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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I think DH is hiding finances from me

120 replies

Shrewdone · 01/08/2012 02:48

i am married(10 yrs) and we have 3 kids (6,9,15) the oldest is from past relationship but real dad has never bothered.we used to have a joint bank account until our property business went bust in 2008 and my DH declared himself bankrupt.As I was a joint director of our company ( but DH made all financial deals and decisions) the huge debts that we had were also mine! DH begged me to go bankrupt but I refused. He constantly tried brow beating me into it saying that I am just prolonging the inevitable as they ( the banks/creditors) will come for me anyway and bankrupt me . I told him I would not go bankrupt and if they do then so be it( not a lot I could do). During his bankruptcy he could only have a basic bank account, and I had my own account. DH went back to work as an IT Consultant ( self employed). We lost our lovely home ( it was in his name only and he signed it as security against development finance) so this was repossessed by one of the creditors. He did this behind my back and I only found out when the s..t hit the fan ! We basically lost everything but are very lucky that he is able to earn a very high income as an IT consultant, which is what he was doing prior to setting up the property company.He has been discharged from bankruptcy ( approx 3 yrs) and has a limited company as an IT consultant. We still live in rented as cant get mortgage due to credit history.
My big problem is that he still has his own separate bank accounts both personal business and various savings accounts, which he opened a number of months ago. I honestly do not know how much he earns every month. He tells me it is around £120k per annum gross but I had a bad feeling he isn't being honest so I had a search through his desk and any paperwork and found some bank statements. From what I saw, basically you can double that figure he tells me ! I told him and he laughed at me and denied he earns more. I have insisted countless times that he gives me complete access at all times to the bank accounts but he just makes excuses. Once after a huge row about it he produced a spread sheet that he had made of In goings and outgoings and expected me to accept that !
He pays me an allowance each month which he puts through as a salary saying I work for his company. Over recent months I have had to ask for him to pay it into my account ( very demeaning ) ans he says he hasn't got any money as he has had to pay this and that and he can only give me so much now and more later in the month. This month I have had the same but I told him no and that I expect it paid in one payment as he had originally agreed. Our youngest are in private school so he said I can have my allowance/housekeeping but he will have to use money he put aside for school fees. I decided that his attempt at emotional blackmail will not work so I said OK.
I asked him why when he earns more than most people he is always pleading poverty ? He tried to blame me! Saying most of HIS money goes to me . I told him that this set up is no good and we should have joint accounts and that we are married and who ever earns it is OUR money and I shouldn't be made to go ask him and go through this all the time. I insisted that evening we sit down and he shows me all off his accounts online and pay statements so I can see what income there is and exactly where the money is going ( I have been through this conversation loads of times before). DH response was ' I haven't got time to do that so no '.
I am at my wits end with it because I can only think he has something to hide. and why does he not want me to see exactly why he earns ? The whole thing stinks and I don't know what to do to be honest.Also we rent a huge house in the country which costs loads to upkeep and is 2k per month rent. I hate living here as he works abroad all week and I get spooked as it is quite isolated. Me and the kids all want to,live in a regular size 4bed house in or near town but he refuses to live where I want and will not budge on it.

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Wowserz129 · 01/08/2012 23:26

Please go to CAB or a solicitor and tell them everything you know/have and get some advice or where you stand legally with all this stuff. I would start making preperations for yourself and children incase the worst happens. xx

Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 00:48

I have managed to access his documents on his computers and I am busy going through them all. He has put this document sharing software on our computers and I have delved into the workings of the software and discovered how I can share his documents ( and read everything :-) ) I have already confirmed he is being paid double than what he tells me !

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LurkingAndLearningLovesCats · 02/08/2012 00:51

I'd save everything on a USB drive so you have copies, and take them with you to a solicitor so if you do split he cannot deny you the proper amount of child support.

CaliforniaLeaving · 02/08/2012 00:56

Wow you are good. Print off everything or put it all on a USB flash drive and keep it in a safe place, maybe not at home but with a trusted friend or even give it to the solicitor to look at and keep safe.
What a worm he is and how awful that his mother would encourage this when there are her won grandchildren to think of. Sad nasty people.

CaliforniaLeaving · 02/08/2012 00:56

Her own grandchildren, not won grandchildren Blush

Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 01:01

I would expect him to say he has to pay loads on business expenses, tax , vat etc. I know he will try and worm around it and end up with a tiny amount to get out of paying maintainance he should if it comes to that. There are plenty of men just like him out there I am sure. I will def be visiting a solicitor in the coming weeks but he will not know about it !
Unfortunately I have to go on holiday with him on Friday - would rather stay home and get all my info together and see solicitor.

