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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to consider divorce after years of financial lies and deceit

151 replies

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:05

Over the last 5 years, my husband had been creating false HMRC bills which I had been paying to 'help' him. This came up to just under 30k. He has also racked up credit card debt (45k) and taken extra equity out of the home without my knowledge or consent(90k). He insisted at first that he had no knowledge of where the 90k equity had gone. It's only after contacting the conveyancing company sent evidence to show the money had gone to him that he 'remembered' getting the money. He then said he would not have done it without my consent. He also said it was used for home renovations at the time but hasn't yet shown me fully where all the money went. I personally cannot agree to take 90k out without even thinking of how to pay it back, so I feel he is lying about this. It's also come to light that where 2 signatures were required, he used his email address and a shared email address, rather than my direct email address. In addition to this, he sent me emails but omitted information to cover up his tracks. At that time, I had a lot of things going on so can honestly say I was not on the ball. Looking at dates, at one point, he was doing this when I had a lot going on, ie, new baby, sick/dying parents.

The strange thing is the money could have been asked for and given. He lies all the time - even with smaller things and has always found it hard to show emotional vulnerability and be open and honest with me. What I want to know is, what are the chances that he will change? I have known something was off for the last 9 years and it's all coming to light now. Should I just walk away now? He seems to only tells the truth once caught. He says he loves me but I cannot quantify this as love. Why did he steal and lie? Why from me? I suggested because I was gullible and he knew I had money set aside. He says it was about him and his issues and insecurities.

In his 'defence', he said he was struggling financially and found it hard to deal with. I understand financial struggles, but to steal, manipulate and lie? Especially from a person you supposedly love? I recently (last month) asked him to provide credit card statements to show he paid the HMRC the 'money owed'. He got them delivered, falsified the HMRC payments to make it look like he paid the HMRC and popped it back into the post, shredding the originals. All of this baring in mind HMRC don't accept credit card payments and haven't done so since 2018. Again, only admitting the payments were false once caught.

I am all over the place. After marriage, kids and history of 20 years together, I wonder if it's tine for me to call it a day? Has anyone been in this situation? I'm asking for a separation and considering a divorce. Am I being unreasonable to consider these things?

OP posts:
TishHope · 03/08/2026 09:10

I was financially abused by my ex and it was one of the main reasons I divorced him. You can never trust a liar, and no one should stay in a marriage where there is abuse. Actually I wonder if he committed fraud too with the fake invoices. Get rid of him and be happy. I can tell you now that my life was lots better after divorcing him, and I was married to the loser for 20 years too. How old are your kids?

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:14

TishHope · 03/08/2026 09:10

I was financially abused by my ex and it was one of the main reasons I divorced him. You can never trust a liar, and no one should stay in a marriage where there is abuse. Actually I wonder if he committed fraud too with the fake invoices. Get rid of him and be happy. I can tell you now that my life was lots better after divorcing him, and I was married to the loser for 20 years too. How old are your kids?

The kids are young, all under 10. He says he is working on changing, but I've been in an emotionally void marriage for a while. At this point, I just want peace.

OP posts:
MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 09:15

This is one of the most shocking things I have read on MN. @Yazmine2000, you haven’t even spoken about where the money has gone.

Your husband is a thief and a liar. It surely is a criminal act to forge HMRC documents.

He is not going to change. If you left him would he stop stealing? I cannot see how he would. It is his nature.

Maybe it is compulsive and he has issues but it actually sounds calculated. He is a crook. Please leave him.

I know a lovely lady, that had a lazy, lying husband and now they have nothing and are both in ill health. They own their own home, because they can no longer work they now have had to go on benefits. Eventually they will have to sell their home because they have absolutely nothing, because of lying, lazy husband. They are both in their 60s.

Don’t leave it until then.

PashaMinaMio · 03/08/2026 09:19

Separate & divorce.
Just get it done.
He won’t change and you need peace.
Protect your peace, starting today.

Tel12 · 03/08/2026 09:20

Something was off for 9 years? This is an established pattern of behaviour and the chances of any meaningful change is minimal. Where has the money gone? What else isn't he telling you?

IronEverything · 03/08/2026 09:20

Are we talking about a man who falsified documents to scam his own wife?

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:22

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 09:15

This is one of the most shocking things I have read on MN. @Yazmine2000, you haven’t even spoken about where the money has gone.

Your husband is a thief and a liar. It surely is a criminal act to forge HMRC documents.

He is not going to change. If you left him would he stop stealing? I cannot see how he would. It is his nature.

Maybe it is compulsive and he has issues but it actually sounds calculated. He is a crook. Please leave him.

I know a lovely lady, that had a lazy, lying husband and now they have nothing and are both in ill health. They own their own home, because they can no longer work they now have had to go on benefits. Eventually they will have to sell their home because they have absolutely nothing, because of lying, lazy husband. They are both in their 60s.

Don’t leave it until then.

I cannot speak of where it's gone because I cannot say for certain where it's gone 😞. He just said for the home renovations and that it would have been used 'for the family'. This coming from him who would spend £200 on a meal out and complain if I went theatre for 20!

I used to keep all my financial documents in one place. He told me to get rid of it because everything is online. Stupidly I did, but didn't have access to certain things.

OP posts:
Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:23

I cannot speak of where it's gone because I cannot say for certain where it's gone 😞. He just said for the home renovations and that it would have been used 'for the family'. This coming from him who would spend £200 on a meal out and complain if I went theatre for 20!

I used to keep all my financial documents in one place. He told me to get rid of it because everything is online. Stupidly I did, but didn't have access to certain things.

OP posts:
Lengokengo · 03/08/2026 09:24

Where did the money go?

No matter what the answer is, this well not get better it will only get worse.

you cannot trust him. He targeted you when you were vulnerable. He continuously lies. He is financially dangerous to he associated with. Any one of these is a reason to leave.

Betadelta · 03/08/2026 09:26

Of course YANBU and you should definitely divorce him. He has stolen your money and lied to you. How could you ever trust him again?

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:31

IronEverything · 03/08/2026 09:20

Are we talking about a man who falsified documents to scam his own wife?

It's love....apparently. 😭

OP posts:
MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 09:33

Dear @Yazmine2000 , I really do feel sorry for you. You cannot stay in this marriage, he will financially destroy you.

You are able to pay the bills are you? From your post it seems you are keeping a float but how?

The fact that he is fraudulently creating HMRC documents show the length his is willing and able to go to. Are you wealthy?

Do you have access to online utilities? Please go on, change passwords if you can.

Do you both have your own business? Contact HMRC, get government gateway access for yourself, so that you know what is being done in your name. Or go to the Citizens advice. You have to gain control of your finances.

Even WHEN you leave him he will still have access to much of your financial information and access unless you put a stop to it.

Sunnytraces · 03/08/2026 09:36

I hope you told the conveyancers you never actually signed nor agreed and asked them to investigate as fraud and their possible failing.

I can't believe you are considering staying with someone like that

SassyLemonFish · 03/08/2026 09:38

I’m actually quite angry that you’re making excuses for this guy and in doing so putting your own and your children’s financial stability at risk. You need legal advice because you’ve been defrauded of property equity. Goodness knows what other debts you’ve been signed up to without your knowledge. I think you are failing to grasp the possibility that you’ve been set up for bankcruptcy.

Bonkers1966 · 03/08/2026 09:40

Please divorce the man who would not recognise the truth if it pulled a gun on him. I seriously doubt he understands the concept of love.

backformoreofthesame · 03/08/2026 09:40

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:31

It's love....apparently. 😭

Self love

the kind that cages a bird for his own amusement , to look at / he’s using you to fund - I dread to think n what - and that’s why he loves you

horrible for you OP

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:41

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 09:33

Dear @Yazmine2000 , I really do feel sorry for you. You cannot stay in this marriage, he will financially destroy you.

