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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU in thinking we should just chuck him on the streets and let him fend for himself?

286 replies

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 14:59

Backstory

DP has been friends for a really long time with "B". They used to work together until my DP got a job with a new company.
Now B has no family in the area and the ones he does have do not want anything to do with him. B split up from long term partner a couple of years back and has been on a spiral ever since. In the last few months he has lost his job (through not going in) and as of yesterday, his home.

B was staying with DP and myself for the last week when this happened as he had no money for food, so we were feeding him and buying him smokes until he benefits came through.

Well, B did not get his benefits on the day they were due, or the days after. Instead of chasing it up like a normal person he just "would do it later" but of course, later never came. So his landlords, tired of bailing him out and waiting for rent have kicked him out. He had no formal agreement with them so fair enough, whatever.
He was round ours when he got this call (DP was still at work) and he just carried on playing xbox....
I didnt understand how he could be so calm so I forced him suggested he call his landlords and find out whats going on.
So he did and they confirmed he needed to collect his stuff as soon as possible, including his paperwork (that he needs for his benefits).
My partner then comes home and B explains whats happened to him.

My partner and I discussed it and agreed B could stay with us for a few months until he finds his feet, providing he sorted out his benefit money and worked hard at finding a new job.
Me and DP living in a one bedroom flat with our DCat, so its not an ideal arrangment as B would need to sleep in our living room.

We are a few years younger that B and have our own problems. We both suffer with stress and depression/adjustment disorder ever since we lost our daughter a few years ago, had cancers and chemo and lost fertility... we are not your average 24 year olds and already live with a lot of stress. We are quite happy in our little bubble how it is and this is going to add a lot of stress on us. We dont have any savings and at the moment live paycheque. BUT we are of course willing to do this for a friend in need.

So, it gets to about 7pm last night and we start discussing how all this will come into being and making plans. B decided that would be a great time to go to his friends house and get high.

Now DP jumped on him and said "come on mate, you NEED to collect your stuff and paperwork so you cant get your money sorted first thing"

B said "Oh yeah I know man, but I just need a night to de-stress. Once night and I will be on it first thing tomorrow"

So after about 15mins of this he goes to his friends house, with a promise to collect his stuff and paperwork and have it sorted by morning ready to call up and chase after his benefits.

Morning comes, I havIm home from work today and have spent my day budgeting in an extra person to shop for and also ringing shelter to find out where he would stand on getting housing benefit as a lodger.
I give him a call, he tells me he has not got his paperwork or anything yet but will be round by 12 with his stuff, so we can sort through it and find him space in our home.
So I spent the rest of the morning finding him his own chest of draws and room for his things. It gets to 2.30pm and I give him a call, only to find he has been smoking weed all morning and has done nothing all day. He will "be round for dinner or whatever".

No. Fucking hell no.
Ive spent my day off chasing round after him, making room in our home for him, spending our hard earned wages on his ciggies, food and toiletries all for him to not even help himself.
DP said last night he wouldnt stand for this, and I know he will not. But I dont think he would see him on the streets either.

I know in my heart this is how it will be. He wont sort his money out for ages/if at all. He wont bother looking for work and he will nip and get stoned every few nights while we support him.
He is not our child. He is not our stay at home wife. What they hell are we doing?

My dp is going to be livid with him. I personally want to stick a hot poker up his arse to make him get up and sort his life out.

So, wise women of mumsnet, am I totally unreasonable to want to nip this in the bud before its even begun?

OP posts:
wornoutboots · 16/08/2016 17:10

£25 takeway feeds my family of 5, he's a using arsehole.

seriously, give him a week's notice if you must (and at that he must not be stoned, nor in the flat on his own during the day) but put it in writing that he will not be welcome to sleep on your sofa in your 1 bedroom flat beyond the 28th of August and send him to the council with the piece of paper with it on.

And stick to it.
You realise having him there co uld be in violation of your lease?

Buzzardbird · 16/08/2016 17:11

People are harder on their own children that you are being with him! Shock

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:11

What really sucks is hid father is a multi millionaire. I fucking kid you not. He owns a company that deals with money (thats about all I can say) His other sons are high flyers... this one, more like a stoned pidgeon.

OP posts:
RhiWrites · 16/08/2016 17:15

If he can't get his act together when actually being evicted he hasn't hit his rock bottom. I had a lodger like this. 12 months of late rent and broken promises and extra bills for me (and no housework at all) I finally kicked him out - only for a friend to let him move in rent free.

It's not doing someone a favour to teach them that there will never be any consequences of their actions. Your friend is doing the bare minimum to avoid the 'hassle' of having to sort himself out.

Tell him this isn't going to work and he can't stay with you.

RhiWrites · 16/08/2016 17:16

If his dad is a millionaire then why isn't the dad being a safety net? Maybe he knows what his son is like.

RunRabbitRunRabbit · 16/08/2016 17:16

Well of course he has been having grief from his landlords. He owes them lots of money. Kind of funny to use this as an excuse to his new landlords.

Of course, he doesn't pay you any rent and you pay all his expenses, so it's not really a traditional lodger scenario. More a medieval king living off a peasant.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 16/08/2016 17:18

I don't want to sound unsympathetic but ... the longer you go on 'babysitting' this bloke the more he will take advantage - and that is what it is. His family have given up on him for the same reasons, I expect.

It's a sad situation but it doesn't help your own stress/worries to have to carry this bloke too. The best thing you could do would be to tell him to shape up or ship out. He won't improve so tell him to go. Hopefully that'll give him an incentive to get professional help or he'll continue going downhill - which won't be your fault.

NCforthisthreadnottooutme · 16/08/2016 17:20

Get rid! What a piss taking wanker. He should be so grateful of his last chance before being homeless. He's never grown up and expects everyone to do everything for him Confused

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:20

persian Thats because you are polite and have manners! Clearly you appriciate people.
memyson I do, I can be such a pushover. Its my undoing.

Rugger He has had one for a long time, but yet... he has a key :$ :$

Truffle Im getting there believe me...

RunRabbit They are all really nice, they would be outraged! Haha I love your idea!

rollon Pizza hut :/ large pizza with extra toppings, chicken, garlic bread and wedges

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 16/08/2016 17:21

right he has a millionaire father - send him home let him beg off his family.
he is NOT your problem to sort out.

RuggerHug · 16/08/2016 17:22

Either lock change or grab the key back the second he gets back! Only saying that as I have no idea how quick you can change them/get a new one added from the inside.

Willow2016 · 16/08/2016 17:24

Keep to your word.

If you dont make him do anything now he will realise he doesnt ever have to and that you and dh will keep him in the manner he wants to become accustomed to..smoking weed and lazing about all day without a care in the world.

Why should he bother if he has somewhere to crash and food and fags provided for him on tap?

Get rid today and let him stay with his stoner friends. If they are more important to him than getting a job and a place to live I am sure they will be delighted to have him to stay with them Smile He wouldnt be on the streets then. Wink

DearMrDilkington · 16/08/2016 17:25

Get rid of him!

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:27

Blithering You dont sound unsympathetic, I honestly did need to hear it how its is. We wernt doing him any favours really.

His father wont help him. Hes already bailed him out once (a lot of money)
I think Ive come to terms with the fact that we cannot help him. Only he can help him. I will print him some info and bits for houseing accomdation, and hes welcome to use our phone (unlimited mins) to do so. I think we will give him until the end of the week to sort out what he is doing because this is all getting stupid. Christ knows what he has been upto all day.

OP posts:
Mycatsabastard · 16/08/2016 17:27

I hope you've thrown him out.

You asked him to sort his stuff and paperwork and he didn't. Not until you said you were packing up this things and locking the door.

This is the sort of person who will push and push you and continually take, take, take while giving nothing back.

He sounds suspiciously like my ex. You aren't in Scotland are you?

PersianCatLady · 16/08/2016 17:28

Please sweetie look after yourself, you have obviously had a lot to contend with in only 24 years, don't let this guy become the next hurdle to have to deal with.

cestlavielife · 16/08/2016 17:28

he has friends who are happy to have him visit and get stoned
he has a millionaire family

either of the above can take him in
your mental health and well being is far far more important

put yourselves first.

he chose to get into this position - or he got so high he couldn't see it and needs to be the one asking for help from professionals

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:29

willow they will be delighted.. for a week or so.

Hurry up DP...
I need to talk to him before B gets here so we are on the same page. My partner will be livid with him.

OP posts:
EatsShitAndLeaves · 16/08/2016 17:29

So his father is well equipped to help him.

Why do you think he doesn't?

He's probably waiting for some sign that his addict son is ready to start helping himself.

Because that's what needs to happen here. Not a half arsed attempt to do what he's been asked when he thinks his latest meal ticket might have lost patience.

People define themselves through what they do, not what they say. He's already throughly disrespected your hospitality in many ways.

He doesn't care about you or your DH or value/appreciate the help you have offered. He only cares about what he can con from you, through emotional blackmail and preying on your kindness.

I know you are trying to be kind but this type of assistance really isn't going to be beneficial in the long term. You are simply prolonging the timeframe for him to hit rock bottom and make a decision to start facing his demons and start recovery.

cestlavielife · 16/08/2016 17:31

"I will print him some info and bits for houseing accomdation, and hes welcome to use our phone (unlimited mins) to do so"

please dont
he is not a five year 9old or even a teenage son of yours

he is a grown adult and needs to do this himself. point him in the direction of the library
buy him a cheap payg with £20 if you must but dont hand over anything of yours...what if he orders drugs and it's traced back to your number? have you even considered that? do you really want to be caught up with the police and drug raids etc?

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:31

mycatsabastard - Firstly, great name, my moggy is the same.
Secondly, no right down the other end, smack on the sea. Unless he moved... he is from up north ;)

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 16/08/2016 17:33

his own family have tried and given up on him doesnt that tell u anything

u sound really nice and have your own shit to deal with so please dont betaken for a mug u dont owe this person anything

Kateallison16 · 16/08/2016 17:37

cestlavie Never even considered that. To be honest, Ive never really put myself in a position where im used to dealing with addicts.
The closest my friends come to drugs is a paracetomol lol

No phone then. God this has all got so complicated.
Gunna ring DP for a united front.

OP posts:
Farfromtheusual · 16/08/2016 17:38

OP you and your partner sound like such lovely people and I can understand your initial feelings of wanting to help someone who is down on their luck, because of your own experiences but don't let that cloud your judgment! B is a free loader!! Why would he bother sorting his benefit money out when he knows you are footing the bill for him at the moment? I also very much doubt that you will see any of that money even if he does get his area in gear and sort it out. He will spend it all on weed. As many PPs have said, you need to stop enabling him. You need to use a bit of tough love on him and make him realise you will not stand for his shit.

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/08/2016 17:39

He's clever. He's worked out exactly where your boundaries are and will stop piss taking exactly where they are. Not only a free loader but a talented and manipulative one.