How Standard Bank has once again left me in financial danger and firmly back in the "no-hope" tunnel.

After many months of no income - I finally received a refund that would allow me to meet my rent, feed my children and allow me to begin paying off my debt. For the first time in over 3 years I actually slept peacefully and felt positive that I could overcome this burden and begin to climb out of that place that we all go when there is no light at the end of the 'lack-of-funds' tunnel.

Or so I thought.

Without any communication - despite having a "Private Banker" - Standard Bank debited my account with over R36000 - leaving me once again financially unable to meet my commitments as a single parent family.

I have never disputed the sum I owe Standard Bank - and had been in communication with all parties around resolving this through a balanced payment plan that would allow me to survive and Standard Bank to access the money owed to them, while taking into consideration my freelance work status and my need to meet my family's living expenses. A balanced, ethical, integrated approach. Given my long history with Standard Bank - and their 'ethics' - I am not really sure why I believed this would happen. Idealism perhaps - and a conviction that people - clients - customers - count.

Having just read Standard Bank Groups 2016 financial analysis report I cannot imagine that my sum - so necessary to my survival - is as necessary to Standard Bank. Or certainly no so necessary that they need to deduct the full sum immediately and without so much as an email

I understand that this action on Standard Bank's side is 'legal' - the question is if it is 'moral'. I leave that up to Standard Bank to answer - in between celebrating their 2016 financial success - lets see if they do.