I actually ran into this man again this evening at Kings Cross as I was walking towards the Victoria line (between the Northern Line ticket hall and the old ticket hall) - stopped me and asked me to please not judge and bear with him - it took me 10 seconds to register but as he started explaining that he needed to get to Birmingham, I remembered the face and the story. Told him I've met him before and walked straight off - his face was one of surprise and confusion. Wish I'd said something about remembering the leg but I was in the moment just pleased to have saved myself some time in remembering he was a scammer.
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Begging getting more common on the railway?
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bramling
Veteran Member
I suspect some stations do put announcements on a timer, but most don’t. Camden Town certainly has a message about pickpockets playing pretty much constantly, presumably that place is a significant hotspot. (I never get why *anyone* would want to spend their day at Camden Town, but plenty of people do!).
RailWonderer
Established Member
I find it hard to believe begging is more lucrative than minimum wage - Only if these people are so disintegrated from mainstream society to even work min wage jobs then they might find it easier to beg than to reform.
185143
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I texted 61016 to report a begger on the Gatwick Express late on Monday night. He was sitting down with everyone telling his story, and when I said I don't carry cash, asked where I was getting off and tried to pressure me into going to the cash machine. So I said I was off at Clapham Junction but was actually getting off at East Croydon.
I've had no response whatsoever beyond the automated "thanks for your message which is being dealt with by our team". Can't say it was a good impression of the 61016 service.
I've had no response whatsoever beyond the automated "thanks for your message which is being dealt with by our team". Can't say it was a good impression of the 61016 service.
ThameslinkUser
Member
Which Gatwick Express calls at these stations?
185143
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riceuten
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A few years ago, I was meeting some friends at the very wonderful Sir Ralph Abercrombie pub off Deansgate in Manchester. I was living in Urmston at the time and caught the train with some time to spare, and as I walked down the walkway to the exist, I was accosted by someone who said that they'd "lost their wallet" and "needed a couple of quid for a train to Chester". I said "I can do better than that", and walked with him to the ticket office, and enquired how much the cheapest ticket to Chester would be - £6, I was told (that will probably tell you how long ago it was). I duly paid for the ticket and gave it to the rather perplexed gentleman (who was well dressed and not aggressive). I'd paid with a credit card, and this meant at the time no cash refund was available (and the ticket office staff duly stamped the ticket to reflect this).
When I finally got to the pub and availed myself of some drinks, my comrades who were on the train behind me asked me "Did you get hassled by the bloke at Deansgate trying to sell you a ticket to Chester for £2?"
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No votes in dealing with either of these
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When I finally got to the pub and availed myself of some drinks, my comrades who were on the train behind me asked me "Did you get hassled by the bloke at Deansgate trying to sell you a ticket to Chester for £2?"
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The criminal gang element, the government appear to not want to address - way too difficult. Same with people traffickers for the small boats.
No votes in dealing with either of these
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Almost all hostels do not charge £15-20 per night as claimed by the "gentlemen of the road" - even if they are staying in a hostel, housing is normally paid for out of benefits rather than on a per night basis. They rely on people's ignorance as to how hostels work.
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Merle Haggard
Established Member
Not on the railway and not strictly begging. I was eating with friends in Lincoln. The restaurant was on the first floor, and looked down on the street outside. A man was selling cigarette lighters (remember that scam) from a tray. After about 20 minutes another similarly scruffy man arrived, and after some conversation, he exchanged the tray and, I think, a 'float' to display and the first man walked away.
Similarly, on the Tube years ago when 'busking' was widely practised I noticed that, on the light paint on the plaster of a cross tunnel where a 'musician' was often to be found there was what very much looked like a roster; periods of half hour marked out in a column on the left with initials against time on the right.
Similarly, on the Tube years ago when 'busking' was widely practised I noticed that, on the light paint on the plaster of a cross tunnel where a 'musician' was often to be found there was what very much looked like a roster; periods of half hour marked out in a column on the left with initials against time on the right.
Travelmonkey
Member
I know the tissue sellers do get about one got a bit grunty with me as I threw her paper card in the bin on a rammed XC voyager between Derby and Chesterfield a while ago not sure where without barriers they could have borded,
It is easy to feel pressured by beggers I had one in Derby presuring me luckily another bloke stepped in and told him to f**k off to whit he duly did,
People mean well but you'll never please everyone and some are just out to get you.
One thing I did like to do was give my full McDonald's coffee cards to the rough sleepers for a brew on their terms sadly maccies got rid of them though.
It is easy to feel pressured by beggers I had one in Derby presuring me luckily another bloke stepped in and told him to f**k off to whit he duly did,
People mean well but you'll never please everyone and some are just out to get you.
One thing I did like to do was give my full McDonald's coffee cards to the rough sleepers for a brew on their terms sadly maccies got rid of them though.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
You can't give them the card, but the new app based rewards scheme does offer a regular hot drink as one of the free rewards (1500 points I think) so you could still offer them one for nowt on the spot.
