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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not go to a friend’s party because she still owes me money?

737 replies

SpaceMoo · 01/04/2025 09:44

They are DH’s friends really more than mine, and have borrowed money from us to help out their son buy a house. That was a year ago. She’s now having a massive 50th party and is very keen for us all to go. She’s also been on holiday (flying business class she raved to us - it was a gift apparently.) We’ve asked for the money back three times now and she said it’s so hard to take out loans and her other property didn’t sell, problems with tenants etc.

Anyway, I would prefer to cut her off and get solicitors involved. DH trusts her he said and thinks they’re just putting the house on the market and will give the money back. He sees her more often than me as they work close by. He doesn’t want to end it and thinks I’m being petty, it’s just a matter of time. In the meantime she advised us to remortgage our property (which me and DH argued about and a) I resent the arguing and b) point blank refused.

It’s time to get solicitors involved I feel. (Money amount 40k)

OP posts:
Mumof3confused · 09/04/2025 22:05

Also, how much interest did you fork out on her free loan? And why is she not paying you interest on this loan? It’s standard practice. She is supposedly a financial advisor.

Everything about this is suspect.

fieldofstars · 09/04/2025 23:11

Read up on and if you can watch the doco and/or the tv series about Australian conwoman Melissa Caddick - whose main victims were close family and friends.

Melissa Caddick - Wikipedia

And then I think you should go to the party, eat a lot of hors d'oeuvres, and enjoy yourself mingling with the crowd and popping in references to the story of Melissa Caddick and her "investors", and how much you enjoyed recently watching ConMum...

GnomeDePlume · 10/04/2025 04:55

You have been living with the stress of this for a long time. It will take time for that stress to dissipate.

At the same time as the financial stress you have also discovered that your DH is not reliable. You have discovered that there is a weak, foolish, vain side to his character that maybe you weren't aware of before.

This is all a lot to take on board. Perfectly fine for you to not want to have anything more to do with these people. The scales have slipped from your eyes. You can now see how much of their 'specialness' is just fake.

In your shoes I wouldn't go to this party. You risk just feeling angry and upset for the whole time. Your DH can go, it's only a party, he can make up whatever story he wants to explain your absence. But make it clear to him that this is on him. You want nothing to do with these people, they have cost you too much financially and emotionally.

Calliopespa · 10/04/2025 09:51

Elizabethbd · 09/04/2025 20:20

Please don’t make a scene at the party. You will only regret it later. If you can’t even convince your husband that you’re right, how are you going to convince a room full of her friends? And the smear campaign on social media that will follow? It will just blow up in your face.

Please do follow all the excellent advise above regarding financial security.

This is more or less what I was feeling when advising not to do or say anything malicious at this stage op. I say that with the proviso that, as I understand it, you now have the money back? ( Though have you confirmed this with your own eyes!?)

You were asking me why I felt the anger was justified before, but it is time to ease down. I totally understand why you are angry - and as another op pointed out it is still very fresh.

However, up until this point your anger was directed at achieving a purpose, namely restoring the funds to you. This was a reasonable demand and needed to happen. Until it hadn’t been rectified, anger was a justified position. However, people have to be able to put things right and, as I understand it, she has. I wouldn’t be trusting her again, I’d be very clear with DH that you are opposed to any further financial involvement with her. But all those things are designed to give you substantive protection. Going to the party and publicly humiliating or “ outing” her is just vindictive at this point; it can’t bring about further restorative action on her part, but merely seeks to upset her, which will backfire and make you look ( and ultimately feel) like the toxic one. If she’s given it back, she can simply say that and any third party would - with reason - wonder why you are ruining the evening for everyone about something that is already rectified in substantive terms.

I can see it might have been cathartic to have a grovelling apology, but I’m actually not sure your DH has been open enough with her about the background on your side for her to understand you might expect one. It seems to me he has fudged and concealed your objections with stories about his sister needing it back etc etc. I don’t think the woman has the full picture because your DH has obfuscated, trying to look (I think) like the “ cool headed financier.” I understand that was wrong of him, but you have to be careful to isolate the strands of the situation and see what aspects she is actually responsible for.

MN can be a place where, because there are women seeking to empower each other, ( which is great) there can be a subtle digression from having your claws out justifiably to stand your ground, to a less discerning blanket attitude that being a “ fearless woman” who is generally hurling insults and baying for blood is some kind of role model to aspire to. I think it should be all about proportionality ( and I suspect sometimes the ones who claim “ I’d just be telling her, doing Y” are often playing out fantasies or simply wanting to escalate someone else’s situation for the juicy updates. LTB for all manner of minor transgressions like leaving up the loo seat is a classic eg of this!) .

