I am concerned at offers of money, goods and toys here

[trudgingalong]

I am certainly filled with the Christmas spirit but a website for parents (well, I always consider mumsnet a website for women really, although I know some men post here) is going to be like a neon light for chancers and for frauds.

When posters offer money, even as a loan, toys, food or goods such as electrics or whatever, it encourages posters of this nature.

It's also often embarrassing for genuine posters who just want advice/and or a few encouraging words about happy Christmases without a thousand gifts, as when money is offered even when they refuse it puts them in an awkward position, and a question mark over their sincerity.

Is there any chance we could have a site rule about this? I realise PMs are harder to police of course but I just feel that however kindly meant this is a 'solution' that benefits no one.

Another one who wants to know about this phone

Agree with Anchor. Huge difference between someone offloading their unwanted foot spa and longterm beggars filling their boots and having a minder co-ordinating ops for them. HQ Don't seem to mind either though.

Quite agree AnchorDown

perhaps we could start a "I have this second hand tat stuff which needs getting rid of," then the mn beggers could go there to lay claim to it, and we could direct those in the direction of said thread...

It should actually be turned on its head. HQ shouldn't allow threads even hinting at the old 'only got thruppence and a tub of stork for next three weeks" threads. Because it's not the kind, if gullible givers who are at fault, but the scamming beggars who want their Christmas funded.

But if people didn't offer it, then we wouldn't have so many 'beggars' and we could assume threads are genuine.

Tonight's dessert is coming from Aldi. I'm basically destitute. Please send cash and/or jewellery.

Actually though, I think the school uniform thing is a good thing, and people should be treated as adults (after a generic warning).

Now I need to know about these specially troll hunting phones please.

ThenLater.

I would be absolutely against that. Mn exists to support parents, give a huge variety if reasons people find themselves with very little cash and needing to survive on what's in their cupboards.

There is a very specific skill set required to make this actually work and many people who have been there will happily share their tips.

I'm pleased that your lucky enough not to see the need.

It says MN have commented here - I can't see that, can you?

I think it would be good if MN posted on threads like that saying whether the OP was a regular poster, albeit name changed, or whether she was completely new. I know they have ways of checking that; there's no reason why we couldn't be told that this is a new poster with no posting history. I do think it's different if it's a regular.

Who was that poster who got carried away with a thread and was trying to organise the OP and gave her daily tasks etc? That would've driven me mad.

Oh God, are you phone woman? You sound like her.

Thing is, these people don't actually want 546 recipes for lentils. They want your dosh.

And I often find myself with too much month at the end of my money. I just wouldn't dream of starting a thread and expecting randoms to fund me.

I think it would be good if MN posted on threads like that saying whether the OP was a regular poster, albeit name changed, or whether she was completely new. I know they have ways of checking that; there's no reason why we couldn't be told that this is a new poster with no posting history. I do think it's different if it's a regular.

I agree

No cannot see HQ post either Imperial

Imperial- you mean phone woman. Still on going.

yy Arf. That was extremely weird and I felt mega sorry for the OP.

Don't forget the snarky comments when things had apparently been promised but then not sent.

I have this mental image of phone woman with a pencil behind her ear in a huge warehouse gleefully unpacking goodies.

Arf That thread is still running. Last post was about 2 pages of instructions from phone woman

I think that it's daft to try and put a blanket ban.

Report blatant begging threads and let MNHQ deal with them as they see fit.

I've offered to send stuff for free before and I've done it because I chose to.

Oh yes I stumbled upon that thread once and ran away in terror. Phone lady is a bit frightening.

Am I 'phone woman'? No! I'm the opposite - I think people should be allowed to ask about finances or Christmas without having to fend off a load of mumsnetters offering money and a load of other mumsnetters thinking its a troll because of the first lot of mumsnetters offering money!

My post was to herrena harridan OP, not you.

Ah, OK - thank you

When people need stuff I'd rather recommend freecycle. It works well.