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

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Update on DP after asking about incident with OW again.

68 replies

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 12:42

I posted the other day about DP who had a message from OW and what to do about it.

As an update, I have asked himabout it in detail again, despite the fact we are not able to talk face to face at the moment (he's working in Scotland).

When I bought it up, he was irritated. He eventually seemed to see that it was fair of me to want to ask about the incident, having had to get over it the day after it happened as I had so much on with work, and having had time to think about it, more questions came into my mind and I wanted answers. I felt the chat went reasonably well, once he came round to talking about it. He went to bed (early start the next day), and I emailed him to say thanks for the chat, I appreciated him staying up late when he had work to talk about this nad put my mind at rest. The next day he acknowledged my email but that was it. I was genuinely feeling better, though, and as if he had taken my concern seriously.

Last night I asked for the rent payment (he contributes x amount per month in an arrangement we have). I have had to ask him for this payment a few times, and his excuse is that he is busy at work, so I left it. I asked again today and was quite irritated - said he had no apprciation that this is his responsibility and i should not have to constantly ask for it (AIBU?). He then messaged to say he the reason he hadnt paid it yesterday was because i had upset him by asking about the OW issue again - he repated that he felt it was unfair of me so he had then proceeded not to pay this portion of our rent. I have since become so angry with him - aksing why I am not allowed to bring up something that is bothering me, without him then playing games with rent and his responsibilities? He has since proceeded to pay me the money - but less than usual by about a quarter...not sure why?? and add to the fact that we had a big bill this month so 2 weeks ago he said he would pay in more than normal anyway! I'm sitting in tears on my lunchbreak..completely confused and hurt - why is he being like this? I don't understand.

The part that hurts the most is that we are saving for our own home and he will talk so freely about our future together - only for me to say i am unhappy about the way he has behaved and for him to then behave in what i can only call as being like a child. is this unfair of me? i feel physically sick and drained.

OP posts:
upthedamnwotsit · 29/01/2015 12:49

To me it sounds like he is punishing you for bringing up the OW by delaying the money transfer and then giving less than he should. "This is what happens if you do what I don't like". He's trying to shut you up by being controlling with the money, so you're afraid to mention what he did in case he does it again.

expatinscotland · 29/01/2015 12:51

He's a cheating, financially abusive fuckwit. Why are you even giving him the time of day?

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 12:52

It is out of character for him to behave like this, though. Which makes me wonder if IABU. I am so sick of not knowing where i stand - i emailed him to thank himfor having the chat for gods sake, i would struggle to be nicer about it really, all things considered. he just never seems to appreciate anything i do ever, and his erratic behaviour and actions just make me lose trust 100% :( so upset.

OP posts:
Quitelikely · 29/01/2015 12:52

Can't remember the other thread but watch out. He is showing you quite clearly what he is capable of. Ignore it at your peril.

He is trying to hurt you and is succeeding.

Eminado · 29/01/2015 12:54

Really sorry don't know your back story but why would you want to be continue in a relationship with this person?

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 12:54

the money isn't vital in terms of our home will be taken off us... we have enough money between us to make the payments. this payment he makes is done because it is fair in our current situation and something we discussed from the outset. it has not left me unable to pay rent and he will know this. i dont think it is financially abusive, just because of that fact.

it's still incredibly hurtful and clearly meant to make me feel confused and unsettled.

OP posts:
grassroots · 29/01/2015 12:55

That would be a complete deal breaker for me. Sorry you are going through this.

VanitasVanitatum · 29/01/2015 12:55

He sounds utterly awful. How dare he do that? Does he just expect you to pay the rent as he has decided not to?

That would absolutely be a deal breaker for me, trying to control you and what you can talk to him about - no way.

expatinscotland · 29/01/2015 12:55

It's not out of character for him at all, anna, he has already shown you this by cheating, he continues to do this whilst you chase him. You thanked him for deigning to speak to you about what a dick he continues to be? For real?

You need The Freedom Programme. Right now.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 29/01/2015 12:56

He is punishing you.

shut the fuck up or you'll suffer

How is withholding money on the grounds that you have angered him not financially abusive?

Patilla · 29/01/2015 12:56

Gosh. That's quite mean isn't it?

Ask me something I don't like and I'll financially penalise you.

Sounds like a bully to me.

No way on earth I'd be looking at getting married to him or joining my financial life with his.

In fact I think he'd find that I'd have reduced my contribution to his life by approximately 100%.

