How to Settle Overdue Personal Loans or Credit Card Bills in Abu Dhabi?
My quest for proper information about unpaid personal loans or overdue credit card bills started in late 2007. My best friend, who got pregnant two months after she received her personal loan, struggled to find solutions and options to settle her situation.
Unwed pregnancy is a BIG no, no in this country. I really don’t have the grasp of the legal consequences and applicable laws here for unwed pregnancy but it has been known that it can lead you to jail or deportation. Neither of it is favorable, right?
Anyway, my best friend needed to go back home on or before the 7th month of her pregnancy. If she would fly later than that, she would face a challenge in boarding the plane. There might be possibility for rejection which would lead to deeper trouble. To be safe, she had to fly on or before the 7th month of her pregnancy.
The challenge now was her loan. Because her status was single, she was compelled to resign rather than to face the legal consequence of her unwed pregnancy. Once the employee who has bank loan resigns, the employer will automatically inform the bank about it. Your final settlement will also be automatically deposited to your account.
Fearing this scenario, she would likely go home with nothing in hand, not a penny from her final settlement.
In my hope to bring enlightenment to others who may be undergoing the same situation, I planned to write an article about it. However, before I could pitch this brilliant idea to any publication, I must need some concrete information from the reliable sources.
So, I started interviewing few people who worked in the banks. At the back of my mind, there must be a solution for these issues but what are these options. I needed to dig this information. (Unfortunately, two weeks after I pitched the idea in one of the publications, the same idea was featured, front page in a weekend issue.)
Anyway, earlier this month another two friends of mine were in similar quagmire. My friend X took a personal loan in 2007. When he wanted to settle the balance last year, he could not get in touch with the financing company which was affiliated to a local bank. So friend X approached the bank to help him proceed to settling his loan balance.
Unfortunately, the local bank rejected him and advised that they could not help him because that loan was taken from the financing company.
Then ten months after, my friend X received a call from the legal office harassing him for non-payment and urged for full payment within one week. Failure to comply within the deadline means a legal case will be filed against him. Of course, the small amount escalated because of the other charges. The sad part was the legal office was very, very rude on the phone and the harassment stirred major emotional stress on my friend’s part.
Then he came to know also from the legal office that the financing company was closed already. The same reason he was unable to contact the financing company.
Then days after the problem of friend X was settled, I came to know also the same problem of friend Y. Hers was slightly different. She is dealing with another bank. Due to recession, she lost her job so she started to fail paying regularly her monthly dues. Now she starts receiving harassment calls from the legal office too.
I witnessed it with my friend X. This harassment is really no joke and it really creates havoc in your once peaceful life. It is emotionally distressing and draining.
More so, you cannot afford to travel because of fear that the police may pick you up anytime in the airport and lock you up in jail. You will not know at all if these legal offices are simply bluffing or not so you cannot confirm if indeed the case against you is already filed.
The least thing you want to happen is to be picked up by police in the airport.
So, how can you settle overdue personal loans or unpaid credit card bills? Let’s dissect and tackle each case.
Best Friend’s Case. Because she needed to clear her personal loan before she could travel back home and she didn’t have the money to settle the loan she hardly started to pay, her option was to look for a guarantor.
Then she and the guarantor settled her case in the recovery department of the bank. There were required documents too for the guarantor like salary certificate, checks, among others. It is recommended to contact the concerned bank for complete list of requirements.
My Friend X’s Case. His case too was settled in the recovery department. It was quite tricky because he needed to approach the recovery department office where the loan was taken. In his case, it was Dubai. After consulting his options for settlement, he was given a contact person in Abu Dhabi.
While going back and forth to the local bank, the legal office continued calling and harassing him. When he informed the legal office that he would settle it directly in the bank, the legal office insisted to settle it with them. We honestly felt a hue of skepticism as why the legal office continued to urge for payment and to threat for possibility of imprisonment despite the initial contact was made already with the local bank.
Anyhow, the recovery department offered two options.
First Option – Full Payment. The amount escalated already because of the late payment fees, bounced check charges, and who knows what other charges were incurred.
Then the recovery department offered a discount for the total amount if settled on one-time full payment. The banker told us that he would arrange to waive the bounced check charges.
Second Option – Partial Payment. The 50% of the amount has to be settled in cash. And then the remaining balance can be paid on monthly basis for the duration of six months to one year. However, for this option the bank needs a guarantor, and checks issued from the guarantor.
Friend X settled it in full payment. So the bank waived the charges for the bounced checks. After that, the bank issued a clearance certificate stating that he was cleared from his personal loan.
Friend Y’s Case. After she came to know about the solution offered by the bank for Friend X, she decided to go to the recovery department. She had been going back and forth to her local back previously but to no avail. The situation had been dragged but there was no definite solution being offered.
Well, I wish friend Y will settle her problem soon. Good news is she got a new job recently! Hopefully things for her will be smooth again, away from emotional stress and harassment calls.
Lessons Learned. These situations imply us to be frugal and to be smart on our finances especially nowadays that economic situation is not really good.
More so, it is important to talk to the right person in the bank if you face such kind of predicament. They will give you the right information and sometimes if you are lucky to meet a Good Samaritan, he will guide you through and give you financial advice as on how to settle it best.
But I think the best lesson is not to succumb to any luring instant chunk of cash through personal loans or to cave in for the gratification of your personal wants.
If you are in that quagmire already, it is not yet too late. There is still hope. What matter most is learning the lesson – to be prudent in our finances.
