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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Financially abusive 'd'm

53 replies

ncbacktoblack · 09/08/2017 13:11

Posted here for traffic. I'll try and keep this as short as possible without drop feeding.

I'm 29 and live at home. I suffer from ptsd and depression after a car crash. I fully admit I am also a problem drinker as I struggle to deal with day to day life and also lie awake at night with panic attacks.

My mother has her own problems and wasn't working for a period. I came into some money from an old tribunal claim and paid off some of her debts, including mortgage arrears, to help out and take the pressure off us both. I also took her away for an all expenses paid holiday.

With the rest of the money I set up a cleaning business. I don't drive, and because mum wasn't working herself we decided to work together. Bank account etc in my name.

Except we would get paid and the money would all get spent by her. At first I thought I could help her out of the financial mess she had got herself into, but for 2.5 years I have been going out to work, and essentially she is getting paid double the hourly rate we charge, but only doing half the hours.

On top of this, she is controlling and abusive to me. Numerous times she has kicked me out when I dare to stand up for myself. I have gone to my dad's 3 hours away and within a day she's phoning and asking me to come back because she doesn't know how she's going to do the cleaning by herself.

Sometimes she would orchestrate arguments in the morning and then use it as an excuse to refuse to go to work. She would let people down or turn up really late.

I began drinking again to the point where I couldn't get out of bed to work. A passive aggressive stance against her behaviour I guess.

Then I got a large-ish compensation payout from my car crash. I set up a new, different business, but her behaviour and my drinking games whilst trying to clean on the side meant it all got too much and I've been given anti depressants by the GP again.

I'm now eating into this compensation money paying all her bills, Inc mortgage and food etc, because she refuses to go to work if I'm not going. But if I go, I'm only working to pay her bills. There is never anything left over. She will always find something to spend it on!

Today it came to a head as I've let her use a credit card of mine for 5-6 months. It was only for food and vet bills (see my other threads) and she agreed to pay half. She never has.

I took the credit card back and she told me not to go to the cleaning jobs today and to move out. I've also put 2k in her account to stop bank charges as she won't keep an eye on her account and direct debits, and we've had some unexpected bills lately. She let's it get so out of hand that we've had debt collectors round before which I find really stressful so was just trying to avoid that.

She told me not to come to the cleaning jobs, but as I went to get out of the car she began speeding, me with the car door open and no seat belt on, not even stopping at junctions and driving dangerously (wreaking havoc on my ptsd that I was shaking).

When I finally got out she followed me in the car and said I was irresponsible not going to work and it was all my fault, so I got back in the car.

She then refused to go to work herself. But that was my fault too.

Im hesitant about moving out due to my mental state and drinking. But tbh she's making both of those worse! Sorry this is so long but I have nowhere else to turn. Please help with some brilliant brutal MN advice

OP posts:
Lucysky2017 · 09/08/2017 14:08

Ah, sorry. I have just seen so many bad complaints and claims and reports of people deliberately bumping to cars to get pay outs - it's got totally out of hand including mis sold insurance. Anyway in your case it seems deserved.

on the other issue i think separatino from the mother might be a good idea.My son is doing deliveroo at present and cycles for that. Is there a way you could walk to or cycle to your cleaning jobs if you can't driev there?
Also I do an awful lot of business disputes usually because there is no contract between the two partners (including where they are relatives). I think it might be a good idea if you and your mother get something in writing, if not already done, about the business. Eg is it a limited company or a partnership?

Would you say it is your business (check who pays the tax with HMRC etc) and also if your business do you pay her for her time or a share of the profits?

Bemusedandpuzzled · 09/08/2017 14:10

I just love the posters who think you should be grateful for getting a piece of dry macaroni and a lump of coal. FFS, have some higher expectations!

Bemusedandpuzzled · 09/08/2017 14:11

Apologies, wrong thread Blush

Topseyt · 09/08/2017 14:14

Lucy, report your first post and get it deleted. It was clearly way out of line and inappropriate.

I see nothing to suggest OP is in any way fraudulent or unjustified.

Silverthorn · 09/08/2017 14:14

Seriously. You don't owe your mum anything. At all. Move in with your Dad. Stop giving your mum anything. I would take her off the books too but you may find that too much. Sounds like you're her cash cow and she will probably kick you to the kerb when the money runs out.
She is making it worse. If she were a friend or acquaintance would you give her the time of day? Easy to say hard to do.
Go to your Dad's, get a new phone number and let your Dad screen her calls for a month until you are in a better mental place. Have you thought about conselling? . Cake
Great pep talk Lucysky2017 you can just fuck off back into your hole. Hmm

ncbacktoblack · 09/08/2017 14:16

Thank you Lucysky2017 and sorry for sniping at you. I live pretty rural and most of the work is 10 ish miles away. Looks like the best option is to learn to drive and get a car with the remaining money rather than try and navigate public transport/lug cleaning products etc Smile

OP posts:
Justaboy · 09/08/2017 14:16

ncbacktoblack Seems to me you've done quite well with what you have had to face, but wow! your mum is not a business partner!

Leech seems a more accurate description. Any chance that teaming up with you dad would be a possible option?. Even if he has no business idea, and few have, if he doesn't take money off you then that's a very positive advantage!.

Asalways · 09/08/2017 14:16

Do you have a proper business. Is it registered? Do you have an accountant? Do you pay tax? If you do then you need to make your mother your employee and pay her an hourly rate.

But I agree with posters that this all sounds very unhealthy.

Asalways · 09/08/2017 14:17

How much did it cost to set up the cleaning business? Your overheads must be tiny if you don't drive?

FuckYouLinda · 09/08/2017 14:18

I think all your conditions will be a lot easier to manage when you are out from under her grasp - including you tackling your problem drinking.

It suits her for you to be broken. Because then you've not the strength to stand up to her controlling behaviour. When you try to take a stand, she deliberately engineers something that triggers a relapse - like the driving stunts.

I understand it's hard to break free particularly when there are so many things crowding in at once. So pick the smaller things - like getting a flatshare, and start to physically move away. Then tackle the next hurdle - that might be driving lessons, or joining AA or asking someone you trust (your dad?) to be the person your mother has to go to in order to get at your cash.

I don't think I'd work with her at all if I were you. Let her get her own job and then you can run your business professionally.

What part of all this do you feel most able to tackle at the moment? Start with that.

simon50 · 09/08/2017 14:21

Ignore posters like Luckysky. I will say no more than that.

Can you move in with your dad and go NC with your mum?
You may need to walk away from the cleaning Co and just concentrate on addressing your drinking. Don't know how much of your compo you have left, but maybe put it towards getting some professional help ?
Get yourself cleaned up only then think about driving lessons, you don't want to compound your problems by throwing drink driving into the mix.

TroelsLovesSquinkies · 09/08/2017 14:21

I'd move over to your Dads and set up the business there with new clients. Write apology letters to the old clients saying you are moving and unable to travel back to clean until you get your drivers license and will let them know when you can drive if they are still looking for a cleaner then.
Then block your Mums phone number and move to Dads, tell him everything thats going on and ask him to help you cut her out of your life so you can stop drinking and get back on track.
Its a horrible situation. The person who in life is supposed to love and look after you is doing the opposite and contributing to your ill health, you won't start to get better till you are separated from her.

ijustwannadance · 09/08/2017 14:30

You. 'D'M is kicking you while you are down. Spending your money. Being purposely abusive in order to keep you so low that you think you need her.

She is a manipulative bitch.

Go rent yourself somewhere, stop pandering to her, learn to drive, get help.
She won't change and if you don't leave that environment you will get worse then penniless as she'll bleed you dry in every way.

Anecdoche · 09/08/2017 14:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

simon50 · 09/08/2017 14:33

Just for Luckysky... I had an RTA in 1989 in 1995 they settled out of court for £90k.... Remember that next time you renew your insurance!

KayTree87 · 09/08/2017 14:43

Leave!
Go to your dad's until you sort yourself out. All that money should go towards you getting your own place, even if you house share for a bit while working. You could get your own house in the not to distant future. That's never going to happen while you stay with your mum and allow all of your money to be wasted.
It's time to spread your wings. No doubt your mentail health will improve dramatically once you get out of this ridiculous situation with your mother. She's no good for you and you're doing you're self no favours by continuing living with her. You can do it! You just have to want to do it.

Oliversmumsarmy · 09/08/2017 14:43

Learn to drive even if it is just one an automatic for the moment and move out and sack your mother.

Once you are out of there your head will clear. And don't fall for the crying

KC225 · 09/08/2017 14:45

You need to get out. You have PTS from a car accident yet she drove off with the car door open and speeding. How is she helping you. Stop giving her money now. If this was your friend in a relationship, you would tell her to leave.

Get to AA and get a sponsor to help with some motivation. Learn to drive. Spend some of your money on driving lessons. Look up week long courses with a test at the end, they are usually in Wales or Yorkshire. Can you live with your Dad until you get yourself sorted?

Miserylovescompany2 · 09/08/2017 14:54

I'd stick your mother on temporary pause - move out - stay with your father if that's an option - work on your own MH away from the stressors - employ someone that drives!

You are NOT responsible for your mother - I think a break from each other would beneficial.

Antidepressants won't work properly if you are drinking...

VaselineIsNotStylingGel · 09/08/2017 14:56

Move out to your Dads and build your business up there. Put in place all the procedures you need to be able to cope ie register with a new GP there and make them aware of the situation, see if you can access any counselling or other support networks to help you through this. Your mother is undoubtedly making your situation a whole lot worse. For now you may have to cut contact with her until you can face her and not cave to her demands or have it trigger you into a spiral of self destruction and pointless rebellion.

Sinead9 · 09/08/2017 15:28

Congratulations op, Lucysky2017 has deemed you worthy. Isn't your day better already?

ZoeWashburne · 09/08/2017 16:12

I think a bigger first step is to get help managing your drinking. Your GP can help with this. It's hard to manage an abusive relationship when you are also battling with your sobriety.

You can rent a room fairly easily. Get out of this situation. You need to treat your mum like an employee, not a business partner. If she is letting you down, get a new employee/driver.

ncbacktoblack · 10/08/2017 08:44

All of this advice is so so helpful! Yesterday she was gaslight ingredients me so badly (denying she refused to work etc) that I had to get it all down in writing and get the MN jury on it! Smile

I hope I'm strong enough to move out.

OP posts:
ncbacktoblack · 10/08/2017 09:46

Gaslighting not gaslight ingredients Grin

OP posts:
ncbacktoblack · 11/08/2017 10:34

And now my boyfriend has dumped me via text. Guess the stress of my stress got too much.

OP posts: