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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

Tactics needed pls - its another DH and texts from a strange number thread

48 replies

namechangerama · 23/03/2009 16:14

So, DH works long hours both out and at home. I have been known to check his texts just to find out what is going on with him.

Recently there have been a few "what are you doing later" type messages that got my hackles up. Plus another that said something like "are you online later?" The person is saved in his address book under initials rather than name, and later when I searched for those initials in his blackberry (which stores all the sent and received texts) it just produced a couple of non descript messages and not the ones that got my hackles up (ie, they'd been deleted.)

So, best Sherlock hat on, I've just checked his phone bill, and he's sent loads of texts to this number, mostly late at night.

I've tried calling it (number withheld) but no one has ever answered.

So what do we think? I want to be sure of my ground (ie that its a woman) before I talk to DH as I'm obviously on dodgy ground for snooping. I'd be surprised if he's up to anything real, but if he's having a flirtation of some kind it sure would explain a lot about the way he's been behaving lately.

Any ideas to research this mysterious person?.

OP posts:
MargotBeauregardesGavel · 23/03/2009 17:01

You find it so surprising that she doesn't talk to her husband Nabster? Em! Nope. I'm going to say nothing.

Nabster · 23/03/2009 17:02

I just think if you are married to someone you should be able to talk to them about anything. As I can. Not sure what you are implying there.

helsbels4 · 23/03/2009 17:04

The op said though that her dp would lie if he was confronted, so what would she gain or learn from asking him straight out at this point without any "evidence" to go on? He would just deny it and worm his way out of it and nothing would be resolved. That's how I see it anyway.

Nabster · 23/03/2009 17:05

But shouldn't she be able to tell if he is lying?

GypsyMoth · 23/03/2009 17:09

Some men are good at lying. But if he digs his heels in and lies then she gets nowhere. Stalemate. So evidence is needed here.... He's done it before!

MargotBeauregardesGavel · 23/03/2009 17:10

Do you always want all your cards on the table the moment you have a wobble, the moment you're tempted or distracted by somebody or the moment you send emails or texts?

Maybe it's an emotional affair, maybe it's good ol' fashioned cheating, but either way, if I were the OP, I'd wait a bit, see if there was more proof, see if he stops receiving and sending these texts. In the meantime, op, marshall your thoughts and feelings before starting such an emotionally-charged conversation.

Once this accusation is lobbed into the relationship like a handgrenade, it would be very hard to take it back and claim that actually, you do trust him.

Nabster · 23/03/2009 17:11

Good luck OP.

MargotBeauregardesGavel · 23/03/2009 17:14

Sorry Nabster, didn't mean to be so haughty.

Nabster · 23/03/2009 17:16

it is fine. Most people think she should do something else so I am happy to accept my way is quite wrong.

CoteDAzur · 23/03/2009 17:22

If it looks like fish, and smells like fish...

It is obvious to me that he is having a relationship of sorts with this woman behind your back - definitely flirting, probably emotional, and possibly sexual.

Sorry to be so direct.

I would sit him down and ask him what the hell is going on with this woman. No need to say how you found out. Say you have friends everywhere and some actually care enough about you to tell you this kind of stuff, and was he so stupid he thought it would remain a secret?

helsbels4 · 23/03/2009 17:33

Nabster, you're not crap at giving advice! You clearly have a good, honest relationship and one in which you and your dp can talk to each other and trust each other. The op appears to have a different kind of partner shall we say?

poopscoop · 23/03/2009 17:50

I certainly think the OP needs to find a bit more evidence before she confronts her DH. Clearly he will just give her a load of bullshit if she just asks him outright, whereas some solid evidence he may not be abe to worm his way out of.

Also if she finds out beforehand that it is all above board and innocent, then she has saved a row ensuing, and put her mind at rest without accusing him of anything.

Try to text her from his phone. Do not use yours incase she asks him about a strange number ringing and he will be forewarned.
Something coming directly from him is more than likely to get the answers you need.

abedelia · 23/03/2009 17:52

Just from my point of view - I used to (and now do again) have the type of relationship with H where we talk about everything from his use of internet porn (which I tease him about) to the price of fish... However, when he got involved with someone else it was like he changed character - in some cases and situations it just isn't an option.

I suspected 'something' was up and challenged him, he lied and lied, and only when faced with absolute proof (emails) did he crack. And this is someone who has been absolutely honest with me for 10 years (hence the fact I could tell as soon as it changed - I just didn't know why).

So... get your evidence before you go in there. Check his browser history, with some you can retrieve the most recently deleted site they visited. Put in the spy software, find out how to get into his emails via webmail (remotely), and if he is having a let night out get a friend to babysit and go and have a peep... It's the only way to put your mind at rest.

namechangerama · 23/03/2009 17:58

I love you lot.

Right off to open a can'o'worms.

OP posts:
helsbels4 · 24/03/2009 20:43

Any news namechangerama?

LuJay · 25/03/2009 01:24

hiya, what a brilliant idea about changing the number to yours in the phone. think i might try that one myself, but then how would you know if he was trying to call you or her, since both names would have your number???

LuJay · 25/03/2009 01:27

BTW - i say gather as much evidence as possible before confronting him as ime they don't admit it unless it is undeniable with evidence and also, if you accuse him of something he hasn't done, it could wreck your relationship with no just cause - get solid evidence first!

kentmumtj · 25/03/2009 09:33

if it were me i would wait until i got hold of his phone and text the number saying as of now my number is changing to blah blah blah and give your mobile number.

This will hurt if he is having an affair but i would then text as if you were him. You will kno soon enough.

but be prepared for feeling incredibly hurt if he is or a really annoyed/upset dh if it is just a friend.

helsbels4 · 25/03/2009 12:41

That's a good idea kentmumtj! Wouldn't work though if her dp was with this other person when the text came through though .
LuJay, I think from the content of the text the op would know if the text was meant for her or not.
Come onnamechangerama. What's going on???

katemumtwo · 25/03/2009 12:46

It's not that great an idea - she may contact your H via another means and ask why he has changed and then the cat will be out of the bag. Mind you he's unlikely to be with her when the message comes - usually they protect their phones with their life when this sort of thing is going on. I'm surprised you ever get your hands on it! (I used to sneak out of bed in the night and extract my H's phone from his bag to check, btw)

WeakattheKnees · 28/03/2009 09:11

Here is another idea. Get a new pay as you go SIM card. Txt this woman as if from DH and say something about having changed his mobile number as DW is checking his phone. Keep the pretence for as long as you can and see how far you can take the "conversation". Let us know what you find out!

MrsLemon · 28/03/2009 10:01

Hiya, so sorry you are going through this.

I am with the camp that thinks if you suspect something iffy is going its very naive to go in there and "talk" to your partner about it. By doing so you lay all your cards on the table against someone who potentially is a very sneaky and sly individual unlikely to offer any kind of opening up and honesty to you. They are then tipped off, they change their behaviours from what you have told them makes you suspicious. They are even more careful and in the long run you are less likely to ever find out the truth or certainly a lot lesser extent of it. This is ofcourse ASSUMING there is something untoward going on.

I have been down this route sadly. And also very sadly have now helped numerous friends in situations like this.

Firstly if you do not want to be caught in any circumstances start by taking low risk methods. Things like, watching mobile phone behaviour - if when looking at their mobile, have a pre thought out excuse for you being in possession of it if you get caught. Look at bank accounts, cash withdeawals, statements - any suspicious, more cash transactions, restaurants etc. Check EVERYWHERE for condoms (esp so if not used between yourseleves) - pockets, wallets, car. I have discoverd condoms in the car in the boot behind where the panels are removed to fit new light bulbs into the rear lights, a friend found a little box under some floor boards in the house!!. In fact search everywhere in the house for anything suspicious - in pockets in clothes in wardrobes, amongst any of his hobby stuff, garagesm sheds, another friend discoverd receipts, a sim card and other incriminating stuff behind the bath panel in her bathroom!

It can be bloody dreadful if and when you find something cos it hurts and also if you dont you can feel like you're going mad at times!!

Until he knows you suspect - you have the upper hand. You can monitor all of his behaviour. Look out for texts in middle of night, perhaps pop downstairs late at night for a glass of water (or something) if he is down there on the PC late at night. His reaction to you suddenly being downstairs that late if you are usually in bed can give a good indication as to what he may be doing on the PC. I did this but he always have another window open (to quickly click on to cover up his MSN chatter)on an innocent website - I became suspicious after several night time visits down stairs he was ALWAYS on the same innocent website homepage!!

What ever you do, where ever you look always have a pretty genuine sounding excuse for being/looking where you are incase you get caught. For example, when I decided to rifle through OHs wardrobe and every pocket in there I tidied it, so I had a reason to being in there. I found phone numbers with no names on scraps on paper in a suit jacket or 2. I copied the details instead of taking the actual scraps - cos I suspected he would check after he realised I had been in the wardrobe.

Obviously as others have also mentioned there are things you can do with the mobile - so he txts you etc, but persnally I would not risk that until you are ready to confront the issue incase it all backfires and you get "caught".

Computer history is one to keep an eye on too. Cheaters will nearly always delete it BUT they do occassionally slip up, so its checking it frequently. Also, try and find email passwords - not so easy. Also be aware that he may have a whole new Email a/c exclusive to his affair (if there is one) that you will not know about. Again - this may only come to light by regularly looking at his pc.
You can purchase spyware and I am crap with IT but a few friends have said its been worth every penny and really useful in getting the WHOLE story and not just the bits their partners feel forced to tell them when the shit hits the fan.

All in all dont expect answers over night, it could take a few weeks. Try not to let it obsess you as well - easier said than done.

I am not saying THIS method of action is right or the best thing to do but merely sharing my experiences, and offering some advice, so IF this is the route you wish to go down, I hope I can have helped.

I hope you dont find anything awful but good luck in whatever course of action you decide to take!

kentmumtj · 07/04/2009 12:34

just wondered if the post got to the bottom of his behavior??????????

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