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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you can't claim to be homeless living in an airport if your income is £1400 a month

444 replies

dhdjdbrjrkbr · 07/02/2015 11:15

Strange DM story today, nothing adds up

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2943251/Homeless-Heathrow-look-holiday-truth-middle-class-couple-living-airport-losing-500-000-home.html#article-2943251

OP posts:
Vastra · 11/02/2015 00:00

Not sure if I've done the right thing or not; my usual stance is to stay out of things regardless in case any kind of conflict ensues. However, I have reported the Indigogo fundraising page to Indigogo. They should at least have the option of looking at it for themselves and evaluating whether or not it should be on their website. I provided links to some articles and the Go Fund site, where the total has gone down a little after some refunds.

RonnieRat · 11/02/2015 00:29

If you read any of the other day publications reporting the story of the middle class homeless at LHR none of them name the business, clearly for a reason

I can't work out if you're being deliberately obtuse Eve. Just google the name of the B&B and see what comes up. It's not about whether the papers mentioned them or not.

Pipbin · 11/02/2015 07:55

Eve if you think that's swearing you should meet me in real life, I'd make a docker blush.
Still, I didn't swear, I used initials. And if you get offended by swearing then you better get the hell away from Mumsnet.

milkpudding · 11/02/2015 09:09

Have been following this thread but haven't commented before.

Eve, what is it that you think we/ the public/ the media should do about your B&B friends exactly?

Yes it is terrible luck for them to be caught up in this story. Unfortunately rumours spread quickly online these days.

All they can control is how to respond to it, whether to state their case on their own website/ Twitter/ to a reporter, or whether to lie low and hope it blows over. Personally I would choose the former, but up to them if they think lying low is better.

I'm not sure what you expect people to do differently. Yes it would be better if people didn't spread rumours on circumstantial evidence, but that unfortunately is not something society can change overnight.

If they can't speak to a national reporter, why not contact their local paper, they are often short of news and the story will then be picked up by the national press or internet.

OnceUponATimeAgain · 11/02/2015 10:22

Eve - please explain WHERE i have made things up....

I have reposted items from other people where i have CLEARLY stated so
I have posted my own thoughts,....

I feel you think i have said that the B&B couple are definately actually the same as the LHR2 - I have not, i have said i think they might be based on their lack of denial.

noddyholder · 11/02/2015 10:47

Of course the B and B owners would have spoken out t clear their names! Easy enough to hide behind 'a source' or family 'friend'.

noddyholder · 11/02/2015 10:48

What makes people think its NOT them? Of course it flippin is

Eve117 · 11/02/2015 11:16

I actually find it rather entertaining now
milkpudding
I am certainly not here to change the society at the same time I would hardly take an advice from people spreading rumour without a shred of evidence not even 'circumstantial'

Especially as the same people are being deliberately obtuse

Pipbin · 11/02/2015 11:29

The only person being deliberately obtuse here Eve is you.

Eve117 · 11/02/2015 11:30

pipbin
Something to be proud of, not.
People tend to swear when they have no argument
using acronyms or spelling out fully makes no difference

Pipbin · 11/02/2015 12:33

Eve. I'm not going to dignify you with a response.

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 13:08

Fascinating thread. Personally I don't believe a word of it- too many inconsistencies. I do feel for the B&B couple and don't think for a second much attention would be paid to their press release/ FB status sadly, but I do suspect their involvement will blow over quickly and hope it doesn't affect business too much.

However it does promote a interesting discussion, I think, about living costs. I don't really think £1,400 PCM is a lot. A very quick reccy of estimated bills-
£150 council tax
£80 gas and or electric
£10 tv licence
£30 water
£300 food and other consumables
£20 household insurance
£15 phone
£30 car insurance
£20 car tax
£50 petrol
£50 misc birthday presents and Christmas savings
That's just over £750 a month and that is TIGHT. Admittedly you don't need a car but let's assume we would like one, as most people do.

