Blocked account
I am an Emirati who’s been with First Gulf Bank (FGB) since 2006 and have a loan with FGB with monthly deductions of around Dh12,000.
Recently, I deposited a cheque with an amount of Dh130,000 and the bank took around Dh27,000 as late payment. They have agreed to give me 25 per cent of the cheque amount and informed me that they will hold the rest of the amount until I start my new job.
I have informed the FGB Musafah Branch (Abu Dhabi) that I will be going on vacation, out of the country, and will be back after one month. However, when I was out of country and my brother deposited Dh2,000 to my account so I could have an allowance while abroad, my FGB account was suddenly blocked. My brother tried to resolve the issue since I was out of the country, but the management refused to give the money back, because the account owner was not present.
I tried to make a lot of international calls to the bank and explained that the person in the UAE was my brother and I was out of town, but they still refused to return the amount he deposited. I was broke, all my money had been used and I had nothing left. FGB representatives never called me and they are still holding back my cheque.
When I returned, I spoke with a representative at FGB’s Musafah branch, but he refused to resolve this matter amicably. They will simply not return the amount my brother has deposited.
I need to ask if this issue can be resolved. I was devastated and left without money when I was out of the country and needed it the most, which is not acceptable at all.
From Mr Eisa Abdulla Al Kaabi
Al Ain
The management of FGB responds:
FGB is grateful for all customer feedback to which we give careful consideration as we strive to consistently deliver the highest standards of service. FGB has been in contact with Mr Al Kaabi and the matter has been resolved.
Mr Al Kaabi responds:
I did not received any call or email or any letter from FGB regarding my complaint. Kindly ask FGB who is the person contacted they contacted, or where the copy of the letter is, with my signature or proof that this matter has been resolved. How have they solve it without consulting me or providing any explanation from their side?
The management of FGB responds:
FGB is grateful for all customer feedback to which we give careful consideration as we strive to consistently deliver the highest standards of service. FGB has been in contact with Mr Al Kaabi, and the matter has been resolved.
Mr Al Kaabi responds:
Thank you for your support. However, there was no amicable resolution on this issue with FGB. They have told me that if I want my Dh2,000 back, they will take all my cheques, the whole amount for the loan. This situation is unacceptable from my part. Thank you, Gulf News.
(Process initiation: December 5, 2014. Response from organisation: December 8. Reader response: January 13, 2015.)
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