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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

Something's not right here...

271 replies

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 10:27

I've had lots and lots of problems with H in the past; we split up for a while due to his controlling ways and general nastiness. He wore me down though and eventually I moved back in with the children.
He promised to make an effort, but to be honest nothing really changed, although he did tone down the abuse.
BUT...lately he's been spending an enormous amount of time and money on his mobile phone and is very secretive about it. For reasons I won't go into I have had suspicions about him for a while, so have been checking his phone (don't jump on me for that...I do have very good reasons for it), and discovered text messages from his mobile phone provider saying he was a VIP chat member. He is also topping his phone up EVERY night, by at least £10 per night, sometimes £20 per night, so is spending on average £70 per week - however we are in dire financial straits. He tops it up at 11.30 pm one night, 1.15 am another night...
I found another SIM card which he carries around with him and put it in my phone, and there were messages on there from presumably a woman, things like 'thanks, you're not bad yourself', and 'yes sorry but I'm up now and have to get ready for work'...nothing overtly flirtatious but still odd, not least because they are on a 'secret' SIM. he also has another mobile which he said he no longer uses, however he does becase he keeps that one in his car, it's always charged and he also tops that one up regularly.
We sleep separately so he can be on his phone all night; however, if I get up to go to the loo for instance I can guarantee that he will be on his phone but when I ask what he's doing he says he's playing games. I may well have believed him but for the fact that he has VIP membership to a chat room, and he's spending 10 - 20 pounds a night.
Now he's taken to keeping his phone on silent. The other morning I came down to find him asleep on the settee where he had had his phone on charge and fallen asleep in such a position that he could reach the phone whilst charging!
He's also always trying to get me and the kids out of the house; asking me to go to the shops for him, or 'do you want to go and get some fresh air for ten minutes' etc (I decline, and it was whilst I was away for the weekend a few weeks ago that he got these messages on his other phone...I said at the time that he was trying to push me into going away for that weekend!
Last night a message came through on his phone; it was on silent but the static on the pc gave it away...he said it was o2 saying his phone had been topped up, and that he had done it on his way home. However, I am with o2 also and whenever I top up the confirmation comes through immediately.
Sorry it's so long, but doesn't this all sound very suspect or am I being paranoid?
I can't confront him as the fallout of me 'snooping' on him would be catastrophic (there has been abuse in the past), and the marriage is over but I need concrete proof that he is messing about as, when I have asked him for a divorce in the past he has said that it's all my fault, or the kids' fault and has managed to make me feel that I am going mad!

OP posts:
Mindles · 30/05/2007 10:52

If you can, try and go to CAB in person, all I ever hear is how they don't answer the phone!

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 10:53

The council are well aware of the history but were unwilling to enforce the domestic violence clause. Believe me I tried to find a way of getting him out before, but no one wants to help.

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skibump · 30/05/2007 10:54

Have you had any legal advice? There was a thread where a point of law was quoted which meant the children & main caregiver were entitiled to the house until the youngest child was 18, maybe that would apply for you?

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 10:54

I tried to get him to go to relate, begged him in fact, but he won't go. Just refuses point blank.

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Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 10:55

skibump...it's council housing, so that doesn't apply I don't think.

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skibump · 30/05/2007 10:56

So why is he more entitled to it than you?

Sixer · 30/05/2007 10:56

have you tried the domestic abuse helplines. They may have better ideas, as i am sure they have had this sort of problem to deal with before.. only another thought

skibump · 30/05/2007 10:57

Sorry, that looks a bit blunt. Just cross on your behalf Onedaysoon ((()))

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 10:58

Petronella...I can't save as I have no income, but I am retraining (home study) so I can support the kids and me. In the meantime, I have no qualms about being on benefits in the short term until I can maintain the children and me.

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BabiesEverywhere · 30/05/2007 10:58

Have you asked the council what you are meant to do ?

If you spilt up, how do THEY decide who keeps the house and how do they enforce it...this situation must come up frequently and they should have a policy.

NotQuiteCockney · 30/05/2007 10:59

Who blames anyone's kids for a relationship breakdown?!?

And as others have said, why waste your time snooping. You know:

  • he's abusive
  • he's spending money you don't have on something odd
  • he's being secretive.

What more do you need to know?

Boco · 30/05/2007 11:01

If it's council housing then surely you and the children would be far more likely to keep the house than him? He should really be the one to leave.

This sounds so horrible, really sorry you're in this situation, must be awful.

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:03

Skibump, no problem . I'm just happy that you share my views that I'm not going mad and that something (not sure what yet) is going on!
I know I come across as really wimpy, when in fact I am feeling stronger than ever. I have distanced myself totally from the marriage, and am not taken in by him anymore. But leaving isn't that easy. I will not make the children leave their home...he doesn't get on with any of the neighbours whereas myself and the children have made friends here. They are starting a new school in September, so I won't uproot them again. I know he will play mind games with me if I tried to do this without being able to lay the blame firmly at his door, and that's when I weaken, because he really does make me feel as if I'm losing the plot, and that maybe I'm to blame, when ratiaonally I know damn well I'm not.

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Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:04

Babieseverywhere...if we split it would be decided in the divorce who gets to stay in the house...obviously it would be me and the kids, no doubt about it.

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Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:08

I just found piles of unopened bills...from way back some of them. I opened one, knowing it was from the bank and yes I feel justified in doing that as it's our finances at stake here, and he owes £12k on one card, and £2k on another...if he doesn't pay £650 arrears on one of them by next week they will 'take steps'!

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skibump · 30/05/2007 11:08

Maybe you could write everything down - all the details including how it made you feel. You'd be able to look back at it if you feel yourself weakening and remind yourself exactly what has happened. Plus of course you'd have all the info your solicitor will need when the time comes

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:09

And that's just 2 cards...he has about 6 of them altogether. If I question him about it though he will again turn it all around to be my fault as I don't 'contribute to the family's finances'...but I can't trust him with the kids so how can I work? And my youngest is only 2.

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skibump · 30/05/2007 11:10

Oohh, more of a reason to split sooner rather than later, this is his problem, make sure it doesn't become yours. You need legal advice hunny

SuGaRCoAteDPoiSOn · 30/05/2007 11:11

onedaysoon, you are entitled to keep the house. I was in a similar situation and had never signed the tenancy agreement (he had) but when we split up the court awarded me the house despite him trying to pull all kinds of tricks (he said that I was an heiress and that I owned several other properties here and abroad) to make sure I wouldn't. The council then had to change the tenancy into my name and that was that.

Get him out, claim the benefits and make a lovely future for you and your littlies. Good luck, I hope all goes well for you.

BabiesEverywhere · 30/05/2007 11:20

How worrying about the money Good job you opened the letters.

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:21

It's all so damn difficult. There is nothing keeping me in the marriage except the ensuing fight which will inevitably come. I know what he's like, I know how vindictive he can be (he is poisonous to his first wife)and I know how well he can twist things. I just don't know if I'm up to that YET

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BabiesEverywhere · 30/05/2007 11:22

Have you got any support, good friends or family members who could help you out ?

Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:23

Babieseverywhere...but there's nothing I can do about it. They're in his name only, so can't call up the bank, can't discuss it with him (he refuses to discuss anything at all...he just yawns pointedly when i try and bring up problems)so now I have another thing to worry about!

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Onedaysoon · 30/05/2007 11:24

Age old story I'm afraid...he has managed to isolate us from everyone. Although I get on fine with the neighbours no one will come near because of him. I left all my friends behind when I married him and we moved to another area. Family hate him...in fact I'm not allowed to tell my Mum anything about him as she 'doesn't want to know'. So it's just you girls really!

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VioletBaudelaire · 30/05/2007 11:25

Keep posting - we'll help as much as we can.