This is Venkat from India, working in xxxxx, I have credit card account with Barclay bank, my card number xxxxxx, I took AED 12,392+6700, (which is including interest and late payment fine) Total AED 19,092 (Cash+ purchase) from Barclay card, I got the transfer to Qatar from my company, for that I plan to make settlement from bank for my credit card, I went to the bank and ask for settlement they given this (AED 19,092) amount to pay, the same amount has been agreed by both party on 05th May 2009, bank provide a option for payment can be make maximum in 6 month instalment, monthly instalment AED 3,182.00 (EMI), I provide 1cash through UAE Exchange+ 5 mashreq bank cheque (# 51,52, 53, 54 & 55) on the same day, bank agreed and they have receive my cash, cheque and they have no objection also, I return my card with a bank settlement form to the bank on same day, upon bank agree to provide settlement letter within 3 working days, after that I went to Qatar on 7th May 2009 for my business, then after 2 month I receive my bank statement from Dubai office after my request, I found still I have AED 20,995.00 outstanding payment and I receive Demand notice from Bank, which was no one can’t accept, in further I make several calls and message to the customer care and collection department, there was no proper response/reply from the bank, after review and inquiry from mashreq bank account statement, I found my 2 cheques (# 51 & 55) was return due to my signature problem out of 5nos cheque, there was no notification from the Barclay bank, I stop my making payment due to double interest and late payment fine, I sign all the cheque on the same date and time, but I don’t know why my first & last cheque only having signature problem, remaining 3 nos cheque has been approved by the bank, in the mean time bank send some local person (Mr. Murali from India) to my home in karaikudi, tamilnadu, India and they give warning to my father, there was no proper coordination or reply/response from the bank, for that myself and my family mentally disappointed and I can’t work and sleep well, I am willing to make settlement from the bank, but bank want to make more business with me, I belief a God and I don’t want to eat any others money, that’s why I am asking help from any buddy to get settlement from the bank, I am ready to pay and I apologize for return cheque, I can pay that return cheque amount at any time(AED 3182+3182), I don’t want to blame anyone, just I want to make settle from the Barclay bank, kindly consider my request and do the needful.
Dude, i suggest you chuck your middle east job and first get back to INDIA. Once you are out of GCC no one can touch you. As per Indian laws non indian based banks cannot threaten or arrest you for loans taken abroad. Dont pay them a pie, they themselves will call and then tell them you want to go for a settlement and tell you just have 50% of the total amount outstanding and they will agree for a settlement , if not for atleast 70% of outstanding. Once u get a clearance certificate , then you can travel anywhere in the world.
Hi. This is a very good article. I have the same case with my sister who is already out of the country, but may come back when a good offer comes. I had been able to save her trouble by making minimum payments on her cards with about 2-3 months unpaid balances. But I can’t continue without her, and without the bank stopping their ridiculous charges.
If you know how to contact recovery departments of HSBC, Dubai First and RBS, I would really appreciate your help.
Thanks
@ Anna & Venkat: Thank you for reading this blog. I am really glad that somehow this particular post serves its purpose. Being trap in this kind of situation is really stressful as what I have seen with my friends.
I hope you receive my PM.
I am in the same situation, how to pay my credit cards been outside of UEA, I have received a lot of mails from different Money collector.
But Can I trust?, which are the certified money collector for HSBC?
See i have settled one of my friend who was having Barclays bank Credit Card with Limit of Dhs: 68500.00 and his out standing amount was almost 71800.00 Dhs.. he left Dubai due to his business lose .. he took almost 65000.00 and paid 3500 dhs each month for 4,5 months then he cant pay more he left… and he asked my help to settle those amount ! coz i used to get call from bank asking about my friend coz he have given my number as reference person so one day i asked the banker how much u can make a settlement for this much (71800.00) so he asked me to pay 40,000.00 i said no i can’t then he keep on calling me.. last i agreed to pay 16800.00 full n final settlement and withdrawing his police case as well .. i think this my help u guys……….
Hi Cyra, can you please email me your contact at HSBC for an overdue personal loan and credit card.
Thanks.
@ Rose Ann: I am sorry but I do not have it anymore. I suggest to visit their collection department.
Hi CyraMiles do you have the number for the recovery department of HSBC and would you by chance know anybody there that I can speak too..I want to discuss about credit card settlement as I am unable to make the monthly payments and would like to settle my credit card once and for all. Thanks, hope to hear from you soon
Me also have diofferent problem, can i get help from any solvent people to reduce my bulk loan amount, which i am unable tpay in every month and to meet the minimum payment i am borrowing from the persons with a very high interest (120% per month). Pla help me
Sorry to hear your predicament Abdul. The only advice I can give to you is to pay a visit to your bank’s recovery department because they can offer you payment options.
Barclays bank Dubai Recovery Office No:
For Loan: +97144293772 (04 4293772)
Credit Card : +9714295733( 04 4295733)
Don’t pay what the say.. Bargain as much as u can.. For Credit Card u must pay 20% of total amount. For loan they may reduce up to 40, 50 %…
Hi Cyra,
Very informative article. My friends and I have got the same predicament since we were included in redundancy last year. I would appreciate if you could please give us the recovery department number for Dubai First and ADCB just in case you have them.
Thanks,
Kim
@ Kim: Sorry to hear about the redundancy. Hope you are doing well now. I don’t know the recovery department of these 2 banks. Just call the bank and ask for it. For sure they will tell you.
Hi! I’m glad that i bumped into your site. I really need some advise on my financial burden. I have already made some settlement plans with other banks (which hopefully will finish soon) but am having trouble with HSBC. I have a settlement with them before but have troubled paying them and now they say it is cancelled. But I am still asking me to give another chance but to no avail. I am paying them monthly AED1000 but my interest is going up at AED2000 that is why i ask them for a new settlement plan. Do you know anyone from HSBC to approach and help me settle with them again? Thank You in advance and appreciate the help I can get.
@ Jon: Sorry to hear about your predicament. Hope you receive my PM.
Hi Ms. Cyra,
Do you have any contact details of munna and kim? Pls. if you have can you send it to me at debbienow10@yahoo.com. I need their advise.
Thank you.
God Bless!
I am in the same situation, how to pay my credit cards been outside of UEA, I have received a lot of mails from different Money collector.
But Can I trust?, which are the certified money collector for HSBC?
Do you know anyone from HSBC to approach and help me settle with them? Thank You in advance and appreciate the help I can get.
Hi jon. Hows your HSBC problem? have you settled it?
Those who having cards from HSBC, RBS, SCB, RAK dont pay. Sure they dont do anything. If u have card from Masheq take care they are very dangerous and sure they claim 36000 for 6000 unpaid credit. FGB and Dubai First also dangerous too.
CITI Bank is cheaters. Try to cheat them too never pay them back.
If the bank files case in Dubai, dont worry if the cheque amount is less than 25,000 u get a fine for 2000 dhs and u can clear entire amount with that 2000. But if it goes more than that and upto 50000 then u may get a jail term of 23 days. But if it is more than 50,000 may get a jail term upto 46 days.
I am advicing from my own experience.
Dont worry and be happy not to pay
Hi.
I am terrified with RBS harassment. I couldn’t help but cry every time they call me (everyday) i have only small amount of outstanding balance. but in 2 consecutive months i am paying below minimum like short of 100plus. but every pay day i always pay for my rbs credit cards. now they are insisting me to pay the 300 dirhams 300 dirhams. but i think they will kill me for that. they are my nightmares.
Please give me your advise, im not planning to answer their calls. Its not calls, its harrssments and it really makes my life miserable.
@ Joycee: I wish I can help you but I really do not have any idea on how the RBS works… I knew from other friends that some banks can be really very rude..
hello sir i have one credit card and one personal loan of barclays bank its limit is 25000 and loan amount is near 35000 and they had file a case on me i had checked immigration they r saying that i have case of 25000 for credit card how can i remove that case i want to go back to uae as soon as possible. i will be really gratefull to u.
Absolutely right dear…i agree with u! i have same experience with all this bank !! please beware for bloody mashreq they are heartless ….
Ive been searching and reading forums regarding CC Defaults here in UAE. I myself is also facing this kind of problem. I have 2 police complaint filed against me Mashreqbank for the amount of 45000 and Dubai Bank for the amount of 11,000.
For Mashreqbank ive been paying it monthly and 1 month installment is remaining to pay this month (November) but I have not arrange to get my Clearance from the bank to clear my name from police as I still have to pay my last installment.
Now my company Trade Licence has expired in free zone and dont have any plans in renewing the license. They have plan to cancel our free zone visa a i am under it and transfer it to our Dubai Base Visa. Now my problem is I am scared to transfer my visa because of the complaint against me in the Dubai Police. Our company is not ready to give our End of Service Benefits on cancellation of our Visa.
Now i dont what will i do, i dont think they can also cancel my visa either due to the case.
Can anyone advice me, as our Company will cancel our residence visa this November.
Please advice.
Hi Let,
As much as I wanted to help you, I do not have the right information for your case. I suggest you contact directly your PRO to enlighten you on the right action to take.
Thanks
Now mu company already started to cancel my visa, and the owner have told me that they cannot cancel my visa due to the police case. I have gone to Mashreq already and pay the remaining amount for my loan but refuses to provide the clearance certificate asking me to settle the CC which I am paying monthly. My police case in only for the Loan and the account has been closed and paid.
Now PRO has come with me to Dubai Bank to settle and close my CC. Now I dont have money to pay this amount because Mashreq have ask me all the amount including the CC.
My employer is already pissed off with me and were telling me that my passport is confiscated by Immigration.Now i am facing too many problems the humiliation by my Employer and also thinking how will i pay the Dubai Bank to release the Clearance Certificate.
Is it not possible that my company to cancel my visa? Or they are just threatening me to sort out the issues..
Our PRO wont tell me what is the real status of the cancellation of my visa.
Can somebody help me I have no one to talk to and ask some advice. I desperately need help.
Let
Really anas? I have a friend having a credit card at HSBC for 30k Credit Limit only, then he was terminated and approached the HSBC for a payment program for 65k payable for 6.6years. after 1 year of paying, he lost his job again and discontinued the payment. Now the field officer is kept of calling him and asking to pay atleast 60% of 65k. Without that bulk of money to pay, he is willing to go to jail. We are just hoping judge will give consideration to pay lesser than that 60%.
I took credit card from FGB in 2007 and my credit limit was AED.22,500/- and I lost my job in recession (Jan’2008), I went to India and came on visit to Dubai on July 2008. I did my payment from 2009 only and due to other cards i did not make FGB card payments regularly. Then the representatives were threatening that they will file the case against me. I did not mind them. They did not complaint to Police or present my cheque either. I myself went to bank and told them that I wish to pay them and to provide installment scheme. The representative took another security cheque of AED.38400/- and told me to pay monthly as per revised installment plan of AED.1960/- I was paying regularly and I did not pay one installment suddenly they deposited my cheque to bank of AED.38400/-. I have paid totally AED.22,500/- and as per FGB records it is showing an outstanding amount of AED.45000/- and the bank representative is telling you pay AED.38400/- otherwise go to jail. Can you advice what to do?
@ Anas,
I have personal loan around 200k AED with ADCB and paid monthly emi around 4 months now. I got terminated from the company now.While taking the loan the agent said insurance covers the job loss.But now they said, it won’t.
Would like to know if i am unable to pay personal loan EMI what could be worst scenario?
Please advice.
Hi…May I ask on how you settle your loans then…????
@ Anas Sir, I seek your advise if possible for me to call or email you…..thank you
What if you have credit cards without having given any security cheques to the issuing bank? What would happen then?
@ Shani: As far as I know, there is no security cheques for credit cards however it is better if you check it with your bank.
