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Financial Abuse - AlmostFreeMo - Part 4

997 replies

AlmostFreeMo · 26/04/2016 06:51

Next Fred...

OP posts:
OrlandaFuriosa · 02/05/2016 18:29

You must keep sending it. You need the proof that you have and he has ignored it. Can you send to a work emáil at the same time as a private one? That way it will be near impossible to deny he got it.

OrlandaFuriosa · 02/05/2016 18:32

If I were him, I would ask why if you can afford rented accommodation you are asking for money. I know it's not reasonable ( nor is he) but it takes, for him, the urgency out of the situation and says you are lying if you say you can't afford to feed them or clothe them. The latter is a reasonable point. You are not paying rent for your current accommodation, hence my point about cashless above.

OrlandaFuriosa · 02/05/2016 18:34

And he would say that it is unreasonable to borrow funds, tear the dc's from their home, spend more money at this point, it's unnecessary. I confess I would see the justice of that.

AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 18:46

Regardless of what I do though, move out and rent or buy, work or stay at home: he is still obligated to pay child maintenance whether he likes it or not. He can ask all the questions and make as many criticisms he likes, this is one fact he can't escape.

OP posts:
AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 18:53

Yes I'm sending to both work and private email addresses. I'll give him till tomorrow EOD. If he doesn't respond I'll find a colleague or boss to email instead.

OP posts:
BoatyMcBoat · 02/05/2016 18:54

Exactly, Mo. He has no way out of having to pay child maintenance and having no say at all over how you spend it.

If you don't want to stay in the family home, or know that you can't afford to post-divorce, and it will have to be sold, then there's nothing stopping you from moving out to an area where you have better support and can afford to live more easily.

You are not stuck there unless you want to be. He cannot force you to stay there, and he has no right to decide where you do live. He can object if you want to relocate abroad, but within the UK, nah, not a chance.

Check everything with your SHL though.

AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 19:04

Exactly: so what if he says I shouldn't be borrowing money to move out, once this place is sold I'll have enough to pay it back, it's not like I don't have any assets at all. This house is my one and only asset and thank god for that (and the ever growing equity in it).

I keep checking my bank balance in the hope he has sneakily paid some money in...but no.

OP posts:
AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 19:07

I'm nervous about moving out of my area. I have a ready made life here and my kids have plenty of friends and feel settled here but the idea of starting afresh is extremely appealing (especially to somewhere more rural which has been a life long fantasy of mine).

OP posts:
AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 19:26

I just wrote an email with some harsh truths in it to his mum. Then I deleted it because I thought it was too harsh. They don't have what I would call a normal mother-son relationship anyway but not things you'd want to hear about your own son.
Not sure what approach I should take with her to be honest. She can't do or change anything so may be totally fruitless. The only thing she could do is lend me money if she wants to help. But how awful, to have to bail out your wealthy, selfish son when you know full well he can afford it!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 02/05/2016 19:31

I think after a few days if he still doesn't pay the usual monthly/weekly amounts. Then I would email him again and enforce the point that child maintenance is a legal obligation, that as per the CMS he should actually be sending x amount per week on his earnings and it would be far cheaper for him to comply rather than incur the additional CMS costs. Include all the links to the various relevant pages. Also point out to him that him providing a roof over his DC heads is also required in the courts and that you jointly own the property anyway?

Of course you may prefer to keep all of this quiet as he may then insist you cover half the mortgage & bills - it's got to be your call.

So glad you are getting ever closing to being free of him Smile

AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 19:37

He could say well let's pay half for everything, but then if I can't pay my half...what's he going to do, default and get a bad credit rating? Never in a million years. So in that respect, I've got him over a barrel. I'd much rather have to borrow money for food than have him think he has that sort of control over me as well. Because he doesn't.
CM has nothing to do with mortgage and bills though. Also, all the bills are in his name now (half used to me in just mine till we moved away).

OP posts:
AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 19:47

Random I did just that several weeks ago. But he didn't take it seriously and last week when I mentioned it, he said I'd just made the figures up - which I hadn't. I told him how to check for himself but it all fell on deaf ears. The mediation woman might just get that through to him though. I'm counting on her for some results.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 02/05/2016 19:51

Go back again and reinforce that here is the evidence of what he has to pay...

That refusal just means it will be back dated and in the meantime family and friends will have to loan you money to feed his children and wondering why he he'd rather see them hungry.

Seems pride and appearance is the way to manipulate him into complying.

tribpot · 02/05/2016 20:08

I think you need to be careful of pinning too much hope on the mediation woman. All long you have been overly optimistic about something getting through to him - whether your own stark words, seeing his children again, the reaction of his peers. Nothing has. I'm afraid if you want to stand half a chance a mediation man may be the only viable option. This is not a person who has been brought up to respect women or to value the unpaid work they contribute to the household. I think she is worth seeing because she will doing her absolute best for you, but I think he will be unmoved.

I don't think there's any point emailing harsh words to his mum; if you want to contact her at all I would tell her that sadly her son has chosen not to pay his child maintenance this month and you've no option but to seek the support of the local food bank as you have no access to funds.

But of all people in the world it truly is not her responsibility to cough up the cash to make up her son's shortfall. She who truly had it worse.

Atenco · 02/05/2016 20:09

Personally I wouldn't badmouth him to his mother. Very, very few mothers would side with anyone against their son and, even if she did, I can' see that she can do anything about it.

Akire · 02/05/2016 20:12

You are doing great Mo, if he stops paying you any more before any benefits kick in or even ask you about them he really is a bastard of the first degree, it's not like you have card or over draft to live off in the meantime. I suspect he want you to beg or possible agree to giving it another go first.

Agree about asking his family or his boss if he hasn't got back to you, after all you are extremely worried for his safety if you have not got hold of him and he's not sent money like he usually does, he's got to be in hospital in a coma right?

AlmostFreeMo · 02/05/2016 21:03

Trib: the thing is though, I really don't think his problem is women. He's not a misogynist. He's had a female boss for years and never had any issues with her, never crossed her. Women who are professionals and independent he seems to respect. It's just anyone, male or female, who depends on anyone else he seems to have issues with. Money, always money, not gender, that's the problem.
So while I hear what you're saying, it will be interesting to see his reaction (other than just ignoring). He's more likely to think of her as just a counsellor or something, in which case he really will be flippant about the whole thing, but if he actually speaks to her and hears her tone and what she has to say...then I am hopeful.

OP posts:
OrlandaFuriosa · 02/05/2016 21:31

Mo, I think you are absolutely right about his mum, not worth it, and your dcs need a good relationship with their GPs. I don't think he will focus on CMS until he has a court order if left to himself. . I think he is deluding himself. As well as being a control freak I think he doesn't believe anyone about money unless he has agreed it himself.

In my organisation you would need to contact the head of HR, cc the line manager, and him preferably so you can say you have been completely open, with a copy if the CMS calculation and proof that he is the father. If you had been married it would be proof of separation . And you may need that now, so some emails might help. You might need on ask them what further proof is required. , if any. ( As this will scupper his reputation in one level, it would be fair to let him know this is what is going to happen. ) We would then put it to our payroll operator, which might take a month or so but for us, if done by the tenth of the month should be actioned.it will depend what proof they need. I've never had to authorise a back payment, but by agreement I think it either comes out over time of the monthly salary, or is paid off out of personal savings.

Hope helpful. Keep cheerful...

notonyurjellybellynelly · 03/05/2016 00:14

Mo can you get a letter to him by courier that he woukd have to sign for, or someone in his workplace would have to sign upon receipt. Because that's how I'd go about it. I just wouldnt be washing dirty linen in public. Just send him a letter saying its your request for maintenance and it would be in his best interests not to ignore it. Then finish the letter by saying it will be the last time you broach the subject before deeper into the system.

I suspect once you say I'm not playing this game of begging you for money via emails anymore that your money will arrive.

Just take the power away from him and borrow whatever you have to borrow to get through the next few months.

AlmostFreeMo · 03/05/2016 07:51

The money has appeared. But he really is twisted. Last week he had a go at me about the empty cupboards but now he's saying there was enough anyway. I am never going to win with him, ever. Except in court.

OP posts:
SpringTown46 · 03/05/2016 08:18

'paper trail' - acknowledge receipt of delayed CM, and note to him that his comment contradicts his previous comments about 'bare cupboards'.

Akire · 03/05/2016 09:05

Morning glad money's arrived. Just shows different standards of living, cupboards bare - not good enough for him no nice stuff or choice or snacks- he needs eat out lots.

Cupboards bare for you - you are not going starve there's bit rice and frozen meat you can make meals with effort and planning. No snacks or treats - basic rations- nothing you fancy just bare mimium.

PhoenixReisling · 03/05/2016 09:12

Send what spring has suggested so you have a paper trail.

Has he even asked when he can Skype the DC? probably not!

mix56 · 03/05/2016 12:16

yes, you might add for the paper trail.
That he was able to go out, & socialise, buy food & take aways & invite people to lunch as he was not functioning on you budget

RandomMess · 03/05/2016 12:43

It just gets more awful as time goes on doesn't it.

He does not care one iota for his DC when it comes down to it does he Sad

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