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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fucking raging about my Dad re not buying clothes

15 replies

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 21/08/2012 21:55

My parents separated when I was 15. The icing on the cake was when my middle brother emptied my mums bank account and my dad refused to punish him (she would have been happy with a bit of scare tactic type talking to about the consequences of fraud, and remoal of pocket money for a couple of months, nothing outrageous).

My youngest brother initially lived with my Dad, he was 9 when they separated but asked to live with my mum when he started spending time with various women and leaving him alone until 11/12 at night (he was 11 and 12 at this point). He was 12 when he moved to my mums.

Since then my mum has provided pretty much everything, despite being disabled, no savings thanks to middle brother, and only incapacity and ctc to rely on. My Dad gives him £20 a month pocket money but not always. He occasionally comes up and treats him to a new pair of jeans.

He married a woman last year and has become progressively worse. He didn't tell us hed got married. I don't care that I didn't get an invite, but my brother was 15 at the time, they invited his wifes (adult) kids, and her grandchildren (he denies this but I've seen pictures), I feel they should have invited him.

He kept promising to take my brother on holiday which has never happened - despite he and his wife going abroad 4 times in the last year, plus a trip to disneyland with wifes kids and grandchildren.

He refused to allow me to visit with my daughter for an hour while I was in the area, because they had her daughter, son in law, 3 year old GC and new baby staying (they live round the corner? Why did the whole family need to stay at their house? I live 2 hours away and he hadn't seen my daughter for over 6 months at that time).

The next month, he refused to have my brother over to see him at all because his wifes son, DIL, and their chikdren were living with them (because they don't like their neighbours..)

On occasion that my brother has stayed his wife rips the piss out of him. My brother takes things very literally. She told him to wash the dishes. So he did and left them on the drainer. She then took to calling him "liam half a job" all week because he didn't dry them. If shed said to dry them too, he would have done.

They went to a christmas party and wife had a fit because my dad walked home, as they'd had drinks. She wanted to drive. She then screamed at my dad the next day about how he spends too much time with my brother, and she feels left out - this was christmasd, my brother had not been able to visit our dad since easter because of her "adult" dcs staying.

My brother has just turned 16 and is going to college. He was supposed to visit my Dad over the summer hols. Dad cancelled shortly before saying "DW has stepped down from manager so you can't come over, and our money goes in the same pot anyway so its not just mine its DWs too" (wtf? Sorry, why is it ok to support her adult dcs for pathetic reasons, go on holiday with them, but you won't fetch your son for a week? £20 in fucking petrol!)

Instead he promised to come over and buy brother some new clothes as he needs them

He then rang tonight, to tell my brother he will not be visiting because my brothers mobile phone bill (which my Dad pays for) is £100 he is not buying him any clothes and is not visiting him.

I can understand being annoyed at the bill, but firstly, none of us knew his mobile was uncapped - he used to pay for a limited contract with set minutes that you couldn't go over. That, to me, is a sensible arrangement for a teenager. No unexpected bills then! But no he changed it. Didn't tell my mum - if hed told my mum, shed have monitored his useage and took the phone if hed started running up a bill and given him a temp payg sim.

Secondly - why refuse to visit and buy clothes? These are fucking neccesities. He needs clothes. You do not deprive your child of necessities as punishment. If he had promised an x box game, and withdrew this in light of the bill, I think that would be acceptable.

I'm just so angry. Its the double standards that get me - when middle brother emptied mums bank accont and ended up with late mortgage payments, he refused to do anything. Other than tell me and youngest brother wed get nothing for christmas. (Middle brother had already had his, a joint bday/xmas pressie as it cost £300). He refuses to see my brother as "its DWs money too" but can support her adult kids, take them on holiday.. But not his own child, who is still a minor and dependant on parents? He cannot afford to spend £20 on petrol, yet they can afford brand new cars (two this year) and 4 foreign holidays?

Sorry its long. I'm just so angry. How dare he treat his son like this? And my mum. My mum struggles as it is and he begrudges one, avoidable if hed been sensible, expense so withdraws contribution to neccesities?

OP posts:
JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 21/08/2012 22:00

Is this not a discussion your parents should be having? and is there not some form of child maint agreement in place?

All sounds awfully ghastly.

lljkk · 21/08/2012 22:01

yanbu :(

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 21/08/2012 22:09

Jumping - He tells my mum to F off if she tries to bring anything up. He's not violent or anything and she's not physically scared of him, but when he goes on at her she ends up worked up and stressed. She suffers with fibromyalgia (sp?) And depression so this doesn't help).