I have an account with hsbc bank,n my salary also gets trsnsferred in this account.took a loan , overdraft n credit card so they deduct the respective amts every month but the problem is that off late I am not able to pay the amt so asked for settlement which would be 11.5% on the net amt for 3 yrs can u suggest if they would reduce this interest rate and i also want to ask u whether i can operate my account like issuing of cheques etc…plz assist i really need help as soon as possible
Thank you for this article…
I am now facing almost the same problem
I have a personal loan from NBD, I lost my job about 1 year ago due to the recession and I didn’t run away like many people did, I am still in Dubai and trying my best to find a job to pay my loan but unfortunately till noa I couldn’t find any job… the bank of course are calling me all the time sometimes I answer sometimes I ignore them because as you all mentioned they are harrasing and very rude… unfortunately I have no money to pay the loan and I of course can not go back home… the bank now has filed a case against me and the police called me last week, I am terrified and scared of what will happen to me… i urge you all to help me and advise me what can I do (I am a decent person and can’t handle this I will may be die if something happen to me) I also have no one to guarantee me in this…. plz plz reply to me ….. Many Thanks & God bless you all
nabeel u dont have to worry ……i too have the same.. problems and am too from a well known family..
Hi,
Nice site.. same as many unfortunate people who are trapped with this crazy bank policy and harrasments, i my self is a victim.
I tried many options and read as much, even listen to other people, wating for news to come hoping somehow that a solution to this will suddenly come.. but till now nothing.
I just learned to make myself accept whatever happens to me later .. try to live and make use of my time accepting my mistakes and praying that if ever I will be given a chance, I will never ever repeat this mistake in my life again, I will try to live by my means and try to live in peace and be contented to what I can earn only not to dream again for something which will not last.
Rosana … if you like somebody to talk to just email me … tsinitabeth@yahoo.com .. dont just quit ..remember all will pass whatever you did before you cannot bring it back to correct it. But the future you can still plan, if you have to face something you have to accept it with courage but not thru giving up but to find alternative in what ur good at use this to survive ..then solutions will slowly come.. be positive like me even thru the worst we must strive and fight.
I would like to ask some help in your behalf.
We have a big amount of credit here in Abu Dhabi. It’s that just happened that we are trying to invest in Philippines and suddenly they lied to us. And we lost the money that we borrowed from the bank, no body wants these to happen but it’s done. And we cannot do anything about this now the banks are forcing us to pay I knew that these is our faults. But as I’ve said it’s already done.
We want to pay of course but the problem is since we came from vacation June 2009 we got too much negative with the salary of my husband, we are trying our best and we never plan to run away for our credit.
Please try to understand we want to pay in anyhow, we sell all of our things just to pay them and I get job but very small salary. We want to pay but please understand that we are trying to do so, but I’m really scared that they will put my husband in the jail I have my daughter here and she is going to school and nobody working aside to my husband. We are begging you please help us we really don’t mean this to happen we are staying here for 6 year and we got nothing until now because we are helping our family we are just as poor people, we are not a businessman or a known people.
Please don’t ignore this I don’t like my husband to be in jail let my husband work. I don’t like my baby to stop in school please help her to pursue her studies.
My husband goes back to our country. And we stuck with bad debt for credit cards and loan. My current salary is not enough to pay our dues. Now, we really stuck in here…the banks are always threatening us, and we really stresses and frightened, so we usually ignore their calls , because they are not going to listen on you. What they wanted is just produce the money that they need on which way you could. It’s really affecting me…
It has come to the point where in I couldn’t sleep… And it affects my job. After months of stress from the bank, I started to feel numb. I have prepared myself for the worst. Ending up into jail… I just need to know if my husband will be in jail, and sentence the terms decided by the court will the debt be cleared.
Please let me know, if he served the prison for my husband’s case for bad debt will it be waived off? And we will be deported after the jailed terms?
I am willing to do these in behalf of my husband because I’m afraid that until now they threatening my in-laws in the Philippines. My father in-law has a heart problem so I’m really scared what could possibly happen to them. And also until now we don’t know where is my husband is. Were already worried about him please help what we can we do about these.
Please I hope that you will not ignore this. And I am really appreciating if you would reply to my letter.
excel
Hi Excel,
Sorry to hear about your predicament. I recommend that you visit the recovery department of HSBC and seek for their assistance regarding your situation.
Regards
C
Hi Excel,
I seriously suggest no matter how bad your credit is, please go back to your country.
Cos it’s better to Live like a king in your own country than die like a rat in UAE. UAE is one of the most worst nations when it comes to Financial laws, very inhuman laws, i know so many good people who want to pay off, the Govt’s labour laws are so stringent, they dig their own graves for their economy, no wonder banks are suffering so much in recovering their debts.
We have the same thing in common. You could send an Email to my wife, (janice_galia@yahoo.com) I know what it feels in this situation, we need someone to talk and listen with our burdens
Excel musta ung problem mo s bank? ok nb? Pm me here molecules222004@yahoo.com . Ganyan din kc case ko, atleast gkapalitan man lang tyo ng info.
Very interesting and informative site. Not to mention I found some inner peace from reading all this enlightening stories which makes me feel I am not alone. I myself fell into that trap called Credit Cards. Well its true the mistake has been done now its time to find a solution to end this miserable predicament. I think all of us agree with Beth …If only we can turn back the hands of time nobody will ever get a credit card again. We should always live within our means and Trust God for direction in every decision we make. God Bless you all !!!!
Very interesting and informative site. Not to mention I found some inner peace from reading all this enlightening stories which makes me feel I am not alone. I myself fell into that trap called Credit Cards. Well its true the mistake has been done now its time to find a solution to end this miserable predicament. I think all of us agree with Beth …If only we can turn back the hands of time nobody will ever get a credit card again. We should always live within our means and Trust God for direction in every decision we make. God Bless you all !!!! More power to you Cyra your comments gives so much inspiration!!!
