The 'hidden hunger' in British families

Originally Posted by danielf

Oh. Absolutely. I also never said they did, only that there is a suggestion they did. Let's face it. Many people think they are living within their means if they can pay the interest on their credit cards. They may or may not have been living like this, but if you can go from a cushy lifestyle to relying on a food bank in a period that is too short to sell your car it does suggest that perhaps your car (or your mortgage) was too expensive in the first place.

isn't that the case with 1000's of families ,i also know many families ,some i have done jobs for (built conservatories ect.)all on finance ,massively overstretched motgages,car finance ,10grand on the credit card .In this case without having access to the family finances we will never know ,but i do accept that many people have fallen victim to temptation of easy credit which is why the country and the world is in the financial mess we are in

So is everyone saying this couldn't happen to anyone?

I'm sort of confused as to why such negativity towards people who found themselves in over their heads..

The wealthy can't make mistakes..can't be cut some slack?Can't hope that a job will be along soon and that they can manage for a little while longer?

As for selling the car why?To spend on bus journeys?You seen how much public transport costs these days?Must be the equivalent of keeping a car running..

Originally Posted by Gary L

I wasn't saying that they're the same. but I am pretty amazed that she 'they' told their story to the BBC. as the couple I know wouldn't dream of letting anyone know they're not as well off as the neighbours in the same street are.

she told the story anonymously and her kids still don't know ,also she didn't tell her husband at first

---------- Post added at 23:07 ---------- Previous post was at 23:04 ----------

Originally Posted by Maggy J

So is everyone saying this couldn't happen to anyone?

I'm sort of confused as to why such negativity towards people who found themselves in over their heads..

The wealthy can't make mistakes..can't be cut some slack?Can't hope that a job will be along soon and that they can manage for a little while longer?

As for selling the car why?To spend on bus journeys?You seen how much public transport costs these days?Must be the equivalent of keeping a car running..

i agree with you maggie on the face of it the family did everything they could to make ends meet untill things got better ,i think we should take this story on face value and not try to second guess what we think actually happened and how the lived

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

As for selling the car why?To spend on bus journeys?You seen how much public transport costs these days?Must be the equivalent of keeping a car running..

If they were benefit claimants we'd demand they sold their car wouldn't we?

lol fancy pulling up at the jobcentre to sign on in it. it'll be scratched to death before you can say it's cheaper than catching the bus here!

Originally Posted by Gary L

If they were benefit claimants we'd demand they sold their car wouldn't we?

I don't know! Do we?Is that actually a written down rule?You don't get benefit until you sell your car or your house?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

So is everyone saying this couldn't happen to anyone?

Yes. It can happen to anyone. And I'm not being negative towards anyone. I'm just saying that given the apparent wealth they had at their disposal, it seems to have happened to them more quickly than one might expect.

Also, as Marty says. We don't know the facts, so it's best not to speculate too much, and just take the story at face value.

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by Gary L

lol fancy pulling up at the jobcentre to sign on in it. it'll be scratched to death before you can say it's cheaper than catching the bus here!

Totally prejudiced remarks like this which seem to reinforce the present notion that everybody on benefits or looking for a job is a low-life vandal will hardly encourage people on their uppers to seek the help they are entitled to.
Then again its just the sort of moronic remark I've come to expect from Gary.

[colin25]

I thought benefit was based on level of savings. And she didn't say if she could never get benefit, but that she can't get it right away, delay in processing etc.

Originally Posted by Gary L

If they were benefit claimants we'd demand they sold their car wouldn't we?

lol fancy pulling up at the jobcentre to sign on in it. it'll be scratched to death before you can say it's cheaper than catching the bus here!

When I was made redundant from my previous permanent job, I kept my company car (Audi A4 Avant) for six months as part of the deal; I used to take it to sign on (for state pension credits, not JSA, as part of the deal was 8 months money), and it was never scratched.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by frogstamper

Totally prejudiced remarks like this which seem to reinforce the present notion that everybody on benefits or looking for a job is a low-life vandal will hardly encourage people on their uppers to seek the help they are entitled to.
Then again its just the sort of moronic remark I've come to expect from Gary.

I'm glad you think like that. it's a shame I haven't seen you speak up for these people in the prejudiced threads.

---------- Post added at 08:26 ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

When I was made redundant from my previous permanent job, I kept my company car (Audi A4 Avant) for six months as part of the deal; I used to take it to sign on (for state pension credits, not JSA, as part of the deal was 8 months money), and it was never scratched.

Is an Audi A4 a luxury car then?

Originally Posted by Gary L

I'm glad you think like that. it's a shame I haven't seen you speak up for these people in the prejudiced threads.

---------- Post added at 08:26 ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 ----------



Is an Audi A4 a luxury car then?

The OP link stated "expensive car", and since the A4's list price was approx £29k*, it probably fits that description.

*company car

[colin25]

For a guy without a car...any car is a luxury

The petrol alone is worth a fortune

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I'm glad you think like that. it's a shame I haven't seen you speak up for these people in the prejudiced threads.

---------- Post added at 08:26 ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 ----------



Is an Audi A4 a luxury car then?

The first thing to come into your head isn't invariably the best thing to post Gary, but to answer your "question", I have countered many, many of your prejudiced posts over the months.
As usual though Gary you are trying to divert attention from your own bigoted views by shifting the onus onto me, we are all well aware this is how you operate.
Now we have three choices, you'll follow form and post a completely pointless reposte, as you have above to foreverwars post, once again avoiding answering the question, secondly you'll do what you did to me and try to shift the attention from your prejudiced post by answering a question with a question, or you could try for once what 99% of other posters on this site do, that is answer the original question.
Just to remind you, "why do you claim that a decent car will be vandalized by people who are claiming benefit or out of work"?
Have you any evidence to back this prejudiced and puerile claim up, or is it simply your current mindset after looking at the Sun for to long?
Come on Gary surprise me for once, and answer the question.

[Gary L]

My Range Rover Sport got scratched when I popped into the jobcentre once.
there you go. am I now allowed to make a joke about something which won't give you reason to post such a big amount over something so small?

Could we stick to the topic please which is not about scoring points about supposed and imaginary situations you have found yourselves at the jobcentre.