Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DP has a secret phone number

29 replies

Phersphone · 05/03/2018 08:58

Just discovered that my partner has a ‘burner’ phone number. I’m guessing this is used for stuff he doesn’t want any trace of eg cheating. Thing is I don’t know what to do about it? Can I get phone records to see who he’s been contacting? He will prob deny using it since we’ve been together. We are moving in together (with our separate kids) later this year. I don’t want to make a huge mistake. Help 😔

OP posts:
Battleax · 05/03/2018 09:00

How did you find out? That kind of dictates your options.

What are you looking for? Confirmation that he’s been up to no good? Do you have other suspicions?

FrostiesMum · 05/03/2018 09:00

Oh OP, I’m sorry, I haven’t got any experience of this but didn’t want to read and run. Don’t move in together until you are 100% happy it’s the right thing to do. Trust is so important.

ScattyCharly · 05/03/2018 09:06

At least you have not moved in with him.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Relationship problems
Auspiciouspanda · 05/03/2018 09:08

Well it’s either going to be cheating, drug taking or drug dealing so why do you need to get a hold of it? You know it exists, you know it isn’t going to be good and you know he’s just going to deny it. You don’t need proof to leave a relationship.

ItsAllABitStrangeReally · 05/03/2018 09:11

I have a burner phone. I use it if I'm going out as it's less painful to lose than my expensive phone. Don't shoot him yet op.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 05/03/2018 09:12

I have a second phone with a different number for emergencies Confused
When I changed mobile models for the main phone and was waiting for a different sim or changed providers and the main number was disconnected I could use the other number.
Or when travelling give my DD the other phone “just in case”.
Nothing dodgy. You must have other suspicions?

NotASingleFuckToGive · 05/03/2018 09:14

Move the phone to a different location. If it's innocent, he'll ask you if you've seen it.
If it's dodgy, he won't Wink

DancingLedge · 05/03/2018 09:17

Yep, I too have a burner for entirely innocent reasons- bought when smart phone suddenly died.Kept , charged, as backup- carphone, canoing phone, will stay charged for 2 weeks camping phone.

If you can't ask DP, or are not prepared to trust that you'll get an honest answer, what does that tell you about your relationship?

Original poster
Phersphone · 05/03/2018 09:39

Thanks all. He’s defo not doing drugs I know that much. I don’t think he has a separate handset, just sim or number. He bought us a iPad to share info on for our house renovation and he’s obs used his details to setup, therefore his is comes up in the contacts and the other number which he’s listed as burner is in there. I don’t think he’s cheating physically, but maybe doing stuff online or sexting? I don’t know whether to ask him?

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseGirls · 05/03/2018 10:01

Why was your first reaction that he was up to no good? Maybe it’s an old payg sim.

Tequilamockinbird · 05/03/2018 10:02

Has the iPad got a sim in? Could it be the number for that sim?

Tequilamockinbird · 05/03/2018 10:03

I've no idea what a 'burner' is?

Original poster
Phersphone · 05/03/2018 10:04

Yes it could be, just had bad experiences in the past which makes me a bit paranoid. If I ask him he’ll know I’m being suspicious again. I just need to know why he’s listed it as “burner”

OP posts:
wombatron · 05/03/2018 10:05

If he's bought a sim card for iPad to use data then it will be a registered phone number - even if it's not used to make calls. DP has one and its saved under the name 'ipad' on our phones so that it can be used to imsg and face time if we have no reception where we are on our normal phones (we use the iPad when sailing and it's a different network). It could be that - and why he's never mentioned it.

Really calling the number from a withheld line and seeing what happens is one way to see if it's used. If the iPad rings that's your answer...

Original poster
Phersphone · 05/03/2018 10:05

No sim in iPad, burner is a term used by drug dealers for a temporary phone/contact that can’t be traced.

OP posts:
wombatron · 05/03/2018 10:06

Just seen your last post - disregard my post then. Think you need to just ask!

Original poster
Phersphone · 05/03/2018 10:07

Thanks yes I thought of that and will give it a try. I’m fairly sure it’s a paygo sim so completely separate, nothing to do with iPad.

OP posts:
letsdolunch321 · 05/03/2018 10:08

Ask him, better to get all concerns out in the open before making the huge leap of moving in

PhelanThePain · 05/03/2018 10:12

Ring the number

Original poster
Phersphone · 05/03/2018 10:13

Thanks guys. He’s probably just got that term from breaking bad and thought it was cool! I will call it and see what happens.

OP posts:
JonnyUtah · 05/03/2018 13:19

I'd ask in this case

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/03/2018 12:51

Hi OP, did you have any answers? Did you call it?

Original poster
Phersphone · 06/03/2018 15:31

Hi GreenFingers, no I haven’t called it yet. Trying to get a paygo SIM card so he doesn’t recognise my number, or get a friend to do, who he doesn’t know. But thanks for asking Smile

OP posts:
YetAnotherUser · 06/03/2018 15:39

Trying to get a burner to call the burner? Grin

Try 141 to withhold the number?

traumwerk · 06/03/2018 15:41

Add the number on to Whatsapp and see if there is a picture? Search the number on Google and see if it's linked to anything?