Protect customers more
I find it absolutely unacceptable that a bank would treat its customers in such a way (‘Bank sent me to jail for nothing, man claims’, Gulf News, August 27). Banks cannot treat their customers this way, whatever the issue may be because at the end of the day, we are their customers and we should be treated with respect. The police should also look into this case further, especially for such a small amount and without having enough evidence or knowing the whole truth as to who is actually at fault. If it turns out that the bank was actually at fault, then maybe the one accountable at the bank should be behind bars. If that was made part of the law, and it was enforced, all banks will think 10 times before lodging any police case against any of their customers.
From Mr Rizwan Kazi
UAE
Facebook comment
Look into calls
The banks record all phone calls ‘for training purposes’, so why wasn’t the call records be looked into before putting the man in jail?
From Mr A. Arti
UAE
Website comment
Don’t keep many credit cards
This has happened to me with a credit card as well. I was told that it was free for life and then the bank started putting charges on me for annual fees and late payment fees. On top of this, to make it worse, they started charging me for the credit shield for a credit card that was never even activated. I had to convince them in 2014 that I have never activated the card and that I do not even have the card with me. Only then were the charges reversed and the card cancelled from my name. Everything happened in 2014 and they reversed the charges. Again, in 2015, I got to know that an outstanding balance of Dh3000 was still on me for the same credit card, which was discussed and requested to be closed in 2014. I request all people to keep as few credit cards as they can and keep everything in writing from the bank while getting a new credit card.
From Mr Atul
UAE
Website comment
Targets are unethical
One knife in the kitchen is okay, but many knives are dangerous. So, take only one credit card with a small limit and always follow it. Bank employees have targets to complete so they are compelled to shoot. I think that the Central Bank should see into this matter and this target system should be abolished.
From Mr Anis Ahmad
UAE
Website comment
Scary banking stories
I hope that the authorities can take the necessary action so that these banks cannot come out one day and say there are pending payments when they have not issued any bank statements, emails or information to the consumer. Many banks can only cancel their cards through calls and we have no confirmation whether they have been cancelled or not. They say it will be cancelled and that’s it. So, now I am even worried after a few years that these banks will come and claim that there are annual payments left with interest.
From Mr Vijay
UAE
Website comment
Limit cards, avoid trouble
I suggest to get a letter of the number of dues from the bank while closing relationships like credit cards to avoid such situations. It will be also a good idea to cancel all unused and unwanted credit cards. Limit your relationship to avoid trouble. There is also now a credit bureau where your credit rating will be spoiled if you have such non-payment of bills.
From Mr Pankaj
UAE
Website comment
I couldn’t travel
I am a 65-year-old expatriate, and I also had a very bad experience with a bank a few years ago. I was caught at an airport and kept in police custody from 6am to 10pm without food and water. After an investigation, the police found that another man used my visa number for obtaining a credit card. For the bank’s mistake, I could not travel for a few months. This was very embarrassing and till now the bank has not given a clearance letter or an apology.
From Mr Hariharan
UAE
Website comment
Strict Central Bank guidelines
The Central Bank should introduce strict guidelines to banks about credit card related charges. Banks are having a lot of hidden charges and interest rates up to 50 per cent in a year. Some people are not aware of these hidden charges and end up in jail.
From Mr Jatin
UAE
Website comment
Lesser of two troubles
With regards to the missing owner of the jewellery chain that is experiencing financial troubles, sometimes it’s better to have a simple life in the countryside rather than having millions, but having the authorities and banks chasing you (‘Owner of a big jewellery chain in Gulf countries goes missing’, Gulf News, August 28).
From Mr Ronilo Ceniza
UAE
Facebook comment
Employees will suffer
This is a very serious problem! This means that many hardworking employees might lose their jobs.
From Mr Floyd Gomes
Miami, Florida
Facebook comment
Protecting interests
With the suggested no-fly zones, it seems that the Western world’s patience has finally run out and it is prepared to defend Syrians (‘Time for a no-fly zone in Syria is now’, Gulf News, August 29). Or should I say, they finally have a reason to intervene and potentially occupy Syria for their own good and self interest? Shame on them.
From Ms Aisha Salekh
Tacurong, Philippines
Facebook comment
Selective justice
In the power-centric world we live, there doesn’t really exist the idea of helping anybody if it doesn’t help them. So far, Syria is the only country without a privately owned central bank and I would be willing to guess this has something to do with the agenda.
When is the West going to get real on Israel’s atrocious acts on Palestinian civilians? Why is there so much selective justice in today’s world? Palestine’s case has had global awareness for years. Israel has never seen a meaningful condemnation from the said first world.
From Mr Hassan Ali
UAE
Facebook comment
Let’s make it happen!
The implementation of a solar power plant in India’s Kochi International Airport is the brainchild of the business tycoon, M. A. Yousuf Ali (‘Kerala airport now runs entirely on green energy’, Gulf News, August 27). Now, he is planning to pursue a similar project in the UAE. It is an ideal project for the UAE because there is abundant sunshine.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
Relief, at last, for Sharjah residents!
People always raise issues from their community with Gulf News - things that have been an eyesore or an issue that has been continuing for a long while (‘End of the road for used car dealers in Abu Shagara’, Gulf News, August 30). With utter joy and happiness last week, I saw that there is a big change going to happen in my locality in Abu Shagara, Sharjah! I have been living in Abu Shagara with my family for 14 years. This was exactly the news everyone here has been longing to see. The residents of Abu Shagara have a really tough time finding parking spaces as the hundreds of used car showrooms have occupied all the parking spaces and lots available for their uses.
My family and I settled here in Abu Shagara in 2001, and all these years I have been seeing my father putting consistent effort to find parking spaces whenever he returned from his office. We had been consistently filling up the complaint box as well as mailing the Sharjah Municipality to raise this issue. The owners of the showrooms also had been promising to move, but nothing happened. At last, the residents are breathing easy as some of them have gone and most of the showrooms are preparing to go. Now, there is a strong reason for Abu Shagara residents to celebrate. Thanks to all those who made this possible!
From Ms Ratiba Sultana Thaha
Sharjah
Water taps like fountains
I am happy to see that a device has been made to save water at mosques in the UAE (‘Saving water in UAE’s mosques’, Gulf News, August 29). Some of mosques’ water taps look like fountains of water falling down. It should be reduced and there should be a limit on water flow.
From Mr Mohammad Soyab
UAE
Facebook comment
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