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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the 'community shop' thing is going to get abused by some.

111 replies

cantheyseeme · 10/12/2013 16:55

For people who dont know there is a food bank kind of thing been set up in Barnsley where shops give food and it is sold at like 70% off. This is only for people on benefits from what i can gather, where they can get a loaf of bread for 20p and other things free. In the ideal world this would be a brilliant source of food for people in need but i cant help thinking there are people out there who wont use this as its intended purpose and spend their benefits on non essentials and think its ok because theres always things like food banks etc to fall back on. I also find ita bit of a pisstake that its only for people on benecits when there are a large number of people in this country who work and are just as poor.

OP posts:
toobreathless · 10/12/2013 19:48

I can't think of anything negative about it. It reduces waste and I can live with the odd person abusing it for the sake of the vast majority it will help. It will also provide some jobs.

Good on them.

limitedperiodonly · 10/12/2013 19:51

Yes, I expect some people will abuse it. I expect some people involved in the scheme might be committing fraud.

Probably the same percentage of people who abuse benefits. That's vanishingly small, especially in relation to the percentage of people who are entitled to benefits and don't claim them, or are entitled but get removed from them by those charlatans at ATOS etc.

Rather less than the number of people otherwise gainfully employed who commit fraud on a daily basis.

Tell me, OP, does it keep you awake weeping at night that people who may not be entitled are jumping through hoops to score a cheap loaf of bread?

And how likely do you think they might be to do that?

Original poster
cantheyseeme · 10/12/2013 20:04

It doesnt keep me awake at night but it doesnt sit well that yet again tax payers miss out, in regards to ATOS being charletons... they do a job and have to weadle out the genuine from the not so genuine. Like i say, used in the right way its a good idea.

OP posts:
DowntonTrout · 10/12/2013 20:14

The Company Shop has been going for a while. This particular one that has just opened is the first of its kind that gives out 500 membership cards to those fulfilling a certain criterior on low incomes.

The other Company Shop that has been trading for a while is also near Barnsley and is open to NhS staff, and other services, again you need a membership card. I know someone who works at a nearby hospital who gets loads of stuff from there. Mostly short date but who cares when you can freeze it.

mummymeister · 10/12/2013 20:17

its recycling stuff before it goes to landfill isn't it. this is food that would just be going in the bins so surely it should be passed on in someway. yes, there will be abuse - stand by for the panorama documentary in the new year or the daily fail undercover story. it does ignore the fact that there are some poor people who are just outside of benefit levels who could benefit and some people on benefits with the latest ipad and phone so why aren't they spending that money on food then. wherever you have someone trying to do good you always get a level of abuse - its human nature sadly.

mrsjay · 10/12/2013 20:21

I saw it on tv yesterday thought what a great idea and the customers they seemed to have were middle aged/older people who maybe didnt have any children left at home but were still struggiling they have to apply to be members and you always get a minority who spilt it , around here it is selling coffee from the food bank but that is one or 2 individuals that spoil it, I think the comunity shop is a great idea and of course some people will loose out I think it is for all people on low income to apply though

mrsjay · 10/12/2013 20:21

spoil it* sorry

limitedperiodonly · 10/12/2013 20:23

ATOS do do a job. They're not well skilled at it, judging by the number of people who win on appeal.

I wouldn't expect them to be. They are a company with no medical background employing those with dubious qualifications or employment records who've picked up a publicly-funded contract and don't appear to be giving us value for money, like G4S for instance.

Do you care about that obscene waste or does make you happy that they coin it while putting down-trodden people?

Sleep tight. They might come for you in the morning.

trulyenoughnow · 10/12/2013 20:24

We had one of these in Germany. Although open to everyone, not just those on benefits. It was brilliant- big slabs of Camembert and deli meats etc. super super cheap (usually on the day of expiry).
The catch was that all the deliveries of fresh items were at about 6am, and if you happened to rock up late, say after 9am, it was just the odd can of dodgy meatballs etc.
lots of hardworking mums to be found at 6am stocking up for their families. Lots of people who would have benefitted from a bargain though, it has to be said, still in bed at 9am.

Judybluey · 10/12/2013 20:26

I think it's a really good idea but at the same time it's a rather sad state of affairs that this type of scheme i.e food banks have become acceptable in our society Hmm

mrsjay · 10/12/2013 20:28

yes it is heartbreaking judy but needed Sad

Original poster
cantheyseeme · 10/12/2013 20:28

That post made no sense to me towards the end unless im reading it all wrong :/ Whos going to come for me? Hmm Confused

OP posts:
judgejudithjudy · 10/12/2013 21:34

ffs i earn £8 a week less than if i was on benefits & struggle - not fair on low earners - makes you think fuck your morals & claim benefits! dont begrude help but why for people on benefits only? gggrrrrr

Dawndonnaagain · 10/12/2013 21:47

If that's the case judge surely you can claim tax credits?

actually have no idea about tax credits!

limitedperiodonly · 10/12/2013 21:48

The way I heard it, it was for working poor as well as the unemployed judgejudithjudy

So if you're in the Barnsley area and you're on a low income, then go for it. What have you got to lose?

Of course, if you're more interested in tussling with other poor people, while other people enjoy watching, knock yourself out.

joanofarchitrave · 10/12/2013 21:56

YANBU to think that there will be people abusing this system.

YABVVU to think that this invalidates it as an idea. If I had a very low income I would be much more likely to try to get a membership to this than to go to a food bank. I think it's more likely to help more people and is less of a normalisation of poverty than opening loads more food banks.

MoreThanChristmasCrackers · 10/12/2013 21:56

judgejudy

Would you accept it if it was offered to you.
I wouldn't because we are far from needing help. However, if it was assessed on income like you suggest, we would be deemed to be in need.
This imo would encourage a greater amount of misuse.

MoreThanChristmasCrackers · 10/12/2013 21:57

abuse, not misuse. I'm dyslexic.

AmberLeaf · 10/12/2013 22:12

You make it sound like using a food bank is enjoyable.

in regards to ATOS being charletons... they do a job and have to weadle out the genuine from the not so genuine

How lucky you are to be that naive.

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 10/12/2013 22:34

I think it is a great idea. There is a similar shop that only NHS staff can access near me, where anyone who works for the NHS can get a card to shop there, regardless of pay scale. Food is massively reduced.
I think that is a little unfair to those on benefits / low income jobs that don't work for the NHS.
We need more of these reduced shops for people on benefits or low income, OR better still the big supermarkets need to reduce the costs of food as a whole!

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 10/12/2013 22:39

Sorry DowntonTrout didn't read your post before posting.

nancy75 · 10/12/2013 22:47

Just like everything there will probably be people who take the piss, sell the stuff on whatever. But if it means a couple of kids get a breakfast or dinner they wouldn't have otherwise had then i can live with that.

Misspixietrix · 10/12/2013 23:05

'atos do do a good job'. 'Wheedling out the geniuine claimaints etc'. I can't take ANY company who simply gives their employees 2weeks training and enables them to then be able to know everything about every medical aspect and illness etc so to be able to complete their little tickbox; seriously enough to think they are doing a good job because it obviously has fuck all to do with that £1bn bonus they are expected to not get.

Misspixietrix · 10/12/2013 23:08

And as others have said. Many low wage earners could well be in receipt of benefits I.e housing benefit.

GinOnTwoWheels · 10/12/2013 23:13

There's been similar shops to these for years, that are open to everyone but this one seems a bit more well organised and well stocked.

Many markets have a frozen food shop that sells 'slight seconds' of things like M&S ready meals much cheaper than normal and the faults will generally be really trivial like a minor packaging error, or the sausages not parallel in a toad in the hole.

I don't think it should be free, as some people will try to grab more than they need because its free. Better to charge a nominal sum, that goes towards the cost of the enterprise.

The news report that I saw earlier this week also said that the 'shop' had other facilities such as budgeting advice and internet access. I hope it is available to the working poor, as well as the unemployed, but the permissible number of memberships seem quite small, so I can see it being over subscribed, unless they regularly review memberships and remove those who no longer qualify, or don't use the shop.