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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

He was married, wasn't he?

81 replies

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 20:41

I was dating a guy for 5/6 months earlier this year. I met him through an online dating site. He lived up north but worked in London during the week. We saw each other once a week or so (although it probably averaged out slightly less overall). He rented a room in a family house when he was down south so we always met at my place.

The relationship finished because his contract down here finished and he returned to live in the North full-time. We tried to do a long distance relationship for a bit (he travelled down once at the weekend and stayed the night). We didn't see one another for the last month before he ended things saying the long distance thing was making him miserable.

We stayed in contact as friends after things ended. Just occasional chatty emails.

The thing is, I never knew his address. It came up a couple of times (once because I wanted to post him an invitation, I forget the other time) and he just kind of dodged the question and I let it go.

I mailed him the other day saying that I had a Christmas card that I wanted to post. He went uncharacteristically quiet (he answers every email within half a day or so, usually straightaway). So last night I emailed him saying "I presume you're not talking to me because you don't want me to know your address? What's that all about?"

Email from him this morning - first half is usual chatty bollocks, then he said "Just a bit uncomfortable giving you my, DS's & my registered company's address. Sorry."

It had crossed my mind before that his marriage might not be as over as he said it was (the address thing mostly, but also the fact that he isn't on any social media and well, the 'working away from home' thing would be the perfect set-up to facilitate an affair) but I had dismissed it because there were other things that made it seem less likely. Saying that he 'wasn't comfortable' with me knowing his address just made it seem likely that he is still living with his "ex". I emailed back saying "Oh, fuck off. Don't contact me again." Not my most erudite moment.

So what do you think? Have I been an unwitting Other Woman? Am I an idiot?

I know it doesn't matter now. The relationship was over and now the 'friendship' definitely is too. My friends don't refuse to let me know where they live. Even if he isn't still happily married / unhappily married / separated and cohabiting and lying about it, then it still seems fucking weird.

I suppose I want to know how to handle possible future situations like this. I have started OLD again. Although I will probably just assume that they're all adulterous arseholes until I get evidence otherwise.

Blimey, that was long. Sorry.

OP posts:
lorelei9 · 12/12/2015 21:44

Sanity - good plan - only OP, don't put postage on it because then he'll have to pay it Grin

foragogo · 12/12/2015 21:45

Yes, then you'll be a company expense ha!

FreeWorker1 · 12/12/2015 21:49

Yes you are right but 192.com is just one database.

The way you get found is by linking disparate facts across databases, internet, newspaper articles, Facebook, etc.

As I say, there is MNetter who does it and it is quite scary.

That's why I never go on Facebook..

lorelei9 · 12/12/2015 21:52

oh right, I was thinking specifically of ways to get a home address

I don't really think it's that easy unless someone has very public social media profiles.

not sure why I'd be on any publicly accessible databases...but now pondering....

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 22:10

OK, I did do a bit of stalking. (You lot are a very bad influence on me.) I couldn't find him on beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/search but then I searched my own name and couldn't find me either. I am a Sole Trader registered at my home address. (I originally typed "Soul Trader" there. Now, THAT would be an interesting job. Smile )

Went on LinkedIn under a made-up name. He is there under the name he told me and the job history matches up with what I know about him. No mention of a company name.

Googled "First Name + Last Name + Hometown". Nothing there. (Although I did discover he shares his name with a semi-prominent astrologist Smile ). But, again, I googled "My First Name + My Last Name + My Hometown" and nothing useful came up for me either.

And now I AM STOPPING WITH THE STALKING. He is not worth the effort.

leaningtoweroflego - "I'd be tempted to tell the wife tbh."

I can't. Even if I wanted to. I have no idea what information he gave me about himself was actually true. (Although if he was lying about key information then he must have a great memory. He was entirely consistent.)

OP posts:
Donthate · 12/12/2015 22:19

Is his last name Jones?

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 22:23

Fraud not, Donthate. Clearly there's more than one of them out there.

OP posts:
Donthate · 12/12/2015 22:24

Yes, he sounded familiar, I'm sure there are hundreds of them out there.

leaningtoweroflego · 12/12/2015 22:37

I'm quite an accomplished stalker and quite enjoy it tbh - but I have a strong sense of ethics so I'd never stalk someone without good reason.

Good reason would include making me an unwitting OW.

(I used to stalk lodgers online before offering them a room in our family house. Once I'd vetted them I never looked again. Amazing what stuff people post online. We had a couple of lucky escapes because of my stalking, such as one woman who seemed absolutely lovely when we met her - until I found her name all over racist hate petitions online).

BUT - that's just me! There's no right or wrong way to go about it, if you feel more comfortable drawing a line, that's the right thing for you, of course.

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 22:39

Thing is, he was the one who was super keen. He texted all the time. I had to have words with him about it. (I am very much of the opinion that you don't need to text EVERY day when you're dating.) There was no particular time when he was offline. He was happy to text at weekends. Sending me updates and photos of what he was up to. (He was frequently very funny so I was ok with the over-texting.)

He was the one that wasn't OK with an open relationship. I was also seeing someone who was in a polyamorous relationship when we started dating. I finished things with Mr Polyamorous so that Mr Secret Address and I could have an exclusive monogamous relationship. I was totally fucking open about it! I presumed he was too.

OP posts:
SanityClause · 12/12/2015 22:50

A sole trader will not be listed at Companies House, only registered companies.

pocketsaviour · 12/12/2015 22:51

He was the one that wasn't OK with an open relationship. I was also seeing someone who was in a polyamorous relationship when we started dating. I finished things with Mr Polyamorous so that Mr Secret Address and I could have an exclusive monogamous relationship.

OMG, that is so like my ex, and I also found out he was still married. Did he work in project management, specifically for IT projects?

pocketsaviour · 12/12/2015 22:52

Although I don't think my ex shares his name with any astrologers, and it's an uncommon name Grin

I suppose, sadly, it's just an old story :(

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 23:20

pocketsaviour - Did he work in project management, specifically for IT projects?

YES! But if your ex doesn't share a name with a Writer and Astrologer whose blog is [firstnamelastname.com] then apparantly, there's more than one of these arseholes out there.

SanityClause, what about SOUL Traders, though? Does it depend on how they're registered for tax? (I bet the Devil has the very best accountants.)

OP posts:
Justaboy · 12/12/2015 23:21

Did you try this one for company directors?.

beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/search/officers

VenusInFauxFurs · 12/12/2015 23:29

Yup. Thanks Justaboy but I'm not doing any more searching. Clearly he's a liar. I'm pretty sure the name he gave me is correct but I have no evidence that he lives in the town he says he does. The whole "I don't want to give you my registered company address" spiel is clearly bollocks. He is probably a Sole Trader like me.

He can fuck off to the far side of fuck and then fuck off some more. (I know some MNers dislike this phrase but I am relatively new here and it still tickles me. First time I've had the opportunity to use it.)

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 12/12/2015 23:37

Actually, although this thread has turned rather light hearted and such I do think you need to take a hard look at yourself and how you let yourself get suckered

Read your op and imagine a friend was telling you this sorry tale...what would you say to her ?

Tighten up your boundaries...they seem rather deficient to me. He is a walking married cliché and you fell for it.

Justaboy · 12/12/2015 23:38

Best 'effing way Venus have a good swear and forget about it.

Could look at it that you won't be on a murder charge i you did catch him;!

Puffpastry1 · 12/12/2015 23:46

Yep, of course he is OP.

We all live and learn though. I on-line date and can smell it a mile off now even before a date.

Ask loads of questions and if they're not upfront then don't date them. Mind you Im sure you will in future.

No, don't "look him up" what for?

Just move on.

sefoolie · 12/12/2015 23:49

I saw a man on the bus a few months ago reading a book about polyamory. I wouldn't have judged his appearance if the book had been about politics or history but I was fascinated. He was in his sixties, wouldn't have been anything to look at 30 years previously, he was overweight and not dressed well, and yet there he was with several women to juggle - needing a book to help him. I was like this Shock

sefoolie · 12/12/2015 23:53

Yes Puffpastry, I can smell married a mile off too. One man told me what hours he was free. Precisely.. Another told me we could 'never' meet at his place. Meeting for coffee hadn't even been suggested at this point. Another sent me a message yesterday with no picture and I replied, 'oh normally I assume that no photo = married'' and he replied, yes, I'm married and I'm separating. Very present tense.

wideboy26 · 12/12/2015 23:58

Your man on the bus might have been some sort of anthropologist. Reading a book about polyamory doesn't necessarily mean he practises it.

sefoolie · 13/12/2015 00:01

an anthropologist or an optimist

sefoolie · 13/12/2015 00:01

an anthropologist or an optimist

SelfLoathing · 13/12/2015 00:02

lorelei
unless I've very much mistaken, 192.com will only publish your details if you are on the Edited Electoral Roll - which I'm not. Surely the whole point of ticking that opt out box is that you aren't on the EER?

This is basically correct but the EER isn't that old. So for people who have never moved house in that time, I think they may still have their correct details from before the opt out thing.