When you first show up in my sights I open a bank account. The details look something like this
Bank of Me
Account Holder : A Victim
Sort Code : 666 666
Account Number : 0000 1455
You are now aware that I have opened such an account but everyone (and I mean everyone) I interact with has one. My friends, my family, my colleagues and most of all those that I enter into an intimate relationship with. This bank is well established and on secure foundations. In the beginning, when we begin our dance together, as you know, I will shower you with love, praise and affection. The love bombing commences and the extravaganza of giving and delight seems endless as the golden period begins. The gifts, the holidays, the parties and the special dates. The incessant and over-the-top communications all dazzle you and you lap it all up. Whilst this is happening you are creating a monumental overdraft at the Bank of Me. You are given no notification of this, you are not told about your limit (there is not one incidentally) nor are you advised of the punishing, excruciating interest rate. Receive that gift of some jewellery – kerching, that’s another hefty withdrawal. Accept the invitation to go on a long weekend break with me somewhere hot – ouch, that’s going to take some paying back. Withdrawal after withdrawal is made from your account and it seems like this can go on forever, but everyone pays in the end.
When I grow tired of you it is time for the account to be put on hold. You have taken far too much and this is when you start to pay. This bank will now only accept deposits and those must be deposits of your emotions. The problem you have is that this bank has massive demands because in order to lend to the new customer (victim) that has just been acquired we need you to make those deposits in a bid to balance the books. Not only that but the extortionate interest rate means that you can never pay back what has been taken out. Yes you will make some inroads into the amounts you have borrowed but guess what? When we see that you have made some progress we will allow you a short golden period again so your overdraft increases once more. You remain forever indebted to us, unable to escape this cycle of debt.
Like the spendaholic who is given an extension to his or her overdraft limit you immediately use it as you fill up with the brief foray back into the golden period. It will not last. A block is soon put in place again on your spending and we force you to repay us with anger, tears, frustration and pain. Good morning madam, is that a bag of misery you would like to deposit? Good, go right ahead. Hello sir, I see you have some agony to deposit with us today, thank you, be sure to being some more soon. You will be surprised just how flexible this bank is accepting a whole host of currencies by way of deposit – despair, rage, sadness, loss of sanity, loss of self-esteem, hopelessness, dejection, trauma and so much more.
Our ledgers are never prone to error. We detail and recall every withdrawal that you have made, all of it carefully committed to the bank’s memory so that the outrageous demands for repayment can be made over and over.
There is no financial regulator that can close this bank and it remains a popular bank with many customers on its books. Just keep in mind that you will never stop paying for its services.