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Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 01:03

yes, his mum is really not a very nice person. We ' tolerate ' each other for the sake of peace and harmony.

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geegee888 · 02/08/2012 01:04

How can he be director of a company immediately following his discharge from bankruptcy? I thought there was a period of automatic disqualification, or is it only for an undischarged bankrupt?

Rather than asking constantly for access to his bank account, over which YABU, why don't you ask to see his tax return? Thats what I'd have my doubts over.

Otherwise, take a bit more control of your life, pay at least part of your own, etc.. tbh I wouldn't hang my financial future on former bankrupt with this attitude towards money, I'd have taken the bankruptcy as a wake up call to earning my own money. Did you not learn from losing the house because it was in his name only?

In principle, theres nothing wrong with seperate bank accounts. My DH and I tried the joint thing, and neither of us liked it. It works for us to have seperate bank accounts, though we often make transfers between them. But then my DH doesn't hide things, and I don't pry.

geegee888 · 02/08/2012 01:05

And has he told you how much he is paid net ie after tax, while you have discovered the gross payments?

Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 01:20

hi geegee888 - I used to work but as he is away all week, every week I dont now as my ' job ' is looking after the kids, animals and household. He insists we live in a rural area in the middle of no where because he cant stand neighbours and refuses to live on an estate or development in a ' shitty little box ' as he puts it. This means that I drive 3 kids to 3 different schools andback home again.With this set up I would not get a very long working day. By the way I do not want to live here!I studied for a diploma last year and passed and have since set up my own design business that I can do based from home. I am hoping it will be successful for just the reasons you have said, but as yet I am not making a living from it.
I have no problem with separate accounts but I have a problem with the secrecy.

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Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 01:24

You can be a director once discharged .

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geegee888 · 02/08/2012 01:29

Why didn't you insist on seeing everything when he started working/was discharged from bankruptcy? ie when he was setting up these companies. tbh having family relatives as directors is very normal, as is having the registered address of the company seperate from your own home, particularly if an off the shelf company.

I don't blame him about housing estates. All I know is that no-one would be making me live somewhere I didn't want to, so I wish you luck in taking control of your life and finding out more detail of whats going on (possibly perfectly legitimately).

Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 03:27

geegee888 - I am his wife not his prison officer - I can insist all I like but if he doesnt come clean then that is that and exactly why I am posting on here about it.At the end of the day I should not be kept in the dark about these matters and to find out through delving through his private computer files that he has been very busy behind my back has quite frankly really pissed me off and confirmed to me that he can not be trusted.I have done absolutely no wrong here. I am sure that what he has done is all legitimate however it is very devious and underhand and not the way to treat your spouse.I have discovered he earns double the amount he says he does, has set up another company with his mother, set up business bank accounts for it in her name ( he prob couldnt open it because of his credit record) and the account was very active - and all in one day ! I will find out !

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justaboutiswarm · 02/08/2012 05:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shrewdone · 02/08/2012 13:11

Justaboutiswarm

Haha love those unhelpful categories thanks you made me chuckle :-) I do feel like I am being blamed here by some that it is my fault for not being a cow to my DH from the start!
Well, dreading him arriving home tonight and having to go on holiday in the morning with him and having to pretend everything is ok and normal when I really know what he has been up to behind my back.
Thanks so much for your supportive words x

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SundaeGirl · 05/08/2012 18:12

Any more OP? How's the holiday going?

CaliforniaLeaving · 19/08/2012 00:41

Wondering how the holiday went.

Shrewdone · 19/08/2012 01:13

Hi sundae girl and californialeaving :-)
He knew I had accessed his files and when we on hols asked if he can transfere his files back to his computer as they have all his tax, vat and accounts on. Told him not a problem as I have copies of everything very safe out of his reach. He then said that I am very welcome to take over all the finances and do his books etc as it would save him a load of time ?.. Very strange ?? I think he saying it because he is in a bit of a corner now and he wants to make out he has nothing to hide.

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CaliforniaLeaving · 19/08/2012 04:51

Are you going to take over the books? At least now he knows you have seen what he really is making.
Glad you got back safe for the Hols. Grin

Shrewdone · 19/08/2012 21:16

Hi. I haven't made any decisions yet. I am going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb and then make him go through it all with me. And let's hope that he can provide me with satisfactory answers to my questions. Also going to find out what I need to be able to get a mortgage of my own should I decide enough is enough .And think I will go see solicitor anyway so I can hopefully get a good idea of what maintenance I can expect should I go it alone :-) even if I handle the finances, I still will always have doubts as to what he could be hiding :-(

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