I'm sick and tired of walking down the high street and being heckled by a couple of Big Issue sellers. They are pretty much begging which I understand is illegal.
Today I phoned Big Issue and complained. I asked what checks were done on these people to see that they are homeless (they didn't look very homeless). I was told that they probably aren't homeless, in this case they were Romanians who likely house share (words of Big Issue representative not me). I asked why they are effectively begging and harassing people, was told they are self employed and allowed to operate but they will look into my complaint. Apparently you don't need a council permit to sell the Big Issue but they do have a code of conduct. Also by being self employed you get an NI number and can claim benefits.
So if you receive benefits why harass members of the public for more money? I used to like the magazine and supporting homeless, but now I'm disgusted, it's just a scam to claim benefits (hours of work for tax credits).
Aibu?
AIBU?
To think Big Issue sellers are as bad as chuggers?
Littlecatbigpanther · 11/03/2016 20:14
What a horrible thread.
Yep. There's a lot of this sort of thing on here at the moment, particularly accompanied by the crappy striking out that you've seen upthread.
As despite vast chunks of popular media being resolute in both xenophobia and benefit bashing, such views can't be aired without censorship. Apparently. Oh, and pointing out bigotry is "silencing". 
What's wrong with claiming benefits if you're entitled to them?
A horrible thread because I don't think people who are housed and fed should be begging and hounding people minding their own business on the street? Er ok then! Maybe I'll start hard selling stuff in the street then, hounding passers by, no harm in that
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The Big Issue is not only available to be sold by homeless people - it's for anyone who is vulnerably housed etc also.
The issue over whether it counted as self-employment for 08 country immigrants was settled by Tony Blair's government, who decided it would indeed be: hence the reason there have been increasing numbers of 08 Accession nationals selling it. Don't blame the Big Issue for this - blame the Labour Party, if you must blame anyone.
It was started to be "a hand up, not a hand out" and BI take very seriously the issue of people who are begging, fake sellers or those who tell you their magazine is the last one/ask you to give it back. There's a lot of emphasis on the fact that customers are buying a product etc, and they will deal firmly with anyone who is violating their code of conduct in anyway: which includes using someone else's badge or selling whilst under the influence - precisely because these kind of things lead to this sort of thread/opinion. Would you rather people sat with their hands out and didn't work at all for their benefits' money, OP? (Of course, some BI sellers aren't eligible for benefits at all, because they don't have an address...)
I work in a well-known city, and increasing numbers of our BI sellers are Slovak - but you know what? Try engaging with them, instead of mubling and pushing past them: you know, treat them like people? You may well be surprised by what you find. (And for reference: I am not a bleeding heart liberal, but a dyed-in-the-wool Leave person, mainly because of the impact uncontrolled unskilled European immigration has had upon our own unskilled citizens - not to mention on wages etc) I have a good friend in my neighbourhood who started out in my life as the lady I bought the Big Issue from (she still is the lady I buy from - except now we are also friends!) - and she's even fine with me being a UKIP voter 
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