What could be the reason for keeping the phone in your ex-husbands name for 20 years?

Question

My father was married before marrying my mother. He divorced and there was a four year gap before meeting and marrying my mom. She got the house and never changed the phone. I was in high school before she changed it because my mother finally had a fit. People would call her looking for my dad. My mom seems to think she did it to have some control. She liked being able to refer or the option not to refer people to the correct number (our phone is under mom's name) I think she was just lazy. Any other suggestions?

Let me add my mom and my dads ex get along. Not like they go to lunch or talk on the phone but they allways seem to get together at big family events and talk usually laugh about my dad. (they had kids and they wer married a long time so she still comes to family reuninon and what not)

She changed it after my mother had a fit and i am not bothered by it just curious. the number stayed the same she just had the bill but in her name

Answer 1

I'm with you. It was probably more laziness than anything. Just looks at it this way. Think of all the phone solicitations your mom missed out on for your dad 'cause they had the wrong number.......

Answer 2

I am divorced, and my ex-husband and I are still good friends, and get together on special occasions such as Christmas. I believe that the reason my ex and I are still friends is the reason why our children have adjusted so well.

There could be a number of reasons why somebody would keep a phone in their ex's name. One being for credit reasons, ie. if you have a bad credit history say. Another is that the ex used to handle all the household finances, and you have simply not got around to updating all your records and so forth. Another is simply procrastination, one of those things you mean to get around to doing but never do. Laziness??? There literally could be a hundred genuine reasons.

Also, a lot of women when they are divorced still keep their ex-husbands surname.

Years ago, everything was put in the husband's name, as if a woman had no idenity of her own. I am sure that is case here. Your mum may have simply kept your dad's surname and kept everything in his name.

If it bothers you why not ask your mum? I am sure it is not out of maliciousness or spite. If that was the case would your parents still get on with one another?

Hope I have been of some use.

Blessings x

Answer 3

My guess would be she just didn't bother... Also, many women do not want the phone book to reflect that this address may have a single woman living there.... for safety reasons. Just my opinion, but I don't think it's any of your mom's business. My ex's new girlfriend seems offended that I still use his last name and one of the reasons that I am is because I don't want to go back to having to spell my maiden name every time someone asks my name.

Answer 4

It doesn't seem to bother your dad so let it go. There are hassles when people change their phone number so maybe she left the number as is for convenience.

Look into yourself to why you are really bothered by this. I would guess it is not just about a phone number.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Having a man's name listed in the phone book tends to ward off many prank calls, and calls from telemarkerters. Telemarkerts often hone in on single women thinking they are good "marks". Besides what difference does it make who's name is listed, as long as your mother wasn't paying the bill she had no cause to complain...

Answer 6

maybe she just didn't think to call the phone company and take his name off and put hers on? maybe (just a though) but if she runs a big bill and doesn't pay it than her ex will have to.....just some thoughts......I have been well am in the same sort of situation....when my husband and I moved back to our home town our house was bought before we got here...my father in law had our gas and electricity turned on before we got here...he had to put his name to it cause he was the one opening the accounts for the gas and electricity....well we pay the bills every month and have been here now for a year..I pay my bills on line so I never really look at the paper bills and just the other day I got our electric bill and noticed that it was addressed to my father in law....it is now in my name and so is the gas bill but the reason why we hadn't changed it till just the other day was well...we just didn't think to......

Answer 7

what a mixed up question with 2 mums sounding like one mum and one dad sounding like two dads!

maybe the lady just did not get round to it, after all she was in the same house, the phone was working perfectly, why change names? and how did ur mum know the phone was not changed? was she stalking ur dads ex?

Answer 8

Your mother's probably right. She did it to maintain control over the situation. No doubt, her controlling attitude is what broke up the marriage.

Answer 9

Since the phone was in your father's name, it was his responsibilty to call the phone company and have the service disconnected. It's not the ex's fault he failed to do that. Why blame her?

Answer 10

might need a deposit on a new account

might be bad credit

might be some sorrow for the loss and wants to keep that

might be spite