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Do you feel sorry for them?

(113 Posts)
merlotgran Sat 07-Feb-15 14:09:13

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2943251/Homeless-Heathrow-look-holiday-truth-middle-class-couple-living-airport-losing-500-000-home.html

I did until I read the comments at the bottom.

I hate the thought of anyone losing their home though. sad

Elegran Mon 09-Feb-15 12:21:47

Read the comments on www.gofundme.com/lt0bfw

nigglynellie Mon 09-Feb-15 15:19:47

I wonder where they are now? If they've moved to the B&B for a few nights, presumably the can't stay there all day, and I can't think that they're still wandering around Heathrow?!! So I wonder where they are and what they are doing! They were supposed to be appearing on Loose Women this morning, but their appearance on the show was pulled for whatever reason!! This is all so odd; If it was an exercise warning against the dangers of setting up, and contributing to online fund raising without checking it out properly, or the lax security at Heathrow, I would have thought that they would have said so by now. So it has to be concluded that they are trying to pull a fast one! Wonder how long it will go on or whether it'll die a death and we'll never hear the end of the story!

rosequartz Mon 09-Feb-15 15:34:39

They are in the DM again today, looking sad, with a headline: 'How could anyone think we're lying'
They are horrified by the suggestion that they have been running a B&B.

It is just such an amazing coincidence that they have the same names as the couple who run the upmarket B&B near Heathrow Airport.

Alan is not an uncommon name but Katrina is - especially when coupled with Alan.

Would the other Katrina and Alan please step forward and solve the mystery?

nigglynellie Mon 09-Feb-15 15:48:12

I agree, you would think that the B&B proprietors (if they are not them) would be falling over themselves to put the record straight! Again you can only suppose they don't because they are them!! Curiouser and yet more curious!!!

loopylou Mon 09-Feb-15 16:58:06

Probably looking sad because of not getting the thousands of pounds they'd hoped for!

FarNorth Mon 09-Feb-15 17:00:07

You might think the DM would have checked up on the 'other' two as part of their follow-up story.

rosequartz Mon 09-Feb-15 17:13:27

I think the story in the papers the week before about the girl who raised money for the man who had been mugged outside his own home was so heartwarming and lovely; it was just so uplifting and restored your faith in human nature.

Now these two come along and, well, words fail me.

nigglynellie Mon 09-Feb-15 18:02:53

I think they may have read the story of the gentleman who was mugged and the wonderful response to his predicament, and thought that they could jump on this particular band waggon. If this is the case then they should be utterly ashamed of themselves, and I hope it backfires for them. The whole thing seems to have gone very quiet. Were they on radio 5 this afternoon? Can't seem to find out!! Half way to Canada I shouldn't be surprised!!!

Nelliemoser Mon 09-Feb-15 18:17:56

Could some Gnrs in the area go to see the B&B to pretend they want to stay there and see if it's them? wink

merlotgran Mon 09-Feb-15 18:23:45

I'm hoping they'll turn up on 4 in a Bed!

FlicketyB Mon 09-Feb-15 18:24:00

I am sorry for the plight they are in but think them entirely responsible for being in it. As rosequartz says they are completely without common sense and forethought.

The problem is there seem to be so many people around like this. There was someone in the financial pages of one of the Sunday papers who had saved £160,000 for his pension and then invested every single penny of it in a carbon credits scam and had lost the lot.

DH just quoptes the well known proverb 'A fool and his/her money are soon parted' and regretfully this is only too true.

FlicketyB Mon 09-Feb-15 18:24:24

quotes not quoptes.

granjura Mon 09-Feb-15 18:30:11

Great idea Nellie- GN detectives- fun.

I really hope the truth will out- and the money given to more deserving charities.

nigglynellie Mon 09-Feb-15 18:31:03

That's an idea!! I can't understand why the DM hasn't checked this out!! It's all so weird!! But then everything about this saga is weird! Spending 4 months dossing down at Heathrow without detection is weird, £700 a month spent on storage and B&B(!!!) is weird, working from the airport coffee shop without somebody querying it is weird!!! I wonder if DM are now distancing themselves from this couple!

TerriBull Mon 09-Feb-15 19:54:22

There's an article in The New Statesmen, detailing the husband's career history, which is bordering on grandiose at various junctures. He also managed to get caught up in a coup in Nigeria and a dodgy situation in Lebanon, whilst earning substantial amounts of money. I'm wondering if he is one of those serial bullshitters that one encounters from time to time!

rosequartz Mon 09-Feb-15 19:57:24

We know the sort - unfortunately
(But it's not him.)

rosesarered Mon 09-Feb-15 20:41:50

I thought from the start this was either a scam or a hoax. Of course Heathrow Airport security would have noticed them [had it been true.]The DM were happy to run the story though , didn't matter if it was true or not.People who gave money [if they really did] shouldn't be allowed out on their own.

nigglynellie Fri 13-Feb-15 11:39:38

Apparently this couple have now gone to earth and are uncontactable!! People are asking for, and receiving refunds so I think the chances of them benefiting from this fund are looking remote! The business with the B&B continues to mystify, so I think this whole saga will sink without trace. As they say, nice try, but back to the drawing board for both of you!

loopylou Fri 13-Feb-15 11:45:31

Isn't it a criminal offence obtaining money by deception or do donations bypass that?

constance Fri 13-Feb-15 11:47:41

Move up north

nigglynellie Fri 13-Feb-15 12:50:53

I think it is, but first find them!!!!!

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 13-Feb-15 13:07:02

But the B and B is still there. Physically. If you enquire to stay there through Trip Advisor it comes up with "we are unable to supply prices for this accommodation". Sooner or later.....

Ana Fri 13-Feb-15 13:09:25

They didn't set up the fund, though, Natalie Longford did.

annsixty Fri 13-Feb-15 18:40:03

constance we don't want them thank you.

nigglynellie Sat 14-Feb-15 11:41:55

I don't expect anyone does!!!!!!!!!