Tread carefully OP. Don't let your heart drown out the warning bells in your head.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 29/01/2015 12:58

thank you darling for agreeing to talk to me about things related to you cheating on me, I'm ever so grateful.

You really should not have to be like that.

If he was unfaithful to you, he should be bending over backwards to try to make things right. Including answering any questions you have.

Not being an arse about it and keeping money back.

Basically he has issued a fine to you for you stepping out of line.

Why are you not furious?

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 12:58

he's not cheated though... in the physical sense at any rate. i said thank you for talking it through with me and that i knew he had stayed up late to do so. i just thought it would be nice to show i had noticed and appreciated it. i dont know, maybe that was stupid of me.

the lack of payment/under payment wont have a direct effect on me and he knows this, so i dont think it is financially abusive. but i am just left feeling utterly lost. does he think that is ok to be annoyed at me for brining up something i was worried/upset about that he had caused? i dont get it.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 29/01/2015 13:00

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt. He's a bullying fuckwit.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 29/01/2015 13:01

You poor thing. He sounds horrible, sorry.

He with-held rent money because he felt it was unfair of me so he had then proceeded not to pay this portion of our rent.
And he is still with-holding money!

I'm afraid you can't back down on this.

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 29/01/2015 13:03

clearly he does think it's ok. He's shown you he does.

And whether it affects you or not really isn't the point. He didn't pay what he is supposed to pay, he made you chase and beg and told you it was because he was annoyed. Then when he did finally pay, it was less than he is supposed to pay.

what is that if not a fine/punishment = financial abuse.

He kept some money back because you had to be punished for angering him. you had to suffer a financial loss.

Seriously, if you can't see it, it's really not going to get better for you.

Is he going to fine you every time you step out of line?

Are you going to fear saying certain things because you wonder if that will result in him delaying transferring money?

How is that not financial abuse?

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 13:04

i dont know what to do. he says he wants to call, but i feel so angry and upset and drained. what is the point, really? he doesnt seem to actually understand anything that i say, at least on an emotional level.

i should add that when i am angry i definitely put my point across and can say some hurtful things. however, this escalates when he fails to see what i mean or fails to act etc. it never happens immediately - it's more like the final straw. i am by no means perfect but i just feel incredibly let down by him here. how can i trust him, how can i even talk to him about things if this is what he does?

OP posts:
annabelflies · 29/01/2015 13:06

i guess i thought financial abuse was where it amounted to a full detriment to you..ie reduced your standard of living and took away your home or ability to eat etc. this is simply a payment that is fair, but not essential to my living. i may be confused on the definiton of it!

OP posts:
ptumbi · 29/01/2015 13:07

Anna - IIRC he got 'flirty' texts and messages from another woman, you found out (although he had deleted some of the messages) and he minimised what had happened between them.

You have now 'brought it up again' (instead of brushing it under the carpet and ignoring his role in that little EA Angry) and he is mightily annoyed.

He is now punishing you. You darn-well won't bring it up again, will you? In case he withholds money (that he owes you) or something else...

Seriously, I'd be thinking long and hard about this relationship.

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/01/2015 13:08

Have you ever checked how much you'd be entitled to in benefits, reduction in council tax etc if he wasn't around?.

It's financial abuse to withhold money for essentials like this.

HadleyHemingway · 29/01/2015 13:09

Stop making excuses for him.

He's behaving cruelly and trying to punish you for calling him out on his bad behaviour.

Would you ever treat him this way?

If a friend treated you like this would you still be friends with them?

HowCanIMissYouIfYouWontGoAway · 29/01/2015 13:09

It's not simply the effect, it's also the intent. Very much the intent.

HadleyHemingway · 29/01/2015 13:12

he doesnt seem to actually understand anything that i say, at least on an emotional level.

Oh he does understand. He's just being deliberately obtuse in order to shut the conversation down.

annabelflies · 29/01/2015 13:12

we are in a good position financially, both independently and together. it's not the effect it has had, it's the fact he has done it in the first place. i find it a betrayal, an immature action and very confusing and hurtful. what is he supposed to mean by that other than showing me how fickle and nasty he can be.

im too scared to end it, i loved our plans and our future. i couldnt wait for it all - i feel i am nothing with him.

OP posts:
SmillasSenseOfSnow · 29/01/2015 13:12

how can i even talk to him about things if this is what he does?

Exactly. He's not interested in you talking to him about anything. Unless it's serving him, perhaps.

It's also the most straightforward case of financial abuse I've yet seen on here. I'm sorry you can't see it. Get out of this relationship.