Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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

Email embarrassment

114 replies

Rationalcat · 14/02/2020 00:41

Last week, I was on my phone and had 3 conversations on the go.

One was work related.

I accidentally sent a cheery personal, 'Bye, ta and love you' to the work person.

I didn't notice. Nor did he as we carried on with our work related emails without anything being said.

Until now. He sent email reminding me of his official position and said it inappropriate for me to 'declare I love him'. And from now on we could no longer speak directly to each other. I will need to passed over to other members in his team.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Scrolled through my emails, found the offending little bugger of an email, and apologised, saying it was a mistake, very embarrassed, no discomfort meant etc....made a point of saying I hadn't noticed, and apologised again.

I can't do much else, can I ?

OP posts:
CeibaTree · 14/02/2020 07:41

I think someone else - a partner or perhaps his boss has got sight of the email and possibly made him send you that email. Or else why did he just carry on your conversation when it happened? Very odd, but actually quite funny - I hope once you are over the (unjustified) embarrassment you'll be able to smile about this :)

MrsAmaro · 14/02/2020 07:50

It sounds like he’s married to a Mumsnetter who saw the email tbh!

TheMemoryLingers · 14/02/2020 07:51

He's a self-important prick. Who in their right mind would assume anything other than a mistake in that situation? "Did you mean to send me this?" would cover it, or simply ignoring the message.

Fuckitwhynot · 14/02/2020 07:52

What an arrogant little twat he is. He must have some ego on him to think that wasn’t a mistake.

Lipz · 14/02/2020 07:54

Alot of people have made mistakes like this, usually when explained to the recipient they understand.

A good few years ago I was on 2 text messages at the same time, one work and one my sister, bloke from job had text to ask me if I would do something in the morning for him when I got into work. There was about 3 messages between us. There was a good few between me and sister, she was telling me she was out having drinks and did I want to meet, i text back "where abouts are you, I can come meet you in an hour XXX". Of course I sent it to the bloke Blush I copped it immediately text him it was meant for someone else. Next day in work, manager called me in, red me the riot act, your man was thinking I was coming onto him, got such an ear bashing. Thankfully I kept the texts to my sister and showed them, the context of my text made more sense then.

Maybe show him the emails and let him see you were not talking to him and your message makes more sense combined with the other emails sent to the other person you were emailing.

SaskiaRembrandt · 14/02/2020 07:54

I once ended a phone call to a Very Important Client by saying, 'bye, love you'. I immediately realised I'd made a huge mistake and apologised profusely, luckily they saw the funny side.

He sounds incredibly pompous, most people would realise it was a mistake and find it funny. You sound like you're handling it properly - and if he is avoiding any contact with you he's probably doing you a favour.

NoProblem123 · 14/02/2020 07:54

It was a complete non-event. It’s an obvious mistake that was clearly not meant for him (whether you had 3 emails running or just his is irrelevant).
Talk about making a mountain out if a molehill !
People who work on emails all day make mistakes like this - it is not a big deal.
You’ve apologised now forget it.

Tableclothing · 14/02/2020 07:54

American? A lot of American companies have very strict rules regarding romantic relationships in the workplace - i.e. they're a firing offence, no matter if you're the same level of seniority or work in entirely separate departments. He probably panicked and felt he had to be seen to respond in the way that he did.

RandomUser3049 · 14/02/2020 07:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

cherryblossomgin · 14/02/2020 07:58

Its clearly a mistake. If I received that I would of just replied. I assume this was an error, have a laugh about it and move on. My boss sometimes texts me by accident as she leaves the thread open. Usually messages meant for her daughter.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 14/02/2020 07:58

What a pompous twit! Anyone could figure out the message wasn’t meant for him. Least said soonest mended though. You’ve apologised and that’s that.

Bellyfullofbiscuits · 14/02/2020 07:58

Don't give it another thought. You apologized. He it a twat. The end.

Impatientwino · 14/02/2020 08:01

When very flustered and busy my boss was ending a call between us and said 'ok, bye, bye, love you'

When we hung up I immediately text him 'love you too!' with a heart eyes emoji and a million laughing faces! And he replied with a face palm!

Some people are nuts! You apologised and he's an idiot!

BohoBunney · 14/02/2020 08:03

What an idiot. He obviously thinks a lot of himself tbh if he genuinely thought that you were professing your love for him. Hopefully he hasn’t replied because he has died of embarrassment after you have pointed out the error. He can’t ever take back the “you’ve declared your love for me” line so is now just avoiding it all together. Maybe it’s not a bad thing you have to deal with someone a bit more... sane.

TrickyKid · 14/02/2020 08:08

Sounds like he's massively over reacting. It was obviously a mistake and nothing inappropriate was said... could've been worse.

BreastedBoobilyToTheStairs · 14/02/2020 08:09

The message said 'Bye' and then you continued emailing...even if his ego is so big that he thought you might actually love him, surely the errant farewell should have given him a nudge!

loobyloo1234 · 14/02/2020 08:10

Blimey OP - I think he really needs to just get his head out of his arse. It was clearly an accident and you've said so since

Unless there is history he's being completely U

Role reversed I probably would've replied 'ooh think that was sent to me by accident, whoops' - what a plum he is

FredaFrogspawn · 14/02/2020 08:18

You are so sensible not emailing again. No good can come from further apologies.

Are things ok at your end? Can you do as one poster suggested and show your line manager the different threads to illustrate how it happened? Having this client (or whatever he is) moved on from you - is this going to cause issues for you at work?

butterpuffed · 14/02/2020 08:26

There can't be many of us who haven't made silly mistakes , you'll laugh about it in the future . He won't though , as he obviously lacks any sense of humour .

Brefugee · 14/02/2020 08:35

gosh what an idiot. We all make mistakes because we're human and not robots.
You've apologised, he's overreacted - there's not much you can do apart from file and forget and be glad you don't have to communicate with the pompous ass again.

Andtwomakesix · 14/02/2020 08:42

Oh wow he's an idiot. I've done this once or twice to my boss, he thinks its hilarious!! Maybe he feels silly now that he presumed you were in love with him when its blatantly a mistake. As if you'd declare your love in that way!!

Bikerider2020 · 14/02/2020 08:57

What an absolutely prize prat!! Who wouldn't just laugh at that?

getyourarseoffthequattro · 14/02/2020 09:03

You could meme a lot of trouble for someone with mistakes like that

by saying bye, ta, love you?

seriously? what kind of trouble could be caused from that?

YgritteSnow · 14/02/2020 09:04

What a drama llama he sounds 🙄

Bikerider2020 · 14/02/2020 09:04

*Very unprofessional OP

You could meme a lot of trouble for someone with mistakes like that.*

Especially if you read too many MN posts! Honestly it was an error and tbh if your partner is that paranoid that they can't see a random bye, ta, love you in the middle of an email exchange is an error, then bloody get rid! Honestly the suspicion and drama surrounding everything is ridiculous.

If my partner read my emails and commented I'd be kicking his bloody arse!