Go Fund me or Go **** off?

This Go Fund Me is getting out of hand. We have always taken holiday insurance out from the moment we book. It has proved invaluable in a couple of instances.
There's always someone in our local groups wanting funding for something or other.
The other thing to be an ever rising request is Anyone Gifting. There is someone on a local group who is forever asking for something. So if anyone has something to get rid of - fair enough. But if you can't afford something don't be begging other people.

I have just contributed some money to a Go fund Me - cancer charity - in memory of a lovely young girl, who was taken too early. No way would I encourage foolishness, as is the case with this gentleman.

My son in law is 39 and was diagnosed with MND 3 years ago. They had 2 little boys and one on the way when he was diagnosed. He had to give up a job that he loved. His house has to be totally renovated to give access for a wheelchair and a downstairs wet room. They have to still pay their mortgage as well as bills and can’t move as him not working they won’t get another mortgage or even a loan

Some people just have to bite their pride and ask for help. It’s not easy but the alternative could have been them losing their home

On top of that one of their neighbours got wind of it and is constantly putting horrible posts up about go fund me

I was a bit shocked when a young relative asked for money for a particular purpose on line. But it was explained to me that asking for small donations is a way people in certain circles with very little money can fund each other for more expensive things through a group effort. They give small donations to other people's requests in turn. I am lucky to have enough money not to need to do this. I suppose it can be exploited. But so can many charitable activities..

I only contribute if I know of the person and it's a worthy cause. Definitely not for people who just want my money to go off somewhere and have fun at my expense! And some idiot going on his ' holiday ' with NO medical insurance is a definite No No. Who do these people think we are?

Tomrah

I funded a doctor working in Gaza. He carried on working but wanted his elderly mother and children who were injured to go to Egypt so they could receive medical treatment.

How were they going to get to Egypt?

I only know of one couple who went on a crowd funding site.
It was totally inappropriate. I can’t say what it was because someone here may recognise it. Her parents made them remove it when they found out.

Anyone can set up a Gofundme page, irrespective of whether it’s for a sick child or a wedding, and the commission is 2.9%. The things some people want crowdfunding for is mind-boggling.

The commission is 1.9% for a registered charity. Justgiving operate in a similar way. You have to go through hoops to prove you’re a registered charity, rightfully so. Gift aid can also also claimed for a charity.

The above is being reported by many news outlets.

annsixty

I have read this morning that the mother of the teenager missing in Tenerife is relying on crowdfunding for her hotel accommodation.
Sadly I have also read but not verified is that the teenager is not a very nice person being charged with serious offences.
As I said I can’t corroborate this information.

He narrowly escaped jail after appearing at Preston Crown Court.

He was charged with four others for attacking a 17yr old with a machete, golf club and axe, they split open the defendants head.

As they were all 17 at the time they were given community service.

I have read this morning that the mother of the teenager missing in Tenerife is relying on crowdfunding for her hotel accommodation.
Sadly I have also read but not verified is that the teenager is not a very nice person being charged with serious offences.
As I said I can’t corroborate this information.

I've seen the occasional warning on Go Fund Me. I have contributed, but there is always the possibility that the whole appeal is a hoax. i.e. there is no sick child; the photos are from Shutterstock; the story is a sob story - a lie. It can bring in a great deal of money if the story is strong enough.

B9exchange

When my DH had a terrible accident abroad and smashed all his upper teeth, the travel insurance would not cover dental treatment other than relief of pain. On arrival back in the UK our NHS dentist said there was no NHS treatment available as replacing top teeth is considered to be merely cosmetic! We are facing a £16,000 bill and in desperation I wanted to look at crowd funding, but DH insisted that was only for critically ill children! We have sold things and only got £2,000 to go, I have been trying to find work, but no-one seems to want someone my age! Would that be an appropriate use of crowd funding, what would you think?

No, I don’t consider it would. It’s purely cosmetic.

B9exchange

When my DH had a terrible accident abroad and smashed all his upper teeth, the travel insurance would not cover dental treatment other than relief of pain. On arrival back in the UK our NHS dentist said there was no NHS treatment available as replacing top teeth is considered to be merely cosmetic! We are facing a £16,000 bill and in desperation I wanted to look at crowd funding, but DH insisted that was only for critically ill children! We have sold things and only got £2,000 to go, I have been trying to find work, but no-one seems to want someone my age! Would that be an appropriate use of crowd funding, what would you think?

We had a similar experience our DD was 11 and knocked out her front teeth in an accident at a water park (Northern Cyprus)

Our insurance covered for the treatment she had there, putting her teeth back with a gum shield like guard to hold them in place, and removing her top braces. Antibiotics, pain relief and transport to and from the dental hospital every other day (five trips)

On our return to U.K. one tooth hadn’t taken and was removed, she had a false tooth put on her brace. Roll on ten months and the other tooth failed, so now she had two false front teeth. Our insurance wouldn’t cover her for implants, the NHS said it was cosmetic, so her 16th birthday present was two front implants, these were secured temporarily to allow for any growth. She was so happy that she had teeth for her end of year Prom

(They haven’t been without a few mishaps, one came out when we were abroad, rang dentist who liaised with foreign dentist, when she was 18 they were secured permanently)

Go Fund Me charges a percentage of the amount collected to use their service.
If I want to donate to a cause/person's plight, I find out how to get the money directly to them.

I have existing health conditions so have bought good travel insurance for years. I’ve been unable to get cover at all because I was awaiting surgery on iguinal hernia. I asked for cover to exclude the hernia - no. I tried all the well known companies, the advertise cover for hernia. The stumbling block was I was diagnosed as needing surgery but on the wait list.
I was due to stay with friends at their house in Spain. I have the post Brexit card but decided it wasn’t worth risking . I didn’t want my children left trying to sort me out, just because I flew to Malaga
Surgery done four days ago - will be discharged so I can get insured
I will not contribute to go fund me for people who can’t/wont get insurance.
I contribute to the breed specific dog charity I volunteer for. We often have a specific fund raise for a dog coming in skin and bone, sick and terrified

I would have been suspicious of that one.

I funded a doctor working in Gaza. He carried on working but wanted his elderly mother and children who were injured to go to Egypt so they could receive medical treatment.

When my DH had a terrible accident abroad and smashed all his upper teeth, the travel insurance would not cover dental treatment other than relief of pain. On arrival back in the UK our NHS dentist said there was no NHS treatment available as replacing top teeth is considered to be merely cosmetic! We are facing a £16,000 bill and in desperation I wanted to look at crowd funding, but DH insisted that was only for critically ill children! We have sold things and only got £2,000 to go, I have been trying to find work, but no-one seems to want someone my age! Would that be an appropriate use of crowd funding, what would you think?

My pet hate is when there are house fires but householder didn’t have house insurance. I’ve been paying house insurance since a newly wed in 1970 and would not risk being without.

Go Fund Me is a heaven sent opportunity for every scam-merchant on the planet. Sadly.

I’ve worked in travel insurance claims and the number of claims that get rejected because people have failed to disclose medical information and then find themselves with huge medical bills always astounded me. But the common response was I’ll set up a go fund me page if my insurance won’t pay and on several occasions they made out it was the insurance company in the wrong.

I did hear of one where parents set up a fund for their child's (needed) operation, only to find when they'd raised 15k that the best option was available at their regional NHS hospital.They decided they'd spend the money raised on special equipment, physio & aquatherapy for recuperation. I think they should have given it back so that donors could help another child with needs not covered by NHS.

Dickens

Blossoming

It has certainly become ubiquitous but you can choose what you want to contribute to. I agree there are some ridiculous ones and I wouldn’t contribute to someone’s incredibly expensive wedding, for instance.

... and I wouldn’t contribute to someone’s incredibly expensive wedding, for instance.

Golly gosh, do people actually do that?

I don't know much about crowdfunding, though I have partaken (a poster on here who many others helped, too).

But do people actually ask to be funded for an expensive wedding? How do they word their 'appeal'?! Is it real, or an urban myth?

I'm flabbergasted!

Yes they actually do that, otherwise I wouldn’t have mentioned it!

M0nica

If he was unable to get travel insirance this suggests that there were reasons for not being able to get it, so he knew he was at risk and still took the holiday.

It's difficult to know for sure that what you are reading is factual (I've just looked at the Mirror - it has less 'pop-ups').

Very many years ago now my late ex was involved in an incident that was reported in the national press. He was interviewed by a news reporter from the Telegraph. When we read the piece in the newspaper, we were both shocked at the way what he had actually said had been interpreted by the reporter. They even managed to get his job description wrong - they reported that he was a "Baker" - when in fact he was a Thames Waterman & Lighterman - which was the very reason why he was being interviewed (the Marchioness disaster). I'm now very suspicious of anything I read in the media.

So according to the Mirror this man was not able to get travel insurance which implies that he obviously tried but couldn't get cover. But again, was this because he perhaps only tried one insurer - or did he try them all and no-one would cover him?

His daughter appears to think he's being held hostage until at least half the bill has been paid, is dubious, or seems to be, about the diagnosis and treatment he's received, and is slating the British Embassy for not offering to help - only suggesting crowdfunding.

She's admitted (according to the Mirror) that "we know he shouldn't have gone and we can't be held accountable for his choice, but he's our dad and we need to do everything we can to get him home".

... but the article is short on facts. Was he un-insurable or was the premium too high? The details of his health condition, current diagnosis, and treatment are, rightly, confidential - but this allows the daughter to make all kinds of accusations against the hospital.

I feel quite sorry for the family - again, according to the Mirror, they don't own their own houses so can't take out any equity in their homes. They don't have £thousands in the bank. Crowdfunding is their only option.

It's a mess. And though I obviously don't wish this man to suffer, and hope he can be brought home - if he were my dad, I'd be absolutely furious that as an un-insurable individual, he'd decided to go on holiday anyway. That's if it's true. But either way, he acted completely out of self interest with no thought for his daughters and son. I almost feel tempted to donate because I feel so sorry for his offspring.

... but, did they know he was going without insurance, did he tell them, did they encourage him, "go on Dad, you'll be fine, you only live once" kind of thing?

Who knows - and that's the problem. I'm never sure that what I'm reading is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

People with all sorts of medical conditions can get travel insurance but the price can be very expensive. Obviously he didn't want to cough up.