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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To threaten the police?

18 replies

ThatLightbulbMoment · 15/07/2014 07:07

I recently inherited some money. We have been using some to pay for house repairs, new furniture, debts etc but do have quite a bit left which has been split between savings and current accounts to use as and when.

A bloke that dp went to school with has somehow found out that we have money, and has since been harassing dp for a loan. He has repeatedly been told no, but is still messaging several times a day.

I know I'm not BU to tell him to go to hell, I can do what I like with MY money, and I don't even know him very well or like they guy.

What I want to know is WIBU to threaten to report him for harassment? I just want him to leave dp alone. (Who is getting quite stressed by the barrage of messages Angry)

OP posts:
Thiscantbetrue · 15/07/2014 07:12

Delete & block his number , also ring 111 (or is it 101?) And see what they say , they probably won't be able to do anything but they may be able to advise you

Topaz25 · 15/07/2014 07:13

If you have the record of repeated messages after you've refused I think you would have grounds to go to the police. Are any of the messages threatening or just lots of begging? How well does your DP know him? Could he sit him down and say all the money is tied up and this has gone too far and really has to stop, to try and get him to back off before police are involved. You are within your rights to call them but I am concerned it might cause more stress.

AlpacaLypse · 15/07/2014 07:14

Surely if it's your DP who's being harassed it's up to him to block the guy's number and email address? Or are you receiving messages too?

If you do go down the harassment route, keep all the messages and make notes of days and times etc of any conversations.

ThatLightbulbMoment · 15/07/2014 07:17

It's all just begging, no threats. We do have record of the messages as well. I don't want to cause more stress but it is getting ridiculous. Fwiw we already blocked the number, he started using a different one Hmm

OP posts:
ThatLightbulbMoment · 15/07/2014 07:19

Alpaca I'm happy for dp to do it! I just wanted to know if it was ok to do it or if we should just ignore him.

OP posts:
insancerre · 15/07/2014 07:21

I would threaten him with the police, especially as he has been told no and is still sending several messages a day
Keep all the messages in case you do have to report him.
I would block his number too.

ThatLightbulbMoment · 15/07/2014 07:21

They aren't friends, more acquaintances. Dp knows him to say hello to and no more. Not even sure how he found out about the money, it's not as though we have been broadcasting it Confused

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 15/07/2014 07:23

DP should send one reply of "stop messaging me. My answer will not change. Your continual messages are harassment." If the friend carries on then I would report it to the police.

LordEmsworth · 15/07/2014 07:25

I don't understand why you haven't gone to the police already, to be honest. It sounds horrible - don't engage with the bloke at all, he'll see it as encouragement

MrsCumbersnatch · 15/07/2014 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

samithesausage · 15/07/2014 07:27

From a different angle : give him the number to the Citizen's advice bureau. Tell him if he's in any debt trouble to give them a call. Then tell him that this is a final warning. All monies are tied up and are not accessable and he should stop contacting you because it's becoming harrassment. Any further contact regarding money will be considered as harrassment and you'll be seeking advice from the police.

AlpacaLypse · 15/07/2014 07:27

Have been thinking about this.

What on earth does he hope to achieve? He must be aware that your DP had blocked his previous phone number.

Talk to the police on the non-emergency line.

bigTillyMint · 15/07/2014 07:29

He is harassing - begging you several times a day and he is just an acquaintance? This is not normal behaviour. Definitely tell him you will go to the police if he does it one more time. Then go to the police.

ThatLightbulbMoment · 15/07/2014 07:33

Thanks everyone. I'm going to talk to dp and probably try texting him back the next time he does with "I'm not lending you any money, please leave me alone or I will call the police. This is harassment" or something along those lines. Hopefully that will be enough to make him go away! Thanks

OP posts:
FabULouse · 15/07/2014 07:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

liketohelp · 15/07/2014 13:42

You don`t have to explain your reasons for blocking him. Causing alarm or distress on 2 or more occasions is against the law under the Protection from Harassment Act. He is harassing your dp. You need to go in to the police and show them the messages, make a report, then the police can deal with him.

Talk to the police on 101 first if you like.

hotfuzzra · 15/07/2014 14:01

You can ask the police to serve a Police Information Notice (PIN) on him. It is essentially a letter telling him you have found repeated contact OTT and reminding him that this is the beginning of harassment, and further contact could lead to his arrest. This is not criminal and he will not receive a criminal record for it, but it will be logged (officially) on the local force system so that if it happens again or he does something more serious this previous occurrence can be seen.
You could tell him that 'Your messages are becoming alarming and distressing to us, this constitutes harassment and should they continue we will contact the police. Please do not contact us again.' Then he has NO EXCUSE for further contact.
If you can, screen shot the messages and save them or even print them so if you need to go to police you have them to hand. They can seize your phone theoretically, so it's best to have the printed messages in case it does go further.

MostlyMama · 15/07/2014 14:03

No the first time should have sufficed. Call the police. It is harrassment.

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