Travelmonkey
Member
True although I am more to use my rewards for me on that one it is a much better system although having spent years working for that Corp I don't partake in the golden arches as much since I jacked it in, although my store did have a few rough sleepers in the vicinity even though it was a semi rural services,
It is a awkward situation dealing with beggars and the homeless I'm gonna admit I'm technically homeless myself but I haven't got to the stage where I'm asking random strangers for help I do have sympathy for those who are legit but there is pathways even if it means for some they have to swallow their pride.
Kite159
Veteran Member
On that route the only station after Birmingham with barriers is Derby. And that won't stop someone buying a day return from Derby to Spondon to simply bypass the barriers.
Could have boarded at Tamworth or Burton. Even at chesterfield or Sheffield and travelling up and down
The only place? You really need to get out more...
The situation is not not helped with many large town and city stations having open ticket barriers after a certain time of night - usually after about 9pm on weekdays/Saturdays and 8pm on Sundays.
I've gotten back to Reading after 8pm a few times recently, only to have one of the local scroats demanding money as soon as I've stepped off the train.
They were able to gain access to the platform via the open, unmanned ticket barriers. No sign of BTP officers anywhere.
Those 'in the know' will also do their travel to other destinations late at night, when they are confident that ticket barriers will be open at the start and destination stations. I suspect a fair amount of money is lost by ticket-less travel after certain times in the day,
You could quite easily travel from Reading to Bristol without a ticket at say 9pm at night on a Sunday, with an open barrier at Reading, no person checking tickets on board and likely an open barrier at Bristol.
I've gotten back to Reading after 8pm a few times recently, only to have one of the local scroats demanding money as soon as I've stepped off the train.
They were able to gain access to the platform via the open, unmanned ticket barriers. No sign of BTP officers anywhere.
Those 'in the know' will also do their travel to other destinations late at night, when they are confident that ticket barriers will be open at the start and destination stations. I suspect a fair amount of money is lost by ticket-less travel after certain times in the day,
You could quite easily travel from Reading to Bristol without a ticket at say 9pm at night on a Sunday, with an open barrier at Reading, no person checking tickets on board and likely an open barrier at Bristol.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
And then on to Cardiff with a change to somewhere like Grangetown which is completely open. Mind you a cosy station for the night would be a destination of choice for any of those genuinely homeless.
Well I find the open barrier situation after certain times in the day a farce. It encourages local undesirables into 'restricted' parts of the station and encourages ticketless travel. A situation that will be made worse when/if the rail industry moves to single leg pricing - which i predict will cost the industry a fortune in lost revenue when people become more clued up as to when entry and exit points are likely to be open.
Dstock7080
Established Member
LU has today issued a notice to train staff that with immediate effect, the announcement stating “beggars are operating on this train . . . “ must not be used. All references to begging must be removed from announcements.
Those giving warnings about theft, pickpocketing, care of personal items etc can still be made without reference to beggars.
Those giving warnings about theft, pickpocketing, care of personal items etc can still be made without reference to beggars.
What do they hope to achieve with that change?
75A
Established Member
I expect somebody complained about the terminology.
That's a shame only the other day the driver came on the tannoy "The chap who's just got on near the back of the train is a known beggar. Please don't give him any money. Oh, and he's decided he doesn't want to travel after all, funny that. Mind the closing doors".
That's probably why the new diktat came out. The chap probably complained that he was suffering from hurty feelings and wants to sue TfL for loss of income.
Egg Centric
Established Member
A beggar is in the news today for making an "eye watering" sum (less than minimum wage although probably a bit higher after tax). For context.
Sixty whole pounds. I've never seen that much money in one place before.
Sixty whole pounds. I've never seen that much money in one place before.
Gigabit
Member
I am normally one to be quite considerate to how people are referred to etc but what is wrong with saying there are beggars operating on the train?
They are begging for money and their drug/alcohol habit should not be funded by commuters.
TfL have got this one wrong.
They are begging for money and their drug/alcohol habit should not be funded by commuters.
TfL have got this one wrong.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Maybe people were mis-hearing the word "beggar" and thinking a somewhat similar word was being used instead...?
Cheeky beggar
Kite159
Veteran Member
Or one of the permanently offended members of society got offended on behalf of the beggar and started ticking up a fuss
75A
Established Member
Exactly.
Rather more likely.
class90021
Member
I see a lot of beggars on the overground and sometimes the underground.
I've noticed the Leeds station beggars have become far more brazen recently, they'll try their luck with the smokers or passers by outside the southern concourse and then just wander in to the station and start trying their luck with everyone on the concourse until they eventually get booted out, rinse and repeat!
There was someone and his tent outside the local Asda recently, the local Facebook group went 'poor guy' and wanted to help out, opinions soon changed when he mysteriously vanished all of a sudden only for it to turn out he had returned to...his flat!
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