Would you do this for a stranger?

I would if I had the money and one cent isn't that much at all to help a stranger espically for something important as a water bill espically since the woman is blind. I have lost vision in both of my eyes a few times so I understand what is is like. Nice seeing you I hope you are doing well.

I read about that in MSN news yesterday morning. I'm glad her daughter noticed that letter before she got shut off and sued! Of all the ridiculous things, that bill for one cent cost far more than one cent (with postage and all!) What a crazy world we live in!! Yes, I have done something like that before. In the line at the supermarket an old person was just under a dollar short for her total food bill, and I flung a buck at the cashier...no questions asked. Obviously the poor old gal really needed her groceries, and it wasn't like she had frivolous stuff in her cart. She was so thankful, that that was reward enough and we both left smiling! I've also chipped in pennies for a person who was short a little. Kindness is kindness, and sometimes so little a thing can mean so much to somebody who needs just that little extra.

I wouldn't think twice about paying the penny in a situation like that. One of my earliest memories is of going to McDonald's with my mom and sisters when I was little. We were very poor and McDonald's was a big treat for us. We were really excited, and standing in line behind someone else, who was also apparently very poor. The little boy asked his mom if he could have french fries, along with his burger, and his mom counted out the change she had in her hand, and said ok. She then told the guy at the register to take off her sandwich, and change her little boy's to a happy meal. When we got to the register, my mom ordered our food and the sandwich for that lady. We took it over to her, and she cried. I still remember that to this day. I think that was the first time I ever realized how good it feels to give, even when we don't have much, we still have more than some others.

I seen this on the news,how sad is it that they were going to repossess her home for a lousy penny.I would help a stranger in a case such as this one and alot of people offered to pay her penny,these people that was going to take her house must not have a heart at all.You have a wonderful day.

If the water company or the city were that greedy, I would have given them a whole dollar to pay off the poor lady's debt. I would have let the greedy bast@rds keep the change. I wonder if they even tried to contact her to let her know that she owed the penny before trying to take her home? I am not about to do around trying to bail everyone out of their financial troubles, but in a case as extreme as this one, I would have no trouble helping her (or anyone else) out. There would definitely be a limit on the amount I would be willing to spend, though.

I always helped to people who needs it, as much as I can. I can't believe just for a penny debt they had to kicked her out from her own home this so unfair for our elderly people being treated like this, it's unfair for every human being who have a heart. When we help others we don't need to know if they are strangers or not, some of them are angels in disguise just don't expect anything when you help, then it will come back to you.

Oh how really stupid..they were going to repossess her home over a lousy penny? Some government agency or whatever must have really had their head in their butt with this. For a penny I would gladly give..even a dollar I'm glad the story got nation wide notice and people were also willing to help the woman out..how great of them

Heck I would help out if I could. Why not help if you could? I feel that if I help when I can that one of these days when I need help I hope someone will be there to help me.

Yes I would. Especially if it was some trivial amount like a penny. Good grief. That is just plain stupid. BTW, nice seeing you on here again.

If I could afford to, I would help anyone who was in need of it. I am leary about helping people though, because in my opinion, a lot of people got themselves into their situation, and should get themselves out of it. You can't help someone who won't help themselves. I'd give to those that were hurting through no fault of their own.

I have helped strangers out at the supermarket who might have been short a dime or a quarter for their orders. Actually, this week I was at Aldi's, I always forget that you have to have a quarter for the shopping cart. I went to the register to get change for a dollar, but I had to stand in line and wait my turn. I asked the lady behind me if she had change for a dollar, she said no. I asked the lady in front of me if she had change for a dollar, she said no, but she checked her purse and found a quarter and gave it to me. That was so nice of her, she said just take it. I really appreciated that gesture of kindness,

If it were in my power to help, I would certainly do so Starnger or friend, we're all in this Life together

I am somewhat of a skeptic so I wouldnt jump at the oppurtunity but if I somehow feel that that person needs it I would surely do it.

I would do so. It's great if we can just spend a tiny amount of our money that can give huge effect to others' life. Especially in this case, penny debt means nothing to common people but this eldery blind woman almost lost her house for it. Little sacrefice from us can mean a lot for others' who need (eventhough we don't know them) :)

here's the sad thing-this is my state.and it's not the first time.they have everything on computer,so if it's one cent,oh yes they will lean on one cent nobody checks it. there was another elderly woman somewhere around providence,disabled and somewhat blind-they seized her house over like a $300 water bill,dumped all her stuff on the curb,and the house was resold 3 times by scamming realtors before it was stopped and she was given her house back.in the space of weeks. there's a big problem up here with over zealous collectors grabbing homes from the elderly-now valueable homes-if nobody is there to catch it.

Hello beautyqueen26, If it is only a few cents or a few dollars, I will consider to help But if it involves a lot of money, I will never think of helping a stranger. Bad me but yes, that's ME.

I would help pay a small bill like this if it meant she could stay in her house. In fact I would probably pay more for her to allow her to stay in her house. She is blind so it would be hard for her to adapt to new surroundings, this house she knows her way around and it probably has many memories for her!!

Absolutely. One time my ex and I (when we were still married) happened upon a woman who had been staying in a motel for a week and looking for work. She could not afford another night and had not found a job. The motel desk clerk couldn't do a thing for the lady. We did. We took her out to eat with us, paid for one night in the motel, called her sister who lived in another state, and paid for her bus ticket to go and be with family. Although we never saw the woman again, we did get 2 letters after she moved - one from her and one from her sister - thanking us and offering to pay us back. We told them to pass it on. This issue you've pointed out is not unusual. But it is stupid. Years ago, it was determined that it cost about $10 to send out a bill. Today, it might cost more or less than that, depending on wither automation made it less costly or more. But this kind of thing does happen. A few years ago, a woman actually did lose her house when she misread her tax bill (transposed the numbers, probably) and ended up paying $17 less than she owed. She also neglected to open her mail in a timely fashion, probably because she was getting on in years and forgot. Her house was sold to the highest bidder - for $1,000. And that man, the scum that he was, told her to get her house back - a house she'd owned for 30+ years and paid off - would cost her $10,000. Thankfully, in that case also, people rallied round and contributed to a fund that got her home back. The city or county, whichever it was, should have been ashamed. So should the man who purchased it when it was sold to get that $17 in back taxes.

I agree with what the news says that the government could afford million dollar bailouts for big companies but couldn't afford it for its senior citizens. If I were to help I would be really glad to as long as it is a small one even to a complete stranger.

I would definately pay a small debt for a stranger. I always help people (incl strangers) if I can. Many people have helped me in different ways and sometimes a "small" favor means a lot. Helping strangers in need it is my way to return the kindness and help that I have received when I needed it and it is important to me to help people who need it.