Use your anger when you need it, but not to drag yourself down in a cycle of aggression and ill will. And bravo again for getting it back!

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 10/04/2025 12:54

It's almost impossible to tell what's really going on. But
quite a few of your DH's actions don't make sense.

From another POV, Maybe he gave her the £40k so she could "look after it" for him - for whatever reason - and his mumbling about her looking after assets was to see if you'd be agreeable to her "looking after" more of your joint assets.

That could explain why it was so easy for her to just return it when you were kicking up a fuss about it and why He still wants to go to the party and play nice.

Whatever way you look at it. You've not got all the information yet.
Keep a very close eye on your accounts.
The whole thing is hard to believe.

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 18:41

Calliopespa · 10/04/2025 09:51

This is more or less what I was feeling when advising not to do or say anything malicious at this stage op. I say that with the proviso that, as I understand it, you now have the money back? ( Though have you confirmed this with your own eyes!?)

You were asking me why I felt the anger was justified before, but it is time to ease down. I totally understand why you are angry - and as another op pointed out it is still very fresh.

However, up until this point your anger was directed at achieving a purpose, namely restoring the funds to you. This was a reasonable demand and needed to happen. Until it hadn’t been rectified, anger was a justified position. However, people have to be able to put things right and, as I understand it, she has. I wouldn’t be trusting her again, I’d be very clear with DH that you are opposed to any further financial involvement with her. But all those things are designed to give you substantive protection. Going to the party and publicly humiliating or “ outing” her is just vindictive at this point; it can’t bring about further restorative action on her part, but merely seeks to upset her, which will backfire and make you look ( and ultimately feel) like the toxic one. If she’s given it back, she can simply say that and any third party would - with reason - wonder why you are ruining the evening for everyone about something that is already rectified in substantive terms.

I can see it might have been cathartic to have a grovelling apology, but I’m actually not sure your DH has been open enough with her about the background on your side for her to understand you might expect one. It seems to me he has fudged and concealed your objections with stories about his sister needing it back etc etc. I don’t think the woman has the full picture because your DH has obfuscated, trying to look (I think) like the “ cool headed financier.” I understand that was wrong of him, but you have to be careful to isolate the strands of the situation and see what aspects she is actually responsible for.

MN can be a place where, because there are women seeking to empower each other, ( which is great) there can be a subtle digression from having your claws out justifiably to stand your ground, to a less discerning blanket attitude that being a “ fearless woman” who is generally hurling insults and baying for blood is some kind of role model to aspire to. I think it should be all about proportionality ( and I suspect sometimes the ones who claim “ I’d just be telling her, doing Y” are often playing out fantasies or simply wanting to escalate someone else’s situation for the juicy updates. LTB for all manner of minor transgressions like leaving up the loo seat is a classic eg of this!) .

Use your anger when you need it, but not to drag yourself down in a cycle of aggression and ill will. And bravo again for getting it back!

Thank you for this well thought out and sensible piece. I may have to read it several times. Am out and about right now, will write a lengthier post later x

To everyone responding - I love the feedback and comments. Thank you 🙏🏻

OP posts:
SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 21:23

Feeling like I can’t stomach going to this party.

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 10/04/2025 21:24

I think it would be a good idea to keep a distance between you and this woman. Something is going on and you haven't got to the truth of it yet.

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 21:28

I will just not turn up, no apologies. I’m not usually a rude person, so I have to think about it and if it will be sufficiently rude enough. Fuck em. Why should I have to play by the rules when neither of them did?

OP posts:
IchiNiSanShiGo · 10/04/2025 21:30

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 21:23

Feeling like I can’t stomach going to this party.

Don’t go. You don’t have to. You have no obligation to maintain a “friendship” that was more your DHs in the first place. This woman has disrespected you, your DH has been incredibly underhand in this whole situation.

Look after yourself above all others at this point. Maintain your sanity and your assets!

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 21:36

@Calliopespa I hope by the time the party arrives I will be more graceful and ‘kind’. And cool. I really wish I could just move on. I’m happy and relieved and sometimes feel like what a cloud has been lifted! Party is on the 18th. I really hope I can pull myself together by then.

I might open up the gift and wear gift earrings tmrw 😍

Not in a good place currently it’s a rollercoaster. I’m keeping it all together as it’s school holidays and DH seems to have gone back to happy normal.

OP posts:
Shatteredallthetimelately · 10/04/2025 21:39

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 21:28

I will just not turn up, no apologies. I’m not usually a rude person, so I have to think about it and if it will be sufficiently rude enough. Fuck em. Why should I have to play by the rules when neither of them did?

Would your DH still go?
Will he be giving an excuse for your absence.

SpaceMoo · 10/04/2025 22:38

It’s probably time to find out.

OP posts:
Shatteredallthetimelately · 11/04/2025 00:05

Go to the party.
Eat her food, drink her drinks and look upon it as a farewell party.
Then never speak or spend time in her company again.

Alas, I fear your DH will be a bit harder to encourage/convince to do the same.

AngelRoja · 11/04/2025 10:44

People like this woman can be very convincing, especially if they are dealing with people who are not highly sophisticated with financial matters. You would be horrified if you knew of some of the schenes that people who are otherwise highly educated fall for.

As far as I can follow, the money was repaid after your DH visited and spoke with her husband and it was the husband who sorted it out and made sure the money was returned. So, apart from the reducción in contact between her and your DH, she May not have changed. She may or may not have received a bollocking from her DH

Although I can understand that you donf want to go to her 50th party, I would bite the bullet and go, rather than let your DH go alone...Just in case.

The other point is to point out to your husband that she is clearly NOT a professional financial advisor of any value and to avoid taking her advice for any future financial planning. Many of these so called professionals get wound up with convoluted tax saving schemes that later cause enornous problems for their clients in the future.

SpaceMoo · 11/04/2025 12:26

We’ve just confirmed our meal options. (because I couldn’t be bothered to argue with DH, what a doormat I’ve become!)

So I guess we have to go now 🤡

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/04/2025 12:33

SpaceMoo · 11/04/2025 12:26

We’ve just confirmed our meal options. (because I couldn’t be bothered to argue with DH, what a doormat I’ve become!)

So I guess we have to go now 🤡

I'd look at it as an opportunity to start asking other guests whether they've been asked to lend her money too.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 11/04/2025 12:49

I agree with PPs, you don’t have the full story. I’m not sure how you can save your marriage when he’s been so dishonest about something this big. That’s probably a slow burn issue though. Right now I think you have to go the party because you cannot risk this woman having unsupervised contact with your husband. As long as you are married to him, his financial ruin is yours to share. You need to keep a close eye on him to stop him dragging you both under. Has he agreed to hand over complete control of the finances to you? And if not, why not?

AstoriaWaldorfSalad · 11/04/2025 13:04

I'd look at it as an opportunity to start asking other guests whether they've been asked to lend her money too

This. A thousand times this.

Shatteredallthetimelately · 11/04/2025 13:20

SpaceMoo · 11/04/2025 12:26

We’ve just confirmed our meal options. (because I couldn’t be bothered to argue with DH, what a doormat I’ve become!)

So I guess we have to go now 🤡

Don't see yourself as a doormat, as I said previously go, be polite, no discussion of money, bat it off, thats done now.
Conversate with others but once the evening is done make sure you look the host, with dead eyes if need be, in the eye when you say goodbye....and just go.

If it were me before I went I'd make it clear to him that DH knows it would be the last time I was ever in the same room as her again.

Then you need to have a frank conversation with him in that he needs to tell you why it seems this woman, in his eyes can do no wrong or except that you put up with this carry on and it will continue and you will then indeed be that doormat.

BakelikeBertha · 11/04/2025 14:16

OP, after all the support you've received on MN, would you please come back and tell us whether you have now taken over all finances, checked that he hasn't taken out any other loans, and registered to be notified by the Land Registry if anyone makes any applications against your property? If you haven't, why not? I would really like to know the answer to this, as I am very concerned that he could still be in cahoots with this woman in some way.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 11/04/2025 14:40

BakelikeBertha · 11/04/2025 14:16

OP, after all the support you've received on MN, would you please come back and tell us whether you have now taken over all finances, checked that he hasn't taken out any other loans, and registered to be notified by the Land Registry if anyone makes any applications against your property? If you haven't, why not? I would really like to know the answer to this, as I am very concerned that he could still be in cahoots with this woman in some way.

Agree with the above.

So You've given your meal options and that means you have to go? Do you?

Calliopespa · 11/04/2025 14:46

I’d go! She owes you a meal by way of interest! Drink much and have seconds! This one’s on her!

Zucker · 11/04/2025 15:24

Has your Husband bought this woman earrings for her birthday present? How have you not pushed him from a moving car for how he has behaved. Both of your reactions to what's happening here are as if you're both on valium.

SpaceMoo · 11/04/2025 16:27

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 11/04/2025 14:40

Agree with the above.

So You've given your meal options and that means you have to go? Do you?

Edited

Financial update. I have totally taken over the finances. We now need both signatures for transfers. DH is okay with this and did not put up any arguments.

OP posts: