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Don't know where to turn

6 replies

Hidethesausage · 19/07/2019 21:58

Don't know whether to post in Relationships or Money, but here's goes.
When I became pregnant with DD11, I went back to full time work when she was 6 months as DH was a mature student. I handed over the looking after of the finances to him as I was juggling childcare and work and couldn't find the headspace. Subsequently, as he has changed career several times, my wage has been the steadying factor but over the past few years we have gone from bad to worse. We have racked up huge cc debt and he has made some terrible and over ambitious choices which are only coming to light including a car lease, spending money which was paid into his account to cover a fraud, then the money being returned and him not declaring it, a massive tax oversight on his business. Last year it all got too much and we ended up arranging a debt management plan, but now I find we haven't paid the last two months. My credit rating is totally shot now and for the foreseeable. I am now wrestling back more control and insight now that the kids are older, but he is blaming me for not being interested in what was going on. I feel like I can't see straight- whether this man is a liability and I should cut loose- devastating the children and exacerbating the financial crisis, or stuck in there and try to get through it somehow. Can anyone help me see more clearly and shed some light on where I might stand legally?

OP posts:
RaiderGirl94 · 19/07/2019 22:30

Legally I have no idea. Is the debt in both of your names? Can you both work through this together. Two people fighting through debt will be a lot easier than doing it on your own

15minpaidbreak · 20/07/2019 08:11

Gosh, that all sounds awful. And fraud 😮. Do you want to be with him? Can you ever trust or rely on him again?

QueenBeee · 20/07/2019 08:16

If you have one shared bank account and get the statements mailed to you (possibly paying for this) and get rid of the credit cards (but continue paying the debt) - so one account to argue over. Do you do that? I assume you have several accounts.
There's citizens advice and the bank can they advise?

AnotherEmma · 20/07/2019 08:19

Oh dear.
My advice is twofold:

  • Get all the paperwork you can get your hands on (he has been lying and hiding things from you so you'll need to be thorough) including bank statements and credit reports for both of you (which you can get instatntly by joining the MoneySavingExpert Credit club) and take it all to your local citizens advice. They can help you sort out the debts.
  • Get counselling for yourself (not couple's counselling) to work out what you are getting out of this relationship, whether there is any love or trust that is salvageable, whether you want to stay or leave.

I have to say given that he is blaming YOU for the messes he made, it doesn't sound promising!

Polly111 · 20/07/2019 09:14

I think you probably should have been more involved in your personal finances (I’m assuming he discussed car finance with you and didn’t just come home with a new car one day) but I think his business finances are his issue.

The best advice I can give you is to join the money saving expert.com debt free wannabe board as they can give you loads on advice. You’ll need to do a statement of affairs which means sitting down with your oh and listing the money you have coming in and where it goes every month. His attitude towards sorting it out would be the deciding factor for the relationship for me.

Tohaveandtohold · 20/07/2019 09:23

This is in 2 folds. He’s been lying and covering things up and now he’s put you in a mess. He has been basically using you to pursue his own interests. You need to think of what you’re getting out of this relationship and if it’s worth it.
However the part where you said he’s blaming you stuck out in a way. Do you think you have been living beyond your means in any way? Like when he bought the car, did you have savings or how did you think you were going to be able afford it. Did you encourage him to get the car ( you can’t afford and he had to get finance) or was it solely his decision? Is it a joint debt or just in his name? If it’s just in his name and it was his decision then don’t take on repaying it. Like you have to be realistic but practical

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