To get a job on a chat line?

[Chuckthefucklebrothers]

I've done it before (years ago, mind). Didn't make huge amounts of money, but did make some.

I'm a single parent, very, very short on money. I have a cash in hand job which tops up my benefits (yeah, so flame me!) as I can't work 'properly' until my youngest starts school later in the year. For reasons that I don't want to get into for fear of outing myself (paranoid) I don't get much in the way of housing benefit so am struggling to pay my rent, never mind all the other bills (hence the fraud). However, even doing this & cutting back as much as I can, it is very difficult to make the cash stretch. And I feel horrible that I won't be able to do ANYTHING with the kids over the summer, no days out, nothing. But if I could make a bit extra working the chat lines at night & when the kids are at their dads' I could save the money, theoretically...

I'm gonna get torn to shreds here aren't I?

I did consider the tarot thing very briefly - I used to dabble in all things woo (don't judge me, I was young!) so could probably bluff it, but it just wouldn't feel right. Pretending to be a big-boobed nympho is one thing, pretending to have an insight into people's deepest hopes & fears is something else entirely.

I'm not judgey about working on chat lines but I am a bit about benefit fraud.
Still, I don't know your circumstances so won't be having a pop

I don't see a problem OP if it brings in a wage then why the hell not?

I can't condone benefit fraud, but I simply can't find it in me to get worked up about a few extra quid per week for someone whose financial situation is such that she can't take her kids out for the day during the summer holidays when the likes of big business are being let off tax demands of billions.

Chat lines bother me on several counts. There are a few hints in your posts Chuck that suggest you've rather internalised the negative messages about people on benefits in general and single mothers in particular. I would worry that working in an industry that is exploitative for the callers and encourages women to contribute to the objectification of their gender could prove more damaging to your self-esteem than you think.

Tbh, the main worry I would have about sex chat lines, in addition to what Dahlen has said which I also agree with, is that they just don't pay very well for the trouble you would go to to be available. Plus I'm sure I'm not the only one who watched that documentary about the women who worked on them and one of them in particular was very jaded about men etc - you see a side to life that most people don't have to, and I think you'd have to be quite mentally robust to deal with that. But I guess if you've done it before then I'm sat here teaching my granny to suck eggs so as long as you know what you're getting yourself into (and it sounds like you do) then go for it - you'll get a bit of extra cash, maybe be able to have days out with your kids or at least know that you can cover the cost of school uniforms etc.

I've done chat line work, but the real money is in webcam now (best friend does it). I'd invest in a wig tho for obvious reasons. I would say I never felt exploited or objectified by older customers, it was the younger men who'd watched hour on hour of porn who were sadly, warped re expectations and their erm, 'tastes'. Last time I was made redundant housing benefit & jobseekers combined only covered 75% of my rent, leaving me with a rent shortfall of £300 & nothing for bills or food. Needless to say i don't blame you/really feel for you.

If it's paid through the bank you're more likely to get into a lot of trouble though, would you not? You may be able to apply for a job grant when you start working, and you could claim tax credits but they would maybe check bank statements which would show the extra money being paid to you.

I wasn't going for the word immoral when I said 'you know'.

But I see what you mean.

Sorry Highlander, I know you didn't. I just took 'you know' to mean uncomfortable, for whatever reason.

Dahlen et al, you have given me food for thought. When I did it before some of the callers did make me feel a bit grubby, probably not what I need having recently fucked up my second marriage. Whilst i'm in no hurry to get involved with another man any time soon, I don't want to end up despising them all (like the posh girl in that documentary, who incidentally was absolutely brilliant!) Also, the pay is better after midnight (& there are a lot more callers), so there was a lot of drinking coffee to stay awake all night involved - I don't function very well on no sleep anymore!

I was definitely gearing my 'you know' more towards your future attitude and view of men in general. I do agree re the taking advantage of vulnerable people regarding the tarot reading though. I was thinking more about you rather than your customer base tbh.