I've told her to go to the CSA but she is worried she will lose her incapacity benefit. Her partner is also disabled (angina, some other heart problem, thyroid problems, and severe MH problems) and she gets DLA for that. They treat their income as both of theirs, and they provide for my brother, without fail. My step mum (mums partner) has never ever begrudged a penny, despite often going without herself, yet my dad, who is on at least 5x their income between him and DW begrudge occasionally putting to essentials.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/08/2012 22:35

Your mum needs to see someone WRT finance.

I'm pretty sure I read (but not 100%) that child maintenance is not counted in income.

CAB should be able to point you in the right direction.
I don't know if Legal Aid still exists but some solicitors will do a free 30 minute consultation. See how the land lies.

Good Luck. Situation sounds hellish Sad

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 21/08/2012 22:37

He's just rang my brother and said he's not upgrading his phone either (fair enough, I don't think that's an outrageous consequence for running up a phone bill). My brother suggested he cap his contract to a set ammount, dad said "no you're an adult now learn to control yourself". He's fucking 16, and he's more mature than me because I'd max the fucking thing out now just to spite him.

However, he still isn't buying him any clothes. He said he can't help it if he's growing out of them.

OP posts:
Olympicnmix · 21/08/2012 22:41

I don't believe CM is counted. Your brother is entitled to it. Why not phone the CSA and ask?

Your father is a fool and am sorry your younger brother is being so hurt by this weak and callous man. It's good he has a older sister looking out for him and I hope he has some positive male role-models in his life.

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 21/08/2012 22:52

I've always been led to believe CM isn't counted, I've told my mum to ask at CAB and she said she will. I get the impression she see's it as a handout rather than something necessary.

Until her disability got really bad she always worked to provide everything. She literally worked until her body gave up and she couldn't walk one day - she had to crawl outside at one point to get into taxi because her spine wouldn't bend so she could get up. I know she feels shit about being on benefits now and I think she sees having to go to my Dad for money in a similar way.

Olympic - He is a tool, you're right. He's an arse to me too but its my brother I get upset over because he's a child and the look of utter disappointment every damned time he pulls this shit is awful.

OP posts:
Olympicnmix · 22/08/2012 09:41

Hope CAB can help - they used to backdate payments, don't know if that still is the case. Should be info on Google, particularly the CSA website. It must be very hard for you and your brother, you sound like a great older sister and hope he appreciates having you look out for him.

Bossybritches22 · 22/08/2012 09:51

TheQueen you sound like a lovely big sister & daughter !

I know your awful Dad should provide more but he clearly uses his "generous" handouts as a form of control so you would probably all be better off disengaging from him & leaving him to his vile new wife & family. Have contact as & when YOU want to & don't get the visiting mixed up with his payments to your Mum.He should do that regardless, access & maintenance are TOTALLY different issues.

Get Mum to talk to CAB & get him persued through CSA you may get a back payment to make life a little easier for your poor Mum & her partner they have a lot on their plates it sounds like.

I'm sorry to say your Dad sounds like a complete arse,but he is still your Dad, and I totally understand the hurt. My Dad is the same he remarried a few years ago & didn't invite us but had all HER family. I cried buckets & felt so rejected & I'm 51!!!

NatashaBee · 22/08/2012 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShirleyKnot · 22/08/2012 10:23

Agree with natasha - CM payments are not counted.

PLEASE try to pursuade your mum to call them, If your brother is staying in FT education for another couple of years he will have to pay.

It's vile, and I'm so sorry for you and your brother. He is, however, lucky to have such a loving sister to watch out for him (as well as your mum and stepdad obviously!)

BedGirl · 22/08/2012 10:36

Cm is definitely not counted in income.

TheCraicDealer · 22/08/2012 10:40

Your Dad's an arsehole. But I wouldn't blame him too much for the fraud thing- that's a police matter. I bet getting them involved would've put the shitters up your middle brother a lot more than his Da having a go at him.

Please convince your Mum to go to CSA or CAB; it sounds like your brother's relationship with your Dad isn't going to improve dramatically any time soon, and if he's not going to get emotional support he might as well try for some financial contribution. And if he starts giving off, tell your mum to shut down any conversation by saying, "I'm not discussing this with you; if you have an issue here's the address of my solicitor".

TheQueenOfDiamonds · 22/08/2012 11:39

Thankyou, my mum is coming round today so I will make sure she goes.

I can't believe how awful he is to my brother sometimes. He's an arse to me too but I was 18/19 when he started being a real twat so I wasn't reliant on him.

Ten years ago none of us would have believed he could ever act like this.

OP posts:
Bongaloo · 22/08/2012 11:49

It sounds like he could be in a bit of an abusive relationship and that she is cutting him off from his family.

Good to sort out with the CSA.

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