Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Original poster

Ex partner trying to take daughters phone back

25 replies

j4jojo · 22/06/2022 21:53

Hi, my ex bought our twin daughters a phone each last year and AirPods for their birthday. He’s now demanding them back. They are 11 and are happy to give phones back - he took them off them last year for a few months so I gave them my old phones which they tend to use more- but they really want to keep the AirPods as they use them. Where do I stand legally? They were a gift so part of me thinks he cannot demand them back but then I cannot deal with the hassle I’m getting!! Any thoughts? Thanks

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 22/06/2022 22:05

Why does he want them back?

JanglyBeads · 22/06/2022 22:09

What a great dad.....

prh47bridge · 22/06/2022 23:01

Where you stand legally is that they were a gift to your daughters. They own them. If he tried going to court to reclaim them, he would lose.

FannyFifer · 22/06/2022 23:11

Do not let him take them back, they were gifts, tell him to bolt.

Georgeskitchen · 22/06/2022 23:32

Tell him to take a running jump. You cant just take gifts back. What's his reason apart from being an A-grade walker?

Georgeskitchen · 22/06/2022 23:32

*wanker

MintJulia · 22/06/2022 23:35

I'd tell him no. Gifts are not returnable.

Why does he want them back? Surely not to sell? Who would buy secondhand AirPods?

Original poster
j4jojo · 23/06/2022 06:56

It’s a long story but basically he thinks the girls do not speak to him enough!!
I left as he is very controlling and sadly he’s still trying to control me & them.
He pays a contract each month which is why I wondered if he has the right to ask for them back? Sorry I should have said that in the main thread x

OP posts:
Original poster
j4jojo · 23/06/2022 06:58

Yes to sell - recoup some of the money apparently!!
I just feel so bullied by him. I needed to hear that it wasn’t me being unreasonable x

OP posts:
PersonaNonGarter · 23/06/2022 07:02

They are gifts so the ownership has transferred from him to them (although obviously parents can confiscate stuff within reason).

This is very controlling and so damaging to them. Have they already given the phones back? It sounds like they are right not to have too much contact with him.

RandomMess · 23/06/2022 07:13

They were gifts so they now belong to the DC so he can F off.

NothingIsWrong · 23/06/2022 07:15

I'd wipe the phones and give them back and refuse to return the AirPods. Let him go to court.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 23/06/2022 07:18

If he is paying the contract the phones, and the phones in his name they are his aren't they? Ask him if you can take over the contract?

RedHelenB · 23/06/2022 07:29

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 23/06/2022 07:18

If he is paying the contract the phones, and the phones in his name they are his aren't they? Ask him if you can take over the contract?

That makes the most sense. We're they birthday presents?

RedHelenB · 23/06/2022 07:30

Ignore I've juat seen they were presents. Just tell him no to the phones and the airpods. No need to be controlled by him now you're separated, just tell him no, they were given as birthday presents.

Littlebirdyouaresosweet · 23/06/2022 07:40

Personally I would leave them overnight in a bowl of water then send them without postage to his address....

ImAvingOops · 23/06/2022 07:46

I wouldn't return anything. Let him take you to court and then he can explain his reasoning there!

Lonecatwithkitten · 23/06/2022 07:48

My Ex was similarly emotional abusive to my DD at a similar age 'you can only have your Christmas presents if you see me'.
As an 18 year old she now has very little to do with him.
I have no legal advice, but say this to will pass and they are old enough to see him for what he is and know which parent is providing the unconditional love and support.

User354354 · 23/06/2022 07:52

just give them back. Some things are not worth the hassle and arguments.

WhenDovesFly · 23/06/2022 07:52

Do you mean he added the cost of the AirPods to his phone contract to spread the cost? It shouldn't matter how he paid/is paying for them. Fact is he gave them as a birthday gift, so the girls now own them. I wouldn't give them back. I'm sure someone would buy them cheap but personally I wouldn't want AirPods that have been in someone else's ears.

SamMil · 23/06/2022 07:54

They're gifts, so legally owned by your daughters. If they're not using the phones anyway, then send them back if you/they don't care so much about them, but if they want to keep their airpods then they should.

NippyWoowoo · 23/06/2022 08:41

j4jojo · 23/06/2022 06:56

It’s a long story but basically he thinks the girls do not speak to him enough!!
I left as he is very controlling and sadly he’s still trying to control me & them.
He pays a contract each month which is why I wondered if he has the right to ask for them back? Sorry I should have said that in the main thread x

It's fine, let him cancel the contract. You can get them new SIM cards

Bigsenoritata · 23/06/2022 08:54

You can't take back gifts.

The phones and AirPods belong to your DDs.

Original poster
j4jojo · 23/06/2022 08:56

Thank you all, sometimes you need a reality check and confirmation that I am not being unreasonable. I do not want to fight with anymore than I have too but equally gone are the days where he can dictate to me.

OP posts:
Skeptadad · 23/06/2022 11:55

No wonder they don’t want to spend time with their dad!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread