Was I wrong? What would you do?

Merylstreep-yes i bet she is looking for somewhere in uk to live, arent they all.whats wrong with looking for somewhere to live in spain?!

I think this looks like a scam as so many others have said. In the past I have given to strangers asking for money - but now I say something like " I am sorry but I do not know you and cannot know if what you are saying is true, so I cannot give you the money you are asking for. If what you say is true, I hope you find a good way ahead."

No genuine person would go to a stranger's door asking for food for a friend. Would you ? Everyone knows about food banks these days and if women needed food why could the women who came to your door not help her.
You did the right thing,you kept yourself safe and you don't have to feel bad about it. If you had went to get food from kitchen would you have locked the door behind you with her standing outside ? You would probably have felt bad about that too. Don't give it another thought. She was in the wrong.

I'd tell your neighbour to be more wary next time.Yes was probably a scam- in genuine circumstances where that was indeed the case the fire brigade or police or some such body would have referred/directed them to a food bank and any other charities or funding they might need.

I tend to agree with those who assume a scam, and I think the OP did exactly the right thing. I do remember, though, many years ago I was driving into London and was in traffic jam on the Westway. My car overheated, as cars did in those days, and I needed to put boiling water into the radiator. So I pulled off, went down a side road, and knocked at a random door. It was answered by an elderly gentleman whose accent suggested that he had been brought up in Jamaica. He invited me to sit in his hall, at a table covered with a lace cloth and family photographs, then boiled a kettle, accompanied me out to the car and poured the water into the radiator. When I thanked him, he said 'It's my duty'. I was very sorry afterwards that I hadn't noted the name of the street or his house number, as I would have liked to send written thanks.

If there is a significant fire which means people are left without, I can assure you that the Fire Service has people who can access support for them. Furthermore, the local community will often ask for donations of stuff for people who have lost everything through Social Media. There is absolutely no need for "friends" to knock on doors!

Sounds like a scam to me, be careful because they could be back and may not be a tearful woman looking for help.
Years ago I used to find chalk marks on the pavement in front of my house, asked around and they turned out to be signs for would be burglars. There was one mark for dog in the property, one for old person and so on. I used to go out with a bucket and brush and clean it off.
Two days ago I went around my property spraying the weeds and I found stones beside the fence, not random ones but placed in various patterns. This could well have been an inventive child but I never see children playing in the street nowadays so I think this may be some kind of signal to others.
If they are thinking of targeting my house they need to look up and observe the four CCTV cameras 🙄

I don't open the door unless I am expecting a visit.

I offered to pay for a bus ticket they were asking instead of giving the money and the person rejected it - that told me everything

I got caught out years ago because I was kind and it’s made me wary of sob stories unless of course I know the person

obviously an intercom or similar is best, but not everyone has those.

well that's your choice.
but opening the door means you show more of yourself, height, size, robustness or not, and risks the door being invaded.
i prefer the upper window.
each to their own.
also general advice, never say i but we.
even if alone.
esp if alone.

I think answering the door from an upstairs window would immediately alert anyone outside that you were vulnerable and scared, so ripe for exploitation. If dogs are there and scary, they would be barking, so that will immediately be recognised as a sign of fear.

Much better to have an intercom or, depending on where you live, answer the door, with or without a chain on and speak in a clear and authorative voice and give a clear and definitive answer. Mine is 'We do not buy or sell on the doorstep', followed by shutting the door. I speak in a firm pleasant voice and I might even smile, but once I have spoken I shut the door, to make sure that the conversation ends there.

I speak through my Ring doorbell, saying I can't come to the door right now - and offer to call the police for assistance. They're gone so fast!

welbeck

don't open the door to anyone unknown or unexpected.
if possible talk from an upper window, mentioning we can't let the dogs near the front door. and then dismiss them, whatever they want, no sorry.
shut window and withdraw.
also make sure people cannot look through or use fishing rod through letter box.

That’s good advice👍🏻

Ex-wife, The food would probably have been sold off in a pub for a knockdown price. Bags of shopping could be stowed in a car hidden down the road or round a corner and a day of begging like this could lead to the scammer having, as much as a small van full of food. Several hundred pounds worth of food, sold off cheaply for £100, a nice little earner.

As I said, I wouldn't have thought twice, I would have phoned the police.

Theexwife

It’s not much of a scam if all they are collecting is surplus food. I would have helped.

I wouldn’t.

don't open the door to anyone unknown or unexpected.
if possible talk from an upper window, mentioning we can't let the dogs near the front door. and then dismiss them, whatever they want, no sorry.
shut window and withdraw.
also make sure people cannot look through or use fishing rod through letter box.

Many years ago we used to have someone knock on the door asking whether we had any knives or tools that needed sharpening. It was a regular visit each year so not a scam but the one day when he asked if he could have a drink of water I closed the door on him before I returned with the glass…just in case. Don’t even like the thought of knives being sharpened nowadays!

rosie1959

Sounds odd to me why didn't the lady knocking on your door just go to the supermarket and get her friend the supplies she needed

This.

Mention it to your neighbour too. So they don't get taken in again. I have heard of this scam before always for a" friend" who has fallen on hard times. Either money for the meter, food or clothes .

I would have done the same as the OP - and then rung the police.

We have had Nottingham Knockers around over the past week and I would be deeply suspicious.

Why should someone you did not know go house to house down your street asking for food for a person you do not know and who probably does not live locally?

annodomini

I'd have done the same as you did; perhaps directed her to the local food bank.

You need to be referred to use a food bank. Citizens Advice say
'The adviser will ask you some questions to check you're eligible for the food bank. If you're eligible, they'll give you a voucher for your nearest food bank.'

I would have said no too. If there had been a serious fire they should have received help, the Red Cross can offer support in these cases including referring to food banks & providing clothing etc. You can donate to food banks in most supermarkets, that way you know it is going to the right people. Don’t feel guilty, you did the right thing, so many scammers around and this sounds like one of them, you need to think of your own safety first.

MerylStreep I was thinking along the lines that if this person had had a fire they must have a home or property here
Still sounds totally dodgy

rosie1959

Hardly not likely to be someone in need if they had just come back from Spain

I heard last week of a woman I’ve known for years working in Spain being paid cash in hand. The Spanish have always turned a blind eye to this but now they’re not.
She got a huge fine, but the owner of the bar got a much better one.
He’s had to shut down, she can’t get a job without becoming a Spanish citizen, which she can’t afford.

She’s with friends and trying to look for somewhere in the uk to live.