We have all been impacted in some way or other by Covid-19. Unfortunately, I was in India on holiday in March when all flights were halted because of the pandemic and was unable to fly back to the UAE until July 12.
Because I was taking a holiday less than 12 months after starting at my company, our HR department has a policy that means my salary was on hold until I returned to work. I was only meant to be away for two weeks.
I wrote to my bank to alert them about my situation and to request a payment deferment on my loan, but they did not respond. However, in July, the bank deposited my loan instalment cheque and it bounced.
When I was able to return to the UAE, my company released my salary and I made all outstanding payments to the bank on August 3. I was assured that everything was OK and the bank had cancelled my bounced cheque case.
But in September, I received a message from the police to present myself over the bounced cheque. I explained the situation to them and they suggested that I talk to the bank again to resolve the issue, otherwise I would have to pay the full outstanding amount owed on the loan, as well as the money I’d already paid in August to catch up on my monthly instalments.
I contacted the bank’s collections team and requested that they withdraw my case as my salary was being credited to my account. On September 13, I deposited my new cheques and was again assured by the bank that all legal action had been cancelled.
I also informed them that I had to travel on emergency medical leave for five days and didn’t want any problems when leaving the UAE. But I was detained by airport immigration overnight because the bank failed to update its system and withdraw the case against me.
To be released, I ended up having to pay Dh7,000 for the bounced cheque case that the bank told me it had cancelled. I have lost all the money that was supposed to pay for surgery and I had to go through the embarrassment and trauma of being detained at the airport even though I’d caught up on my payments and the loan deductions from my account were back to normal.
The bank's collections team is ignoring my calls and emails regarding the matter. It is not my fault that they haven't updated their system and I want them to compensate me for the money I've lost and to immediately cancel the travel block they have placed in my name. Can you advise me on how to do this? SM, Dubai
Debt panellist 1: Philip King, head of retail banking at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
It is very unfortunate that you have had to endure these difficulties during this challenging period. You have followed the correct steps by promptly communicating with your bank about the delayed travel back to the UAE and the freeze on your salary, as well as asking for a payment deferment.
In addition, you have demonstrated a clear sense of accountability for your finances by ensuring that you have made all your outstanding payments.
Throughout the Covid-19 period and in light of the exceptional circumstances that have affected many people’s finances, banks have been encouraged to practise leniency with their customers.
That said, your bank has not demonstrated adequate support or empathy to your situation. We urge you to proactively communicate your case again and escalate the matter to higher management if necessary. Provide them with written proof of their agreement to waiver the bounced cheque case and reiterate that even though you have suffered many unanticipated mishaps due to the pandemic, you still managed to meet your repayments.
In addition, highlight the extent of the emotional and financial inconveniences the travel ban has caused you, given you have a surgery to pay for.
If your bank remains unresponsive to your requests, we recommend that you approach the Consumer Protection Department of the Central Bank of the UAE, which works to protect consumers from unfair banking practices. When communicating with the Central Bank, ensure that you provide proof of your multiple disregarded correspondences with the bank, their agreement to waive the bounced cheque case, and all related paperwork. Your case will then be reviewed for misconduct of any breach of the law and hopefully you should receive a fair outcome.
Debt panellist 2: Ambareen Musa, founder and chief executive of Souqalmal.com
Since you've already been going back and forth with the lender, which still hasn't updated your repayment records, it is best to take the formal route of complaint resolution. You can lodge a complaint with the Central Bank, informing the regulator of the inconvenience and financial loss you have faced due to the bank's failure to withdraw the police case and subsequent travel ban placed against you.
If you don't make any headway with this complaint mechanism, you could also seek legal guidance to help you approach the lender and have your grievances acknowledged. Make sure you retain proof of all communication with the bank and its collection department.
You can also make a complaint with the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Department if you're unable to find a solution with your bank, or your matter has been pending with the bank for more than 15 working days
If hiring legal help is beyond your means during these trying times, you could also seek pro-bono legal advice. Both Dubai Courts and the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department offer free legal consultation services to individuals who cannot afford judicial fees. Alternatively, you can also reach out to the Consulate General of India in Dubai to seek legal advice on how best to tackle your current deadlock with the bank.
Ultimately, this whole issue seems to have been a result of mishandled communication and operational lags at the bank in question. If you have written proof of the bank assuring you that the bounced cheque complaint had been withdrawn and any subsequent legal action had been dismissed, you can use this to support your case.
And a word of caution for the future: Never rely on verbal assurances from bank representatives or collection agents. You should always obtain every agreement between you and the bank in black and white.
Stuart Ritchie, chartered financial planner at AES International
You need to register a formal complaint with your bank if you wish to pursue compensation. To do so, however, they will require all the information regarding your case. Gather all the correspondence you have had with the bank about the loan, as well as repayment statements to show the amounts and dates you made these.
You may find that visiting your bank branch will give you the opportunity to explain to a member of staff. They may be able to help you speak to the correct person, rather than you trying to connect by telephone.
You can also make a complaint with the Central Bank's Consumer Protection Department if you’re unable to find a solution with your bank, or your matter has been pending with the bank for more than 15 working days. You can file your complaint via the Central Bank's website.
The Central Bank is currently developing the Financial Consumer Protection Regulatory Framework, which establishes set time frames in the processing of complaints that banks must comply with, as well as requiring them to provide clear reasons, in writing, as to their decision on the complaint matter.
The Debt Panel is a weekly column to help readers tackle their debts more effectively. If you have a question for the panel, write to pf@thenational.ae
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SUZUME
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