It would not be sensible to live like that long term (no savings, no emergency money, no spares for prescriptions/ travel/ socialising) that gives them about £650 a month for a rental, which again would be possible, but how tight? It blows my
Mind that there are so many people on here saying that's loads of money and they get by on far less.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 11/02/2015 13:22

The 1400 a month is without them working. Even if they both just had minimum wage part time jobs then they would be substantially better off.
Presumably living at Heathrow is hugely expensive because you can't cook for yourself. You'd have to be buying proper meals everyday, and that's not cheap.

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 13:25

Oh no I agree- what they're doing is stupid and if they continued to repay the loan (£400?) and the storage (£300?) that's half their money gone one absolutely nothing, let alone another £400 on the B&B.

As I say I don't believe them but if this is in anyway realistic you'd be a bloody idiot to continue paying the loan- what can the creditor do to you? You've got nothing left for them to take. That's one obvious expense you'd get rid of.

OnceUponATimeAgain · 11/02/2015 13:31

" Admittedly you don't need a car but let's assume we would like one, as most people do."

most people would like to holiday in the bahamas, but we cant afford it.
A lot of people dont actually have cars purely because they cannot afford them. Same with 'saving 50 a month for Xmas/Birthdays

I agree with you, its not a lot - but it is enough to live on - and more than a lot of people who are on JSA or State Pension?

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 13:41

It's not a lot, I'm not saying it is. I don't see why people shouldn't be able to expect a vehicle in their life or being able to afford to buy their family a birthday pressie. They're not exactly luxuries. You can't compare It to a Caribbean holiday!

I'm not arguing these are essentials but I would argue that going without spare cash for anything extra aside from rent and essential bills (haven't even touched in the need for clothes/ shoes/ haircuts etc) for your whole life isn't something which should be acceptable. I'm surprised by the number of posters who say this works for them and £1400 is more than enough to live on, that's all

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 13:43

I wouldn't put a car or being able to buy family birthday presents in the same league as a Caribbean holiday Hmm but swap car/ Xmas for clothes/ shoes/ haircuts

It's not a lot to live off. You can't live long term paying only essential bills and rent. Surprised by the number of posters who think it's plenty

(Although in this imaginary example they could easily have more
By working or claiming benefits, that doesn't negate the fact many posters thought it was loads even without)

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 13:49

Excuse the weird double post

OnceUponATimeAgain · 11/02/2015 14:07

sorry guys - i kind of meant it in a 'non essentials' kind of way, didnt mean to be so 'out there'

but to some people a car is as out of reach as a caribbean holiday

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 11/02/2015 14:14

Once is right. £1400 isn't a lot, but it is still more than many have to live on. That shouldn't be the case, but it is.

And it's true for a lot of people a car is as out of reach as an expensive holiday. Also, things like insurance and a tv licence are unaffordable for many - why do you think the majority of people who are prosecuted for not having a tv licence are single parents on very low incomes? And of course, the resulting fine just makes their situation even worse.

expatinscotland · 11/02/2015 14:50

'It's not a lot to live off. You can't live long term paying only essential bills and rent. Surprised by the number of posters who think it's plenty'

A lot of people do live off that, long-term. Not just a couple, either. And that is without her working. She turned down work.

Eltonjohnsflorist · 11/02/2015 14:54

I'm not saying people don't do it! I know people do. I have myself. I am
Saying it's not a lot. Other posters on this thread are saying it's plenty. I
Responding to that.

So no need for anyone else to point out people exist who are very poor, ok??

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 11/02/2015 14:55

Yes Expat but those aren't naice, middle class people who really deserve better than the average pleb.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 11/02/2015 14:56

Sorry Elton I think we may be talking at cross purposes here. Flowers

Pipbin · 11/02/2015 15:16

I'm surprised by the number of posters who say this works for them and £1400 is more than enough to live on, that's all

No one is saying that it's an ideal amount and they are doing just fine on it. I'm sure that every one of those posters who says that they live on that or less would be very grateful for more and that there is often too much month left at the end of the money.
What people are saying is that it is possible to live on that much.