Inside a call centre on cost of living crisis frontline

Rising prices are of course having a real impact on people already struggling with the cost of living.

The charity, Turn2us, which advises people in financial difficulty, says it's receiving an increasing number of calls for help from those in full-time employment. Among them is a teacher who told Channel 4 News he worries about being able to pay his family's bills and afford petrol each month.

We were invited inside the call centre where the Turn2us helpline operates.



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[Boo-pvhn]

The shame is people have been in a cost of living crisis for many many years it’s only now “news worthy” when people in higher work are struggling, I remember growing up 3 layers of clothes and 2 Quilts because we didn’t have the money for heating, I remember not having the money to feed myself and pay my bills so people would give me odd bits like dry cereal so I had something to eat, it’s not a current crisis it’s an ongoing crisis.

[fdqxhrq]

the dissociation/gap between those in parliament and the real people in the UK is greater than it has ever been 🙁

[Userhandle]

As an American, at least you all have this type of call center! This is amazing to me… nothing like this here. People just live in their cars.

[ZiggyMercury]

It's amazing that with all these people - including working people - struggling to put food on the table, all the Tories talk about in their leadership debates is whether or not to cut taxes for businesses.

[garethjohnstone]

I have struggled in the past, but I have only had myself to take care of and that was bad enough. I am 40, no kids. I can't imagine what it's like to have to take care of other lives. Luckily, I got a good job and things have turned right around but, I do feel for those of you with kids.

[edwardbrady]

Sunak is doing his best for the 1%.
Governments are not for the general population. The richest will not be taxed properly, never.

[abbiebrown]

The cost of living crisis is heartbreaking 💔

[michaelprice]

I remember my mum had shoes without soles on then and we ate cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as no hot water regularly. I now live in New Zealand and save a thousand dollars a month on minimum wage. Poverty in the UK is not a new thing

[trimmy]

This made me cry, and more also of the fact that this has been happening for years, it’s stomach turning only now it’s become just now it’s covered by the news, many people have suffered because of rising prices. Now it’s at its worst…

[spoop]

I'm a student living with my Mum, I earn 250 per month through minimum wage. £35 on mobile bills, average of £60 is paid for credit debt which carries on each month because I'm always out of pocket, and around £50 for bus travel (thankfully my Mum doesn't ask for contribution for the house, I just cover my own expenses such as food). I tried applying for Universal credit to help me in the two months between College and starting Uni, I was denied and had my claim closed and now have to pay the advance back, not only this I also need to source £300 for my first two weeks accommodation rent before September. Yet, despite struggling I hear people come into work and make conversation about how I should save more to purchase a home, when I'm missing meals on my breaks and cutting corners everywhere I can.

To say this country is a democratic one with opportunity is a lie. Everyday it seems more like a police state.

[lunaskye]

Same as others in the comments, I've grown up living in a home that couldn't be heated. I just thought this was normal and it was a privilege for the house to be warm. I didn't know it was fuel poverty until 2020. We have managed to cut energy and gas bills my limiting use and reducing our boiler to 40 degrees, cut weekly food shop to average of £60 for a family of 4 and anything additional like clothes and days out are a rarity. This is now the way most in Britain are living. The Conservative government will not help alleviate people's stress. I just hope we can survive until the next general election.

[tracyhedges]

Thanks for your kindness and generosity and support and respect to people who have nothing to eat and having a roof over their heads we need caring people like you to understand about the living crisis at the moment

[DaveyNaples]

People in this country make me so angry when I think of their choices. We had a genuine chance in the last election to really make some changes in our society and instead we stuck with the very people that have systematically destroyed everything working class people fought for

[duckhive]

UK is one of the richest countries in the world. This is

[jacobfield]

The poorest areas of the UK are broken. The media needs to report this.

[dannymack]

I was hearing that there are Americans with 3 jobs and are homeless because rent is so dear they cant afford it, they are living out of thier cars. What a world we live in, how unjust is it, that you have 3 jobs and you cant afford rent, and now petrol prices have risen on top of that. Some one needs to take control of all these unjust price rises in rent food and water. The government need to be careful of what it creates, because it might just turn on them for good.

[ukpreppermuminspire-shoppingpa]

It is only going to get God help us all. Even the Professionals are struggling, Everyone needs to prepare because there isn't help for everyone 🙏

[dropas]

Rent appears to be darn expensive in uk even compared to cities in sweden!

[lisalu]

If someone gets evicted from a council property god help them managing to pay private rent. They really are the end of the line. Very sad

[johnberesford]

When the country voted for Boris and the Tories in December 2019, I knew it would end very badly. I left the Uk in September 2020 (I'd of left sooner if not for covid) knowing it would be far worse. I'm glad I got out when I did but it pains me to see what is unfolding in what was once my country. Like others have said, there has always been a cost of living crisis, its only now it can't be hidden.