False promises

My issue is with regards to my experience of using a credit card from First Gulf Bank (FGB). It started when a sales officer from FGB offered me a free-for-life credit card, which was later proven to be false. When I came to know there was a Dh500 renewal fee, I complained to the bank and requested them to cancel my card, as it was given to me with false information.

First, they closed my request with the statement that the customer could not be reached. When I requested for cancellation a second time, I got a call from FGB, and they asked me to avail of some facilities, such as easy cash or balance transfer facility, so that the representative could put through a request to make my card free-for-life. I told him that I didn’t need any of these facilities, as I was not interested. He said, in that case, I would end up paying Dh500 as annual fee charges.

After a few days, I got a call from an FGB staff member, asking me whether I would like to go ahead with an easy cash plan. As I already had a bad experience, initially, I was very reluctant, but when the representative called me several times, I reconsidered. On my inquiring whether there were any other charges, she assured me that I would not be charged anything extra besides the 0.79 per cent interest if I opted for quick cash. I believed her statements and took on the quick cash facility, which I once again found partially false. My credit card fee was waived but, when I saw the statement, I was surprised to observe charges for accident insurance and credit shield services, which I never opted for, and is now amounting to Dh559. Despite the complaints I made, I was told that credit shield and accident insurance services are default facilities on my credit card, decided by the bank management, and that I should have requested to cancel these services if I didn’t need them. They said now, I would have to pay this amount.

I would like to convey this to FGB’s management so they can reconsider practices being followed by their salespersons and the policy of enabling unwanted charged services without the consent of the cardholder.

I hope Gulf News will consider my complaint, which will not only help other readers but also help the bank in improving their services.

From Mr Majid Sikander Ali

Abu Dhabi

 

The management of First Gulf Bank 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. The bank has been in contact with Mr Ali, and the matter has been resolved.

 

(Process initiation: July 16. Response from organisation: July 22.)

 

Editor’s note: Do you have similar issues that you would like to raise with us? You can write to us at readers@gulfnews.com.