Letters: February 10, 2010

Change your attitude
A future free of plastic bags seems difficult with the amount of plastic we accumulate from every visit to the supermarket (“UAE pushes for a future free of plastic bags”, Gulf News, February 2). I buy lots of vegetables and fruit and everything comes wrapped in thin plastic. When I need to use the contents, I have to tear the bag open. Then it goes into the waste bin and cannot be reused or recycled. I carry my own jute bag, but as I empty it there is a load of plastic lying in front of me. We have to look for practical alternatives and implement them soon. I have suggested to several supermarkets to start using wire baskets to weigh the fruit or vegetables. This could save at least 10 flimsy plastic bags per customer. But, my request has gone unheard. I have seen this practice being carried out comfortably in India. I wonder why we can’t apply it here.
From Ms Naina Nair
Sharjah

Shunning foul language
Youngsters these days find [the use of] foul language [as] cool and fun! They tend to abuse [language] as a form of enjoyment. Older children should be role models for the younger classes. Instead they act ignorant and use disgraceful language in buses, where children from the primary or kindergarten level tend to learn and use [such language] without knowing the meaning. So I request every youngster to please be sensible when using any form of abusive word.
From Ms Rishika Ghosh
Dubai

Creativity saves paper
My father was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and he always insisted we save paper, electricity and water. He used to write and calculate household expenditure on bus tickets. We used to do rough work, practice math and science on a slate made of stone. But now I feel [like a] misfit in the so-called modern society where everyone is using paper tissues so carelessly. We used to soak old letters and paper in water for a week and then crush it to make a paste, which was used to make beautiful baskets and flower vases. In those days we didn’t know of recycling, but indirectly, we were recycling.
Ms Ratan Raina
Abu Dhabi

When friends let you down
I learnt the biggest lesson of my life in 2009. My family suffered from swine flu and we were confined to our house. As the term [swine flu] itself is so frightening, I did not disclose our condition to anyone. But, I had to pay a price for that. People stopped talking to us and my friends literally boycotted me. I wrote about the incident in a letter to Gulf News, without blaming anyone. I was accused of placing blame. I have learnt a harsh lesson of not trusting anyone, except the Almighty. If you cannot tolerate somebody’s happiness, at least try not to hurt them.
From Ms Sophy Aqeel
Sharjah

Make new service easy to use
I am familiar with the service where one can pay the parking fees through a text message in Dubai. It [has] great potential but [is] not coming to its complete use. Most people are not familiar with this service and it has to be made simpler. All the streets with paid parking have yellow signboards that mention the area code. On the same board, there is enough space to mention how motorists [can] pay the fee through [a] text message. The procedure, along with the number to send the message, should be mentioned. It will be easy for the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to print stickers and place them on the signboards. The same information could also be provided on the parking ticket, along with other services offered by [the] RTA.
From Mr Ali Asgar Patrawala
UAE

No proof required
We don’t need a readership survey to re-establish the fact that Gulf News is number one (“Gulf News powers ahead of competition”, Gulf News, February 4). The readership figures might matter to the advertisers but the content is more important to regular readers. Gulf News is a well rounded newspaper that covers stories from around the world and packages the same in a reader-friendly manner.
The survey has just reinforced the obvious truth. I hope Gulf News continues the wonderful initiatives that were started last year — the Community Report, Your Turn and the Wipe out Waste (WoW) campaign. The habit of reading is still strong and no matter what the critics say, the habit is not going to die soon.
From Mr C. Sunil Roy
Dubai

Worthy green crusade
Congratulations to Abdul Mugeeth for setting a green example for all (“Abdul Mugeeth, 8, recycles newspapers to make bags”, Gulf News, February 5). Such simple steps by children [have] an everlasting impact on everybody. It is very simple to make these handy paper bags.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

Recycling the way to go
Hats off to this boy! I was very happy to read about Abdul Mugeeth as I [also] try to recycle every thing that I come across in my household and put them in the recycle bin near my house. This idea is really very good! Keep up the good work.
From Ms Sammira Mohi Al Deen
UAE
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Readers Complaint

Overdraft denied
I have had an account with HSBC for quite some time. I have also had an investment account with them in foreign currency since 2008.
The investment allowed me to take an overdraft against the deposit. Accordingly I applied for it, which was approved by HSBC after charging a fee of Dh750.
The interest was to be calculated based on the Emirates inter-bank offered rate (Eibor) prevalent at that time. As the Eibor was quite high during 2008, I did not avail of the overdraft. But in November, 2009, since the Eibor was on the lower side, I decided to avail the same.
To my surprise, I got a letter from the bank dated September 29 stating that the overdraft facility was being withdrawn immediately. This gave me a rude shock as I still maintain the investment with the bank and they have a guarantee for any money lent.
I could understand if the overdraft was provided without any collateral. I wrote several letters to the bank regarding this issue and also left messages on their answering machine. The bank representative called me a couple of times and asked details about when I paid the amount for establishing the overdraft.
I asked them to check their records as they are the ones who collect the fee from customers. But, even after such a long time, they have not gotten back to me on this matter. I explained to the bank that as a loyal customer who has no loans or any other commitments, the overdraft should not be withdrawn. But it seems they are not responding to any mails.
From Mr B. Thomas
Dubai

Mr Ahmad Othman, manager of corporate communications, HSBC, responds:
We have reviewed the issues raised and would like to advise you the following:
When Mr Thomas applied for the Assetlink facility, he agreed to the Assetlink terms and conditions.
Paragraph two of these conditions states: “The bank shall make available an overdraft facility [the ‘overdraft’] from the date of the bank’s acceptance of this application until such time as the bank shall demand payment. Notwithstanding anything in these terms and conditions the bank reserves the right to terminate the facility at any time. The bank further reserves the right to review the facility on any date as it may notify the customer of from time to time.”
It is clear from this clause that we were entitled to terminate the facility. The facility was available to him from November 3, 2008 to September 29, 2009. It was Mr Thomas’s decision not to use the facility during this period. As we value his relationship with us, we have discussed the matter with Mr Thomas and agreed on a solution with which he was satisfied.

Mr Thomas responds
Thanks a lot for your [Gulf News] help. The bank has agreed to refund the amount.

False promises
I had given my BlackBerry handset to etisalat’s collection point in Dubai Festival City on December 28, 2009. Several weeks later, I still have no clue about my handset. I was told it normally takes three to four working days and I was assured that I would be able to have it back the following week.
My friends did recommend that I go in for a new handset, given that my handset is under etisalat warranty and now I realise that they were right. I have spoken to different people at etisalat’s call centre. They claim they have sent mails across, asked their management to intervene and urged managers to call me, but till date I have not received a single mail or call. All I got was false promises. During my last call, I was assured by one of the supervisors that I will have my handset back by January 11, but they let me down once again. I am surprised that they have not flagged my complaint number despite so many calls and their management is yet to intervene and act!
Needless to say, etisalat BlackBerry customer service is a complete failure and I would go to any length in the future to avoid my interaction with etisalat. I am buying a new handset and my criterion is to buy an equipment with any warranty but etisalat’s.
From Mr Naveed Syed
Dubai

The management of etisalat responds:
Kindly be informed that Mr Naveed Syed’s complaint has been solved and his BlackBerry handset has been replaced with a new one.

Editor’s note: If you have any consumer complaints, send them to us at readers@gulfnews.com