Cheating the system?
It is easy to criticise (‘Extra fee on credit card purchases ‘illegal’ in UAE,’ Gulf News, June 3). But we all should be made to understand why it is legal for some places to charge on credit card payments and why it is illegal for others. If gold retailers have a cost to cover for accepting credit card payments, then they are bound to pass it on to someone in some form. As others have rightly commented, they are now giving different prices for cash and card payments. This difference is not in the list price but in the negotiated price. Technically, you can say a gold item weighing 10 grams is priced at Dh1800 irrespective of cash or card payment. But when you negotiate, you might get it for Dh1710 for a cash payment and something like Dh1740 for a card payment. One can say this is cheating the system depending on whether the retailer’s cost is covered in another way.
From Mr A. M. Khan
Abu Dhabi
Playing with the law
Now they are not charging the credit card commission, instead they increase the making charges by one to three dirhams if you pay by credit card. They are playing with the law in this way. I purchased a gold set and made my payment partly through cash and partly through credit card and the jeweller made two separate bills with a different per unit price for the same item.
From Mr Omar
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Cash economy
Your article today on card fees is timely. As a visitor to Dubai, I am shocked at how few outlets take cards and those that do often charge three per cent commission.
Dubai is a cash economy and this is a surprise coming from Africa. We spent Dh100,000 but struggled to get cash. Even the shipping company only accepted cash. I urge you to extend the law to cover all retail outlets and encourage merchants to do more for foreign buyers and tourists.
From Mr David
UAE
Full name withheld by request
Hard to complain
I suggest Gulf News look into this and expose the cheating. Jewellery shops ask for 1.5 per cent credit card fee and include it in the bill as a part of the added service charge, so that you cannot complain.
From Mr Ahmad
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
True in all gold shops
Last week I purchased gold jewellery from a jeweller in the gold souk in Dubai and he charged me an extra two per cent of the total bill amount. That day, I visited almost all gold shops checking the rates and designs and all the gold shops were asking extra for credit card purchases. They declined to do business when we argued about the rule not to charge on credit cards.
From Mr Lal
Ras Al Khaimah
Full name withheld by request
No strict measures
The companies would never dare charge this fee of their customers, if there was strict implementation. That’s why we can see this fee being taken regularly in jewellery shops and travel agencies.
From Mr Gurpreet Singh
Dubai
Can’t win
Two weeks ago, I bought a mobile phone at a store in Deira Dh1550. I refused to pay the additional fees for a credit card payment. The storekeeper and I got into an argument because I knew about this rule and the retailer was trying to cover it up with excuses that the profit margin is very low in comparison to other mobile retailers. Eventually, they charged two per cent transaction fee, and I paid it.
From Mr Saffiullah
Dubai
Website comment
Untrue statement
You have quoted Mr. Shamlal Ahmad, MD of Malabar Gold & Diamonds who said that, “There is a clear directive from the Central Bank of UAE not to levy any additional fee to credit/debit card-holders… We strictly adhere to these guidelines laid down.” However, I would like to inform Mr. Shamlal that the salesman at his outlets are not adhering to the rules laid down by the UAE Central Bank. I bought some gold during the month of April and May from Malabar Gold outlet inside Karama Centre and Lulu Hypermarket Ghusais respectively. On both the occasions, prior to printing the invoice, I was asked if I will be paying by cash or by credit card and the invoice amount was more when I opted for paying by credit card.
From Mr Mathews K. B.
Dubai
Website comment
Travel agencies, too
Travel agencies charge credit card fees, too. They tend to charge three per cent of the total amount of the tickets.
From Mr Mohammad
Sharjah
Website comment
Seeking law enforcement
Yesterday, I bought some gold and they deducted two per cent from my credit card. They said if you pay by card we will charge you. Where is the law? It is ridiculous.
From Mr M.
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Mysterious discount
Leading jewellery shops are negating this issue smartly. When you buy jewellery, they will ask if you will pay by cash or card. When you say cash, you will get a reduced price and when you say card, your guess is as good as mine! They’re making charges automatically included so that when you pay by cash, you will get a discount!
From Mr Selvan
Dubai
Website comment
In Pakistan...
People who are living in Karachi, Pakistan will face a lot of difficulty because of Altaf Hussain, the exiled leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party in Karachi, being arrested and the resultant lock down (‘Karachi in lockdown after Altaf Hussain arrest in London,’ Gulf News, June 3). The people of Pakistan just need to bear with it for a while because they have already had to bear the burden for quite a long time. Let him be removed and our Karachi will be better.
From Mr Rahil Ahmad
UAE
Conspiracy theory
There are always things beneath the surface. Yes, he is a criminal and allegedly involved in murder and torture. It is rumoured that he was providing information about Al Qaida to British intelligence. I think it might be one of the demands of Al Qaida to take action against him since they are currently in negotiations with the US, UK and Pakistan intelligence.
From Mr Abed Chuck Todd
UAE
Facebook comment
Riots make no sense
It doesn’t make any sense to burn buses and destroy public property in Karachi while Altaf Hussain was arrested by London police. The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party is not good for Pakistan.
From Mr Noor Qadeem Khan
Abu Dhabi
City at a standstill
All Karachi is closed due to an unknown fear. The streets are empty, markets are closed and violence is at its peak with more than 15 vehicles burnt. Until now, people seem to have purchased necessary items for a week like vegetables and milk because of the heavy traffic witnessed on the roads, with people returning home from their offices.
From Mr Imran Riaz
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Facebook comment
Earlier start
I feel that the break should start by 11.30am or at least by 12pm when the sun is directly shining overhead (‘Midday break for outdoor workers in UAE to begin on June 15,’ Gulf News, June 3). During this time, the poor workers will be more exhausted from the heat.
From Mr Roy
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
A good rule
This is a very kind rule in favour of the labourers, but I think the midday break needs to be considered for earlier. Maybe from June 1 instead of June 15 with the hot weather we’ve been getting!
From Mr Shafiq U. Rehman
Dubai
Facebook comment
Very important
A midday break is very important for those who are working outside - especially for the construction workers doing intense physical labour.
From Ms Nancy Serrao
Dubai
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