AIBU about big issue seller..

[covetingthepreciousthings]

I'm genuinely not sure if I am being a bit unreasonable in this situation but would appreciate others input into it..

We have a local (newish) big issue seller in our town outside a coffee shop, a foreign lady (relevant due to limited broken English language).

It's a cold wet miserable day, so I offered to get her a hot drink as I was popping in (had no change on me at this point), she said no she'd prefer it if I bought something from Tesco down the road "as I have 7 children".
I didn't know what kind of thing she meant so asked if I could buy some chocolates (thinking for Christmas but perhaps they don't celebrate it) or I suggested I nip into the bakery next to the cafe and get something.
To which she said no, she wants me to go to Tesco to buy some chicken for her 7 children.

At this point I said I'm going to go into the cafe to get some change, proceeded to do so. Then came out and handed her £4-5 to tell her to buy what she liked. However she took the money and then said "ok so you go to Tesco now for my 7 children?" So I just politely explained that I was giving her some money so she could get something with it instead.

I had a feeling that whatever I got from Tesco might not be right or I'd end up with a list. I also didn't feel comfortable buying raw chicken for someone who is going to be stood outside for the rest of the day etc.

Am I being unreasonable to feel a bit uneasy about this scenario? I just wanted to do a bit of a good deed & I then I've ended up feeling like she might not be genuine.
When I gave her the £4-5 I felt uncomfortable asking for a big issue for the money, but I don't know whether it would have been better if I had so she would have one less?

I live in London (suburb). In the last year there was some discussion locally about Big Issue sellers and it was said (by several unconnected people) that big men driving expensive cars would be at the Big Issue warehouse first thing in the morning of issue to pick up batches of magazines and then hand them out to various (apparently Romanian or other East European) sellers in different spots. These clearly are not the sort of vendors Big Issue wants (not sure how they can't stop this) and it appears that (like many beggars/vendors in poorer countries I have been to) those Big Issue vendors have to hand their money takings over to their "bosses". Therefore, it is much better to give them food/drink as they are able to have that themselves. However, she sounds like a greedy grabber and I'd have just bought her a sandwich/pack of biscuits and maybe a coffee. Lots of them seem to be muslim so I spend ages looking at the food to make sure it contains nothing they would find unacceptable (I think I ended up with rather nice chocolate biscuits last time and the poor begging girl outside in the rain all day was very pleased). One of my colleagues always buys a Pret sandwich for a Big Issue seller (not with criminal overlords) outside Baker Street Station every working day and a Christmas one at Christmas time and they have become good friends over the years.

You don’t have to be homeless to sell The Big Issue.

The company themselves were on record some years ago to say that more than half of their self employed sellers were Bulgarian of Romanian - these nationalities had lower rights to benefits after accession to the EU than other recent joining Eastern European countries like Poland. Self employment via the Big Issue was a gateway to benefits.

Fair play to people entering the UK and working within the rules, even to access benefits - I don’t blame any individual for doing what they can for their families.

But it’s not a method of charitable giving that I choose to prioritise any more.

And that’s before you get onto gangs.

There is a Romanian lady who sells it in my village. She doesn’t live in the village - she is dropped off in a white van to her pitch, and is only there in winter, and though not only on the shittiest days, you can guarantee that if it’s particularly cold she will always be there then. It is well planned by whoever is ‘managing’ her. I doubt any money stays in her pocket for long.

There is a Romanian lady who sells it in my village. She doesn’t live in the village - she is dropped off in a white van to her pitch, and is only there in winter, and though not only on the shittiest days, you can guarantee that if it’s particularly cold she will always be there then. It is well planned by whoever is ‘managing’ her. I doubt any money stays in her pocket for long.

This might be similar to the town here, the previous big issue seller told people she travelled from a city 60-80 miles away to come to our town each day to sell a big issue! How is that viable? To pay transport costs.. doesn't add up really.

The big issue is targeted by Eastern European gangs who put women - mainly in small towns to sell the BI. It’s a massive money laundering situation that the BI are aware of but seem unable to stop.
These people are not genuine homeless please do not support them it’s a people trafficking operation/ money laundering.

I have never agreed with the BI as it is made to be like a job rather than a temporary thing.
But our local one has has 2 babies 13m apart and was back on the pitch within a week (so who is watching 2 such young dc) im just not even convinced she has been pg as why would you have 2 dc so quickly if you are not supporting them. Was then taking clothes etc but you would have stuff from dc1...
Again they dont live here and probably picked it as there are other wealthy (gullible?) people here.

Parsley I’m really surprised that it’s apparently so well known that this is going on but the Big Issue can’t do anything to stop it. Do you have any more info?