the police if they are drunk and disorderly.

I hate brighthouse for their rip off scummy ways.

I can't afford furniture etc brand new so I use a charity shop warehouse. Got lovely bits of solid furniture for very few monies. There's ebay and free cycle and gumtree and lots of places to try before blumming brighthouse!

I hate brighthouse and its APR and its will give to anybody policy, where i work i see people who hide from the not so friendly brighthouse collector if they have missed a payment, our store is always busy and it is depressing,

They are homeless!!

i was homeless living in a homeless block of flats i never spat or swore at anybody ever.

Vivipru lots of people are being affected by the cuts in benefits and tax credits low wages and there is a BIG change in council tax coming next year. what with all this people cant afford to spend. Last night DH and i were talking about not doing xmas presents this year. Not just for each other but not doing it at all. And not sending as many cards either due to the price of stamps rocketing earlier this year. People cant spend what they havent got. DH and i know changes are coming. We recceived a letter from the council yesterday. We know the changes are coming so have decided to be sensible. They cant have it all ways. Mary Portas coming here wont change my mind.

Is it Yarm?

It's so sad we've had a Brighthouse for a while, we've got a new Pawn shop, 3 cash for gold outlets, Clintons has shut down, Burtons is about to. Peacocks is gone too.

I don't use Brighhouse, i use a company called Buy As You View.

Currently with them i have a washing machine, a set of bunk beds and a freezer, and i pay £16.25 a week for that. The BAYV box is attached to my tv and for a £ i get four hours tv.

People may think it expensieve, and i suppose it is, BUT - every eight weeks, when the box is emptied i get a lumpsum of about £80 back, and everything is covered by insurance - this year alone i've called them out to fix my washer four times.

It's not ideal, but it works for us.

Wouldn't touch Brighthouse though.

Why is the OP being given such a hard time over her experience of her town?

It's not nice to feel intimidated in your local area ( I know how it feels). It's a legitimate concern and saying things about clutching at pearls is hardly constructive.

Im a NEer too and wondering where you mean. I had thought Gateshead but theres been a Brighthouse there for yonks and no hostel.

Could you PM me where?

I'm not 'hard work'. We have been harassed by the neighbour for 8 years now and throwing metal bars and rocks into the back yard where my kids are playing isn't funny.

The town in which I live is rapidly becoming a shit hole. I've lived here for 17 years and have never felt like this before. There's loads of gangs of youths hanging about swearing, jeering and spitting. I don't feel comfortable going out to the highstreet anymore.

I grew up in care and lived in poverty until I got myself a job when I was 18. I'm not 'precious' in the least, but I do expect to be able to go out and about and live in my home without being harassed

Oooh, ooh, hiddenhome, I think I live there too! Nasty dropping to bits 'sculpture' in the marketplace? Now both Burton's and Evans closing down?

Them too?

I'm just waiting for Boots and Clarks to go as well

Chester-le-street?

I hate the whole ethos behind Brighthouse, Wonga etc so yes I'd hate to see one of those here.

Our YMCA doesn't seem to have issues though, perhaps you should talk to management.

Some high streets are looking pretty dire aren't they. Good shops are closing yet more Bookies and Cash Coverters are opening all over the show.

We're all catching Poor.