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OW contacting DH

514 replies

DillyDingDillyDong · 07/11/2016 09:07

I posted a short while ago about DH sleeping with another woman years ago. It was resolved and almost forgotten about but then my company hired her and I have been working with her.

Recently I have had a bit of a rubbish time. I had a miscarriage, a couple of family bereavements, a fall out with a friend and DS has just had a huge operation which has brought a whole load of new problems with family.

Anyway, I have needed to be off work for a while. I'm a nursery manager and ow manages another nursery in the company but we're paired together for various reasons. She has been coming in to my setting to help out with the management side of things although my deputy and third in charge have most of it handled. I left DH's number on a post it on my desk saying to call him if it was an emergency and they couldn't get me.

DH's phone went off this morning while he was in the shower. I shouted through to him and he asked me to check it in case it was work. It was an unsaved number and the text said "Hope everything is ok with you guys. Sorry for what I sent on Friday, I was a bit drunk and stupid." I went in to the bathroom and told him and asked who it was. He then turned the water off and got out looking very serious and he said that he was sorry and didn't want me to find out yet. So I got a bit panicky and thought the worst. I hadn't opened the phone I'd just seen the message on the locked screen so at this point I did. I went to the messages and there wasn't one there from Friday but a few from last week.

The first said "Hi, hope you don't mind me texting you. Just wanted to check on DS and send you all my love." DH replied saying thanks, gave an update on DS and asked who it was. The reply came saying it was OW. DH then replied saying he wasn't too sure how she got his number and appreciated the nice ,message but would prefer it if she didn't contact him again.

She replied again saying it was on the post it and she felt like she couldn't resist texting, and that she was divorcing her husband having a really rough time and it was a moment of madness. She apologised and said she realised it was stupid but she could use a friendly face. DH replied again saying he was sorry to hear it but we had our own stuff going on and how unfair she's being to me who has handled our recent work situation so well. He said that he didn't want to upset me with so much going on and asked her again to not contact him.

There was nothing for a couple of days and then she text on Thursday saying she was sorry for contacting him in the first place and now she can't stop thinking about him and all these feelings were resurfacing. He didn't reply and she sent another one saying his stupid she is. He didn't reply and she said she gets the message and that I'm so lucky to have him.

DH has just told me that she text again on Friday night saying she missed him and wishes they would have had a chance of being together and she still thinks about him and the night they were together. He deleted it straight away and said you could tell she had been drinking because of the way it was typed and some of the words were spelt wrong. He didn't tell me because we've had so much stuff to deal with and he wanted to wait but admitted he wasn't sure if he was ever actually going to say anything because of the implications with work and it bringing up old feelings and memories for me.

I believe DH and understand why he didn't tell me. I don't know what to do about OW. She's clearly having a rough time but so am I and it doesn't give her the right to try and start things up with my husband especially after I've been so nice to her. Should I contact her or just leave it to DH to ignore her? I know some of you might think I should be suspicious that he deleted the text from Friday but I honestly believe him. We've come a very long way since this happened and he's a completely different person to who he was then, and so am I. And I know circumstances last time were different as we were fighting and probably going to break up but now are so strong and have DS.

I don't even know if I'm angry or upset or anything else because I've felt a million and one things over this past month! I'm just sat in the bath hoping for some good advice off mumsnet!

OP posts:
ohtheholidays · 08/11/2016 15:35

WellErr you do know the OP's been posting on MN for quite a while now don't you?

DartmoorDoughnut · 08/11/2016 15:36

WellErrr you're wrong but feel free to report!

2014newme · 08/11/2016 15:40

Police would not be interested. 🙄 the woman is an idiot but not yet a criminal.

user1471525261 · 08/11/2016 15:41

Just read your update - she must surely be dismissed at this point! Agree with others saying you should get advice off police.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 08/11/2016 15:43

User - the only way you could know is if you are in fact the OW.....

Sorry but I think your post is scaremongering.

EatsShitAndLeaves · 08/11/2016 15:45

That's user ending 383 btw

Please can you get some proper usernames for goodness sake.

Fortitudine · 08/11/2016 15:46

Please inform the police. I was involved in a stalkery situation and the ones harassing me tried to turn round and say I was harassing them. This woman is unhinged to be contacting after eight years!