You are able to pay the bills are you? From your post it seems you are keeping a float but how?

The fact that he is fraudulently creating HMRC documents show the length his is willing and able to go to. Are you wealthy?

Do you have access to online utilities? Please go on, change passwords if you can.

Do you both have your own business? Contact HMRC, get government gateway access for yourself, so that you know what is being done in your name. Or go to the Citizens advice. You have to gain control of your finances.

Even WHEN you leave him he will still have access to much of your financial information and access unless you put a stop to it.

I don't earn as much as him, but I'm good with my money. He also knows I have access to family money (which I don't take from). He likes to show off with new clothes - he bought a cap for £110 with his credit card, whilst I was in a shop debating spending under £20 on one. I only spend money I have, he spends on credit cards. We dont have a shared bank account but now after the truth has come out he wants to have a shared account.

OP posts:
OtterMummy2024 · 03/08/2026 09:43

Get a solicitor and separate your finances ASAP before he knows you are divorcing him. You MUST protect yourself and children.

blushy · 03/08/2026 09:48

I can understand getting into a financial mess and being too afraid to confess. I know that happens a lot and many people struggle with intense shame.

However I cannot understand going to such great lengths to lie, e.g spending time on creating fake invoices, fake email addresses and fake signatures. This is not the behaviour of someone who got themselves into a bit of a mess and didn’t know how to get out, this is the behaviour of a prolific scam artist and fraudster.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:48

OtterMummy2024 · 03/08/2026 09:43

Get a solicitor and separate your finances ASAP before he knows you are divorcing him. You MUST protect yourself and children.

Thank you. The only thing we have financially tied is the house. I am in the process of making him remortgage the home to pay back the 130k owed. I will also get him to sign and agree that liability so that when the house is sold the money can be taken from his portion. I cannot agree to pay his debts, I dont even know where its all gone!

OP posts:
Blueberrybonanza · 03/08/2026 09:48

Please dont get a shared account, get a divorce instead

MNLurker1345 · 03/08/2026 09:49

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 09:31

It's love....apparently. 😭

The lovely lady I mentioned in my original post has stayed with him for love and to honour her marriage vows. That is what she actually says.

Her house was gifted to her by her DF when they got married many years ago. She has mortgaged it out to the hilt and only due to a small inheritance has she been able to finally pay it back. I don’t know if they can take equity on the house, they tried once and were turned down. Inheritance gone, now on benefits.

Her husband is a lazy liar who has only taken from the family, never provided or contributed, just take, take, take! Eventually it has affected her health, she has had to stop working. Sounds awful doesn’t it?

Chuck him out!

nc42day · 03/08/2026 09:55

See a solicitor without delay.

If what you want is peace, you'll not find it with him.

MongoosePerfume · 03/08/2026 09:59

Don’t remortgage with him - that is madness at this stage. You really need to cosnider divorce here.

id be thinking he has a gambling addiction with those sums.

hes still lying to you - he’s not being transparent where it’s been spent. This level of deception is horrific.

can you talk to friends about this? You need support and fast.

he is short changing yours and your children’s future.

Yazmine2000 · 03/08/2026 10:01

SassyLemonFish · 03/08/2026 09:38

I’m actually quite angry that you’re making excuses for this guy and in doing so putting your own and your children’s financial stability at risk. You need legal advice because you’ve been defrauded of property equity. Goodness knows what other debts you’ve been signed up to without your knowledge. I think you are failing to grasp the possibility that you’ve been set up for bankcruptcy.

Oh I'm not making excuses, I am trying to convey a balanced argument - I want people to know what he has said/done with his 'justification' of it. I'm hurt and sad because the person who I loved is not the person I thought. I have to navigate this whilst trying to be 'normal' for my kids and it's so hard.

OP posts: