Dear Santander

This goes back to a difficult time when everything seemed hard, but banks in particular kept sticking the knife in.

I think these times are coming around for a lot of people again. I wrote this as a rant.

Dear Santander

For the past thirteen years you have provided me the opportunity to (eventually) own the property I live in.

In the beginning it was daunting, the commitment to pay the seemingly enormous sum of money each and every month. Looking ahead towards the end of our relationship together seems so far away.

We are contractually tied, I made many mistakes, that have cost me emotionally and financially.

I have tried many jobs and to date steadily built an unexciting career. Financial compensation for my work has always been lacking.

The continual repetitiveness of life, let me believe I was entitled to more and so you gave me more when I asked for money, on the agreement that I pay it back. I snatched it out of your hands with hast and spent it in the same manner. I was young but financially inept.

Somewhere along the way I realised if things carry on like they are I will have nothing. I still carried on shrugging ignorantly at the future.

Then I realised I had to stop.

Paying money back is a lot harder than spending it. I have learned this lesson, hard.

The times I never thought would arrive, are fast approaching, the end is near.

I have been calling you at intermittently, over the past few weeks, in partial excitement of a day that would be arriving. The end of my fixed term rate. Time to discuss, well not discuss as much as pick how much interest I don't really want to pay for a defined period of time.

Now, on day after the day I decided to continue for another five years with you has passed I find myself disappointed by the whole experience. I have been misled with promises that were made that have not come true. I reflect on our encounter.

I am annoyed and frustrated that your ambiguous language is confusing, you have become entirely faceless, and when asked to explain your actions, you are dismissive.

You don't directly blame me for anything, but you certainly don't point the finger to yourself.

When I do manage to corner you, you are arrogant enough pass all discussion off with sentences that involve the words “it is in our terms and conditions”. These words are a shield, that you hide behind.

I wanted to come and see you in person, but you don't do things like that these days, it is easier for me to be passed around on the phone, I was made to wait thirty minutes to speak to someone and when I did speak, I was cut off, I waited a few minutes to see if you would call back, but you didn't. We were discussing my home and the money I owe you, you could not even be bother to call back.

I called again, I have to start from the beginning and repeat myself, by the end of it all I am tired and upset, this was meant to be a positive event.

All these years of struggle, pain and money and still you have no consideration for what I have achieved and are not willing to help with future plans.

For the entire term of the mortgage to date, I have never missed a payment, you have never gone without, I have struggled. I have literally had to buy bacon and eggs on a credit card from the supermarket in order to stay alive.

You have made me reapply for my own mortgage to prove to you I was worthy. Your excuses were so called government enforced.

I am getting closer to owning the property I live in. The capital you lent me all those years ago will hopefully turn out to be an asset.

We have just under ten years of this relationship left to run, I will do everything I can to reduce that, I was hoping you would be supportive of this, you are, in a gritted teeth sort of way, but as soon as you can wheel out the “terms and conditions” to stop anything that may benefit my situation, you do, and you always will.

I could say I will leave you, but unfortunately, I tend to attract your type. The name would change, but the problems would still be there.

Now, more than ever, the words you say, print and splash on-line, stating that we can overcome this together, rings prominently with me. You say you want to help, but your actions are different.

Over the years you have taught me:

Never be in debt.

Always read the terms and conditions.

Get everything in writing.

It is important we finish this together so you can get paid.

Sorry it turned out like this, but you have not helped matters at all.

Regards