SuperFlyHigh · 08/11/2016 15:47

atticus but the whole point of the number is it was left out presumably with a note whose number it was and why/when/how to use it. of course the company has a duty of care to protect that information but OW could argue that as it was left out she had every right to access it, for work purposes.

The company therefore failed in its duty of care, and should also have made it clear to OP not to leave personal details lying around but not easily accessible.

of course her actions are gross misconduct if harassment even more so if OP's DH takes this further than yesterday and reports her to police for harassment. where it may be harder to enforce is the person being harassed is OP's DH and not OP herself (well indirectly). OP's company may well have to get advice from a barrister.

I work for a lawyers (not one) but that is what we had to do when getting rid of someone whilst on probation. You have to be aware that OW will fight her corner.

2014newme · 08/11/2016 15:51

The company have not breached their duty of care. The op left her dh number available.
Don't think the police would be remotely interested in some unwanted texts they would tell the dh to block the number.

MaddyHatter · 08/11/2016 15:55

i have no thoughts on the reality of the situation or not. I just think it needs to be pointed out that what the OW 'did' is in fact gross misconduct... seeing how some people seem to think its fine to take Emergency Contact numbers from their Work Place and use them for harassment of the clientele.

Discobabe · 08/11/2016 16:17

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DillyDingDillyDong · 08/11/2016 16:17

I've had a bit of a busy day, DS had a fall before and we had to take him to A&E but all is fine.

Just to clear up, I left the number on a post it note on my desk. It was next to a list of messages and instructions addressed to the deputy manager. As I've already had time off and needed more to look after ds I left it for my staff as a bit of extra support if they really needed it. There was no need for OW to have it for work purposes. She should have contacted the area manager or owners if necessary. She didn't get the number to use for work.

Work have been in touch and she is leaving. They didn't go in to too much detail, and I won't repeat everything just in case but they are looking at the use of a work phone to contact a parent and the language used as gross misconduct. She didn't try to defend herself or argue a case at all so she must know she's made a big mistake.

DH has suggested speaking to the police to log the contact so far and I've told him to decide and deal with it. I haven't got the energy.

Thank you all so much for all the advice and support.

OP posts:
EatsShitAndLeaves · 08/11/2016 16:20

Relieved for you OP

Hopefully that will be the end of it.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 08/11/2016 16:20

Nope. If the number was left publicly on a post it note by the OP then none of the data handling regulations apply. But she's acted extremely unprofessionally and I'd be raising a grievance (at the very least)

Not true. The info was left for a work purpose. She then used it for a personal purpose. That DOES come under the Data Protection Act and she can be disciplined.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 08/11/2016 16:21

Which it looks like she has been, having just read the OP's update.

NickiFury · 08/11/2016 16:22

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DillyDingDillyDong · 08/11/2016 16:24

Discobabe, I was planning on putting DS in the other nursery after Christmas as we have no full time places for his age at the minute. I still am doing this. It's also going to be better for me as he sometimes gets upset if I go in to his room when I'm seeing staff or doing show arounds. Up until this I have been able to work alongside ow professionally and didn't have a problem with DS going. Not sure what part of that you have a hard time believing. I understand not believing the calling off the work phone because that is absolutely ridiculous and a very stupid thing for her to do, but unfortunately that's what happened and now it's led to this outcome. She clearly isn't thinking straight at the moment.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 08/11/2016 16:27

Well, I'm glad. I hope this is a wake up call for her and she seeks help for whatever is 'ailing' her, be it drink, relationship issues, or MH issues.

HughLauriesStubble · 08/11/2016 16:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NickiFury · 08/11/2016 16:30

I wouldn't say so, no.

DotForShort · 08/11/2016 16:37

Sounds like the best possible outcome in this situation. What an ordeal.

Duckyneedsaclean · 08/11/2016 16:37

Pretty sure it's exactly the same as troll hunting, actually.

NickiFury · 08/11/2016 16:38

We.l that's the beauty of a site such as this isn't it? We all get to have our own opinions Smile

LowDudgeon · 08/11/2016 16:48

Well, no, actually, Nicki

MN always say if in doubt, report - DO NOT POST YOUR DOUBTS ON THE THREAD.

It's bloody rude , especially when it's a long-term poster having a hard time Hmm

HamletsSister · 08/11/2016 16:54

Can I just say, OP, that you have handled this really, really well.

Look after yourself and your family. I hope this has sorted her out.