There really are families like those on TV......

[askyourgran]

Today we went to a shopping outlet, when we returned to the car we sat for a few minutes while I had a drink of water. A large blue van drove into a parking space opposite, the driver got out slamming the door open onto the side the the car parked next to it. His wife rolled out the other side holding a sleeping child, cigarette hanging from her lips, next comes daughter in trackkies holding a cigarette, she gets the push chair from the back of the van and her mate jumps out pulling down her skirt almost covering her backside. I thought it was an episode from Shameless or the one that Harry Enfield used to do. This. I think was the living example for a £26,000 capping. I felt a bit fed up to think that we are helping people like this.

[Postdog]

Not a good idea to form opinions just on sight - might have been incognito pikies.

[Velvetee]

Well I guess their behaviour doesn't necessarily mean they are on Benefits, they could just be like lots of people are these days, from all walks of life who just lack good manners, decent behaviour and consideration for others.

[starone]

I know plenty of families like this.

[Hopkirk]

Look at this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16812185

This family gets luxuries paid for wth my taxes.
Sky TV, mobile phones, 24 cans of beer, 200 cigs, a large pouch of tobacco etc etc.

I cancelled my Sky years ago as I couldn't afford it, don't smoke or drink, work ridiculous hours and really struggle.

[Velvetee]

Does anyone watch the Chawner Family on the Bio channel? A British Northern family who are all Super Obese, the Father last worked about 10 years ago. They all have lame excuses for why they are unable to work. They smoke, eat non stop, scrounge and are lazy and were getting about £32K per year in benefits, before the Benefits office had the audacity to reduce their Benefits by £90 per month.

[askyourgran]

I've never heard of an incognito pikie postdog they could have been. These people were careless and seemingly lacking in manners, their behaviour was rough and ready. it was the cigarette dangling over the sleeping child that got to me. You could be right velveteen, but it was the middle of the afternoon, and I had the feeling those people hadn't done a days work in their lives.

[Hopkirk]

I bet they have wads of cash though

[Velvetee]

Were they perhaps Travellers Gran? I personally despair at the way Society has gone downhill. My pet hate is holding doors open for people, they walk through and don't even glance a look in my direction let alone say thank you. Perhaps people have just become lax in teaching their children good manners and consideration for others.

[askyourgran]

I didn't see the Chawner family but I can guess what it was like, there is no shaming people like that they always seem to have an excuse for their lifestyle. Hopkirk I wonder how they can afford all those game machines and posh mobiles, they seemed to be dressed in the latest gear.

[Ann]

You sound like a woman after my own heart askyourgran! I totally agree with everything you say, there are families like that in our town, I look at them and feel very angry when I see them smoking, swearing at (and whacking) their children, they get much more in benefits than we get weekly, we are having to live off our savings now which we saved for our retirement and because of this little pension pot we innocently squirrelled away for our old age in a building society we can't claim a penny off the state! They just get money thrown at them from everywhere, free housing free council tax, child tax credits, child benefit, no wonder they are laughing at us pensioners!

[missprim]

There are certainly some sights to be seen when you're out and about.

[NOX]

Another thread of pure speculation I see. How refreshing to live in a world where facts don't have to be proved in order to make lurid assumptions and sweeping generalisations about people you have never even met. You have no way of knowing whether ANY of them had ever claimed any benefits in your life, ann assumes that smoking goes automatically hand in hand with yelling at and hitting your children, and frankly it's all like a bit of a horrid little club of self satisfaction.
There's a conclusion over there folks- quick jump to it.

[daffy654]

Being chavvy doesn't necessarily mean they are on benefits. My neighbours are all hard working but the matriarch is morbidly obese and more than a little dense, her hubby is scruffy and also a bit dense. The daughter (early 20s)has a 1 year old child who she shouts and swears at all the time, she also smokes, drinks and takes any illegal drug she can get her hands on at weekends. The only benefit claimed amongst these 3 is child benefit for the baby.

[TheOtherHalf]

Ive seen plenty of families like on tv. One near us is just like the Royle family, another is like those off Mrs Bouquet, the one with Onslow and his dopey wife. We have a Victor Meldrew and a Rigsby from Rising Damp at work. It takes all sorts to make this lovely world of ours.

[starone]

How true, steve. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[ummmm]

Yeah Steve...they sit on their fat lazy arses all day!!

[carrust]

I've had the misfortune to go into their houses when I worked for the probation service. You could guarantee the house would be a complete pig sty; no carpets, filthy kitchen & bathroom, dirty clothes everywhere, chip pan on the stove full of congealed fat....the list is endless. Oh, I forgot about the mangy dog & the biggest TV you've ever seen that seems to be permanently on.....

[NOX]

I hope you have a different job now Carrust...