Can you help me make this phone call?

[BertieBotts]

This is really simple, and it's really stupid. I need to phone my landlord to inform him that DP has moved in, but I can't make myself do it. What's making it worse is that I know I should have phoned him weeks ago when we were planning it rather than almost a week after he'd moved in. We sorted all the benefits etc last week, but this one is terrifying me. Every time I think of making the call my stomach knots up and I don't want to move. The other day I managed to pick up the phone and I started shaking and almost started to cry. And then I couldn't find his number anyway, so I left it. I know this is completely ridiculous and I don't know why I am so afraid, other than that last time I saw my landlord he turned up when I wasn't expecting him (he had sent a letter but I had been avoiding reading the post - seems to be a theme at the moment, just avoiding things which then causes massive problems which I don't know how to get away from. Hence why posting in this section.) Anyway he turned up and the house was really messy and he was understandably quite pissed off, he sent me a letter saying he would review the state of the house in the autumn, and unless there was huge improvement then he would terminate the contract.

So I suppose I'm worrying in case DP moving in is something he wouldn't like either. In practice it should be a huge improvement as DP is now doing half the housework which has loosened the burden on me, however it's still not really up to where it should be. DP is working as well which means we have more money coming in and if LL needs to put the rent up at some point that shouldn't be a problem (whereas things were tight with just me). I'm just shitting myself because I should have asked beforehand and not after - but do you need permission for things like this or is it more telling him what is happening? I don't know whether to just lie and say he's moving in next week, but the longer I leave it, the worse it's going to get, and I don't want to lie if possible. I don't have an email address for the landlord but I was thinking I might be able to put it in writing?

[PaintedToenails]

OK, deep breath. Is DP there now? Can he sit with you while you make the phone call?

I guess the call needs to be made sooner rather than later if you've sorted all the benefits out etc.....just take a deep breath and ring the LL. Don't worry, if he starts to get pissed off, just say that you have to go and that you will ring later (when DP's home?).

I don't think he should be pissed off and as you say, even if he puts the rent up, that shouldn't be a problem for the two of you.

xx

[InFlames]

Make the call - dealing with the post-call situation so much easier than pre-call anxiety and not knowing :-) good luck x

[BertieBotts]

You're both right. Sorry PaintedToenails, I completely bailed earlier, and refused to look at the thread because I knew someone would be telling me to do it now Going to have to be tomorrow now, but DS is at the childminder's all day, I might even be able to get DP or a friend to sit with me. It just seems so pathetic though!

I don't think LL would get angry on the phone even if he was - so that's not what I'm worried about really. Anyway thanks for your replies :)

[InFlames]

Not pathetic, have a friend or DP there for cup of well deserved tea after :-)

[PaintedToenails]

Don't worry, BertieBotts.

Have you managed to do it today?

[pippop1]

Could you write a letter to LL instead? You could send it recorded delivery to be sure that it arrived. He might even prefer it to be in writing.

[midnightservant]

Hope you managed to do it. If not, why not have a dry run - pretend you are phoning LL and say what you plan to say out loud. The idea is it's then easier to do for real because in a way you have already done it.