I have the same problem. Credit cards and salary loan with Mashreq bank. I have a 30k on my hand now to pay for partial settlement and i will pay them monthly on my salary. But they refuse, what they want is 40k + guarantor or 70k all clear. I dont know what to do, bcoz i sell my house in Phils to get this money and pay them. But what i get is another burden, they give hard time.
pre, It sad to hear from you those things despite what you did to settle your obligations. Dont give up, be prayerful, we can survives all of this nightmares, godbless !
Beth, Thank you so much for your support
Unfortunately I am still not able to solve my problem…
my email is: rosa.ward@hotmail.com
Thank you all for sharing your stories so I am not the only person who is facing this.
Rosana
I have a loan in Dubai. Got a good job offer back home which I dont want to miss it. Can I pay my loan from back home???
I have read every bit of it and this was actually what’s happening with me now. My services with my company in Dubai was terminated because of the recession. I visited Mashreq few days after receiving the termination notice. I was advised to submit all documents needed for insurance claim, which I readily did upon receiving my visa cancellation. I went back to my country and a year later was informed that the insurance company did not cover my obligations with the bank. I was so shocked upon learning this as I was religiously paying the credit shield. And now the collection agency in the Philippines is bugging me with their demand letters and sms that I find abusive and offensive. I am planning to settle this with the bank after I get a job coz I have been without a job for a year already. Is it much easier to deal with the bank directly? I find it hard to deal with their collection agent in the Philippines as I am getting different information from them. Thank you.
Deal directly with the bank as those agency are getting commission from each transaction closed.
I’ve been encounter a bit different but quite similar issue of my personal loan, In fact I have been paying my installment on time since a day i took loan despite i lost my job in last recession. so obviously my salary is not transfer to bank but i manually depositing my installment through CDM, my issue is that now i have been receiving harassment call from bank that i have to settle down my overdue loan despite of installment….. My question is if i am paying my installment on time and every single installment cleared from my side in this case also they could file the case against me by presenting my given security cheque???/ if yes, then what to do? I newly open my own business, I can’t provide them guarantor as i don’t have such close person to be guarantor of me. I can’t pay full at whole that i have no money in my hand…. so your article didn’t mention how to deal with such situation, please advice
@ Sam: Thank you for your comment. Kindly note that I am simply sharing my friends’ situations here hoping that the solutions of their predicament can be an enlightenment and help to others who are on the same situation.
As for your inquiry, I suggest you contact directly your bank to obtain proper feedback.
hi cyra! i found your page while browsing through “outstanding credit card bills” in the internet. i got a call from FGB just this afternoon, and like everyone else, i had been threatened and harassed, sadly by an (arrogant) filipina agent. my problem is, well, like all others is about unsettled credit card dues. i do banking with FGB and have 2 credit cards with them, 22500 and 15000 credit limit respectively.
it all started when i had to go back to the philippines because i was 4 mos pregnant. i dont have the slightest intention of running away from my debts but i am more concerned with what will happen to me and my baby if they ever find out i got pregnant out of wedlock. in as much as i wanted to talk to FGB’s collections or recovery department, i was left with no time and had to fly back home silently to avoid any more problems..while i was worried about my financial obligations, i was thinking more of what could possibly happen if i was caught pregnant.
fast forward to today, and i got a phone call from FGB on my sister’s handphone number. i was informed abt my 3 month O/S bill and that i need to settle it immediately. i know that collections agent were definitely not trained to be nice and accommodating but i was atleast expecting a less arrogant filipina agent at the other end of the line…since i cannot tell her the real reason why i had to go back home, i told her that i am willing to settle my dues, but i cannot just ascertain the time since i need to settle issues here in the philippines. i told her too that she atleast try to be more compassionate and more understanding of the situation…. to my dismay she even told me that while she cares, the bank will not understand and that she will get her pay anyway….
after reading a number of articles on UAE credit card/loan non payment, i am so confused on what i really need to do. i am scared that they will harass my family and my friends… that’s just too hard to take as they really have nothing to do with my credit card bills. i’ve discussed this with my boyfriend and in as much as we want to settle even just the minimum a month, it’ll be hard to manage finances here and AD especially when we are expecting. i want to write a letter to FGB to discuss payment schemes with them but i’m afraid that they will ignore me and continue to harass me. i also dont want to make my boyfriend or any of my friends as guarantor because i dont want to pass on the burden to them. i was told by the agent that they will deposit my security cheque for further actions and that i may have to face immigration problems, and that they will forward my case to their collection agency here in the philippines. i really dont know what to do. i wanted to go back to UAE after i give birth so i can settle my financial dues at the same time to sustain the needs of my child… however, with everything that the girl said, i feel that i am left with no other choice but to work here in the philippines… worried that someone might just come to our house to demand payment from me. does blacklisting only covers UAE and other GCCs? i know it’ll be harder to settle my bills if i only work and stay here in the philippines, but i am also worried AD will Interpol me or be completely banned from going anywhere else in the world. please cyra help me. please please….
Ayie,
i do believed by this time you’re still in the philippines. You are lucky that you are there. I feel your honesty in settling your dues in time. I want to tell you also that in the Philippines we have debt law. There are some rules that the collection agency should follow otherwise they are punishable by law. Call should not be later than 10pm. No harrasment, no degrading words or threat. The law was filed by Senator Escodero. If your caller gives you such things file a case against her.
don’t be too scared ayie. they can’t file anything against you in the phils as you took the credit cards in dubai. sadly, they can impose a travel ban on you… BUT ONLY within the gcc countries. contact the bank, tell them how much you can give them, only the principal and no other penalties and interests.
hi your blog is so helpful, as i have as well this credit card problem for the last one year now, and almost mos of my payment are just going to the interest. and since then im become paranoid becoz of this problem, some agent are really rude.
Joycee says:
June 14, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Hi.
I am terrified with RBS harassment. I couldn’t help but cry every time they call me (everyday) i have only small amount of outstanding balance. but in 2 consecutive months i am paying below minimum like short of 100plus. but every pay day i always pay for my rbs credit cards. now they are insisting me to pay the 300 dirhams 300 dirhams. but i think they will kill me for that. they are my nightmares.
Please give me your advise, im not planning to answer their calls. Its not calls, its harrssments and it really makes my life miserable.
you are right Joycee,
i encountered same treatment from that RBS Bank even degrading by saying all filipinos are defaulters payers and i was so piss with him and closed the phone in hes face., i have 3 cards from them and been a good client for the last 5 years and recently becoz of big financial problem i was not able to pay in time but paying every months. we are in the same ship because of their rudeness and harrasment.
thank you so much and i find this blog at least i feel relieved that i get some answer opinions.
hi everybody try to visit this link they may help you on your financial trouble all is explained on the web site
http://isdmconsultancy.com/credit-counseling-step-1.php
hi! thanks for your website. I have the same problem with my cards and I was able to get two of my cards fixed with a payment plan. First was Barclays and the second one is with Citibank. If you need information on how I did it – let me know and I will tell you the details.
I want to now fix my HSBC card and also my RBS card. Do you know the number of their collection/recovery department or maybe its address so that I can go there.
Its a difficult situation but this too will pass…we just need to continuously pray.
dear friend,
thanks for your information on in this block regarding your arrangement for settlement of Barclays & Citibank credit cards
i have problem with these banks credit card. how to approach and get solved
pls reply when you are free in details about how you overcome that? they agreed for lesser interest EMI?
pls send mail in details .that will be useful to me to come out of credit card worries
thanks in advance
venky
sharjah
hi,
im happy to see im not alone in this problem,my case is not defrent from all of you i have a loan in HSBC and 2 credit card,now im back home coz im afraid they will hold me in imigration as i work in the airlines coz most of my friends have been detained due to ignoring the phone calls from the bank,cyra i just wana ask if you ignore them or just desapire are they goin to interpol you or are they goin to travel ban you???are they eligable to do such thing internationaly???pls help me solve my problems…im willing to pay as like others here i dont have any intention of ignoring them but as what they say they will force you to pay even you dont have anything,im planning to work again and start paying them as an FA again but im just thinking if i fly again and they will hold me in defrent immigration i think it would not help me to pay them…pls help me for an answer cyra……my email is numboi@yahoo.com
Hi Kit… I wish I have the answers to your questions but I don’t know. Personally I would say there is a possibility though..
Hi Cyra,
First of all I need to thank you for this helpful blog and I can see how many people are getting useful information from you in how to deal with their bank loans issue.
I have also some trouble with ADCB, I will explain in short:
it’s a Smart loan, no salary transfers required, an X-staff with the bank, failed to pay 2 payments due to some financial needs for the family (but of curse banks dont care about the excuses), i am willing to pay next month the whole outstanding amount, but they just keeping on calling me, shall I ignore or just fight with them everyday, i get sleepless nights just thinking about they might rise a case against me, specially I always fail paying them before the due date, but I do pay them after 2days-1 week from the due date.
He is from collection department, and he start calling my OFFICE, the last thing I need that my employer to know, I bagged him to stop calling my office.
Is legal to harass me by calling my office number???? what advise you can give me, right now, I am not answering his calls, but he is still calling office asking about me.
Thank you, anything will be useful, even if you can direct me to a person to speak to.
Thank you for helping us all.
Hi Raed,
I wish I could help you but I do not know anyone in ADCB.
Thanks
Hey this blog is great. This is my situation and im just wondering if anyone can offer suggestions:
Over a year ago I lots my job due to recession. Since then I have become a freelancer. This means I do not have a regular monthly income. I have been keeping up with payments on cards etc from savings but this is now running out. I sometimes make good money one month, then nothing the next.
I am worried about what will happen when my savings run out and I dont make enough money one month to cover payments. Should I approach the banks (FGB, Mashreq and HSBC) about this? Will they be understanding and helpful or will they put a travel ban on me?
@ Lartsa: Great to know that you found this blog helpful. I personally recommend to approach the banks for settlement payment option. With this, it eliminates the spiraling interests and other charges of unpaid minimum dues.
Hi! i received a termination letter right now and im planning to go back home for a month then i want to back here in dubai to find another job… but i have an existing loan(less than a yr remaining) and a credit card, do you think bank will hold me?
I want to fix my HSBC card.. Do you know the number of their collection/recovery department or maybe its address so that I can go there.
Hi,I’am also have same problem, I have a lot of credit cards, I’m here in Dubai staring 2004 and last 2008 I transfer a new company, my 3 credit cards in different bank they dont now where i’m working, less than 1 year I didn’t pay they told me i have a police case allready, but my problem is my other credit cards(FGB,RBS,BARCLAY,DXB BANK)they always coming in our office, before I’ll pay partial but now nothing,they shouting me, harassing, today morning RBS legal came in our office they told me if I will not pay on wednesday morning, they will arrest me, but I dont have money to pay. The only thing I have right now is FAITH to LORD, I know all suffering have ending, and after have a new beginning, keep on praying, just believe in Him and He’s our savior,our provider, the only GOD., GOD BLESS ALL..
My question is, if I will not pay and they file me a police case,they will arrest me immediately, or long?
go direct to the bank collection department and request for restructure they will give you, the bank now wants money its better arrange with them the soonest…
Hello,
i hope anyone of u know somebody from FGB as I want to make settlement with them. I missed only one payment but I only made this as I have heard that in order to apply for the settlement you must be a defaulter.. is it true?
Thanks
Hi Kate,
04 607 5196. That’s there collection dept. (FGB)
pls help me.. kindly give me some contact no. of the right person in HSBC recovery department.. thank you so much..
Hi wenn,
HSBC Collection Dept is 04 435 9201
Hi please emaile the contact info of the recovery dept for hsbc….
Hi G, sorry but I do not have their email ad. Alternatively, you can visit them in their main office in Airport Road (if you are located in Abu Dhabi. Cheers
How to contact them, when outside UEA?, by telephone is not possible!!
HSBC Collection Dept is 04 435 9201
Hope I could be of some help here. A bounced check is considered a criminal case here in the UAE. A complaint may be filed against you for issuing checks to banks for loans or credit cards taken. Visa cancellation cannot be done when a police case is filed against you, just the same, a new visa cannot be issued. Your name is automatically block listed in the immigration when there is police case which prevents the company from issuing / cancelling new visa.
If you have the money to pay, talk to the bank directly and try to arrange an amicable settlement. Please refrain from making the payments thru collection agencies, as the charges they put are way too high, you end up paying only penalties. More often than not, they will ask you to pay almost double your outstanding amount, you would go crazy calculating how they ended up with that horrendous amount. Go to your bank directly, there is no guarantee though that they would agree to issue clearance without you shelling out cash.
If you have friends/family who are willing to help you (make sure this person is 100% free from any police case to avoid more inconvenience), go to the Police Station where your case is filed. The police will either take your or a guarantor’s passport to temporarily release/clear your name in the system. Before doing that, ensure to talk to the police whether and verify if your company can process the visa cancellation / application while someone else’s passport is being held in the police station as a guarantee. Once this issue is clear, you may still negotiate with your bank the situation. Again, banks MAY or MAY NOT understand the situation.
If you are too scared to go to the police station, you may opt to go to Dubai Courts or Abu Dhabi Courts and seek advice from a prosecutor. However, as far as I know, you may only speak to prosecutor if you have undergone the procedures done in the police station. Meaning, you need to go to the police and submit yourself for questioning. You may be detained a day or two in the Police Station before you are scheduled to see a Prosecutor. The Prosecutor/Police Station will ask for your/family/friend’s passport for your temporary release. Once this is done, you will be free to go, and you may proceed to go to Dubai Courts and inform them about the employment/visa situation and they will guide you how to go about the visa process. They will issue certificates whenever required with minimal fees.
The moment you learned that the bank has filed a case against you, stop paying as the amount you are paying only goes to the collection agencies. Anyway, the bank always file your cheque with the total principal amount regardless if you have been paying them for 6months, 1 year, 2 years, etc.
Thanks Kim.. This is a very valuable info for everyone..
Hi Kim,
How would I know if I have Police case already? Please let me know. Thanks.
Can i have ur email address so dat we can communicate .My email address is asim3027@gmail.com
Hi kim,
Thanks for posting your comment I need your advise terribly, my visa is about to expire sooner, and I have renew it. I was advised by a friend who checked for a police case. its no longer surprise for that the bank file against me as he had told me. I was able able to settle in full the other bank, but still I have outstanding with the other bank. I know for sure that I may not be able to renew my visa if there’s a case against me. The money that I will be using for settlement is not yet in my hand it will take a more days or even a month. Pls. guide and help so I would be able to renew my visa. Can you pls give me your email ID so I could directly send email to you? Is it also possible to take your contact number your I could ease my worries inside by seeking help thru phone call. Please Please Please….
Thanks to aal of u sharing u r valueble experience
hello! i have been looking for websites which will help my hubby with his problems in dubai.
my husband has been plagued by harrassing calls from the collecting agents of the banks he owes…he become a delingquent payor because he was first laid-off from job and was hospitalized several times in dubai due to these situations he was not able to pay his personal loand and debts. he is being harrassed by police officers visiting his office. just this thursday December 23 a legal attorney called his office and told him to pay his credit card loan within 3 days or until December 25 otherwise he will put him in jail…
can they really put my husband in jail? how long that would be? if they put him in jail could it mean that all his credit card loans and bank loans will be wiped out or cleared by serving in jail?
we are all bothered by this situation, even my kids are upset knowing their father’s plight…is there anybody who could help people with this situation? anybody from Philippine embassy?
hi amy, try to make an arrangement with the bank and tell them your real situation talk to them look for the right person like manager or his assistant. Check with your husband loans and credit card if theres a credit shield if yes its a big help, you can file it in insurance. Dont lose hope, be strong and have faith in god, he is always there. Ask and he will give. Talk to him and he will listen. Always belive in the miracle. It happened to me.
lovely, thank you very much for your reply. i hope my husband will read this website and recognize my message here… i am really upset regarding his situation in dubai..he cannot provide enough for our needs anymore…i am also upset regarding my household bills as i don’t have any work.
again thank you very much! and reading this site have been habitual to me…thank god i stumbled upon this site! God bless lovely! God bless u cyra!
Hi, were on the same situation. My advice to your firends dont get too much affected with all their calls, you can answer but not always as long as you made payments or skip payments you can ignore them and always be polite when asnwering. Just remember they record our answers but the words coming from them no. They are just based on what were saying over the phone so be very careful, dont give promises to pay simply say I will settle it thats fine. I lost my job lst yr and i hve loans and credit card to pay and that is my nightmare for the last few months. I have a police case in dubai first luckily i file it in insurance and it was approved so the insurance pay all my outsanding balance in dubai first. I know somebody in Dubai Fisrt he is a very nice person his name is Osman he is from the collection department just ask his name on the reception they will show you where is his office. I am holding RBS.SCB and Barclays my advce to all of you dont be scared of them they are just threatening. If you cannot pay the minimum amount go to bank look for the manager or assitant manager in collection dept they will give you better plan for payment that best suits you. Dnt wait your debts in trouble take action talk to the right person they will help a lot. All the banks here have different rules but if you will talk to them make a request for restructure m sure they will give you just tell themyour real situtaion they will understand. One more thing if you are terminated immediately inform the bank because they will file it in insurance. Actually if were not paying them its not their lost they claim it in insurance so both are not on losing end. The worst thing is if were nt paying they will file a police case against you. Now I have anotherpolice case with barclays loan and i expecetd it coz m a delinquent payee i ddnt pay them for almost 10mths so what to expect the case just filed nov. 28, actually someone handling my acct in barclays unfortunately that guy resigned and move to adcb thats why he wasnt able to handle my acct anymore and the rest is history. M still lucky that he had some friends in barclays and inshallah they will give me a big discount, m also thankful to some of my friends that they refer me also to my kabayan whose in the collection dept and she;s really a big help for me. Hopefully tomorrow it will be settled with the help of both of them and of course to the miracle made by our god. If you want to get some help in barclays just email me. Have faith and trust god above all he is always there for us.
Hi lovely, so nice to read your blog and as well as your advice. I hope you have settled and finished the problem. Anyway, hope you can refer me to your friends who are working at Barclays so they can help me to solve my issues too.
lovely can i get your email coz i have a problem in barclays credit card. tnx
@ alvin: Hi.. there is a contact page.. You can send me your message
Hi, Lovely – thanks for sharing your story here at frugalexpat.com. I wonder if you could send me a contact person at barclays bank; i have a situation for my sister and i would like to speak to someone in the bank so i can see how her case can be settled….your help would be very much appreciated.
Kind regards,
@lovely.plz email me @ bebe1583@yahoo.com…. hope you can refer me to your friends who are working at Barclays..TNX
Hi Lovely – can you please email me at cheri_cute@yahoo.com – i need a Filipina contact person in Barclay’s bank recovery. I am presently in the Philippines. thanks
Hai Lovely I need your help to settel one case of credit card from barclays bank I have an out standing balance of 62000 AED Can u please help me for a settelment
Shameem.S
mepmak@gmail.com
@ Shameem: I am sorry I don’t work for any banks. I am simply sharing this information hoping to enlighten others who are in the same predicament. I suggest that you contact directly your bank.
Hi Ms.Lovely, i am looking for a good contact person in Dubai First Bank, my husband had also left an outstanding balance on his personal loan amounting to 71t AED. A police case has already filed against him. May I know if Mr. Osman is still in the collection Department of Dubai First. We really want to settle our debt and clear the case. We tried to negotiate with the bank previuosly but they are very uncooperative. I hope this person could help us with the settlement.
Hoping for your reply.
Ms. Lovely, Could you give me Mr. Osman’s (Dubai First)contact number. I would appreciate it very much.
Hi Lovely,
Please send me your mail, i also have barclays credit card for only AED 6000 but almost 2 years i didnt pay and i am afraid to approach the bank while i cannot pay.
Please help me to whom i can contact to ask for settlement.
Kind Regards,
Lovel
I am also in debts from Credit Cards. I reached a situation where i am not able to pay even the minimum balance. Now i have received a call from Abu Dhabi Commecial Bank for non payment of credit card payment. The lady was just screaming. Big mistake in taking cards
Hi lovely, nice to read your blog as well as your advice. I hope you have finished and settled your problem with these horrifying credit cards issues. Like you, I also wanted to solve the issue with my Barclays CC. Please refer your friends who are working at Barclays so they can help me to sort out my problem and restructure with huge discount my planned settlement with Barclays.
I ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE 4 CARDS PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW I CANNOT PAY THEM EVEN THE MINIMUM BECAUSE MY SALARY IS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME & MY FAMILY EXPENSES AND THEY ARE HARASSING ME SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE KILLING MY SELF BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH DEPRESSION THE MONEY I ONLY RECEIVE MONTHLY IS AED 2,700 I HAVE TO SEND AT LEAST NOT LESS THAN AED 2,000 OR AED 1,800 AND AED900 IS NOT ENOUGH FOR EXPENSES I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO PAY EVEN THE MINIMUM PLS HELP ME
they cant make case for 4000 Dhs.. they used to say so.. even the case will not file unless the amount is more than 10,000 dhs..
If you signed in a blank cheque, bank can write 1 million court will not ask behind the check,they just ask did u sign?is it yours?.
wow what to say i have learned 2 things her there is always a solution for every thing
ADCB filed a case for 4000 aed which i am willing to pay in cash the just keep refusing i will have to go and meet the colloction dept hope the can give me a solution
but this site i can say its amazing it gives u peace of mind.
@ Meme: thank you and I am glad that this blog serves its purpose
See i have settled one of my friend who was having Barclays bank Credit Card with Limit of Dhs: 68500.00 and his out standing amount was almost 71800.00 Dhs.. he left Dubai due to his business lose .. he took almost 65000.00 and paid 3500 dhs each month for 4,5 months then he cant pay more he left… and he asked my help to settle those amount ! coz i used to get call from bank asking about my friend coz he have given my number as reference person so one day i asked the banker how much u can make a settlement for this much (71800.00) so he asked me to pay 40,000.00 i said no i can’t then he keep on calling me.. last i agreed to pay 16800.00 full n final settlement and withdrawing his police case as well ..
Barclays bank Dubai Recovery Office No:
For Loan: +97144293772 (04 4293772)
Credit Card : +9714295733( 04 4295733)
Don’t pay what the say.. Bargain as much as u can.. For Credit Card u must pay 20% of total amount. For loan they may reduce up to 40, 50 %…
i think this my help u guys……….
@ munna: thanks for the info.. this can be of help to everyone.. thanks for sharing
If there any one need my help to settle there due’s am there to help u… coz i went through the same situation .. till i paid mine… any bank in Dubai..
Hi Munna,
After the settlement, they did not call back? Did you get the clearance from the bank and police? Just curious.
yes i got the clearance letter.. and a letter to withdraw my police case also..
Can u help me to settle the fgb dues?
Hi Munna, My wife has loan and her account was freeze, but since she lost her job, I was keep continuing her monthly payment in the bank by depositing it on her account, My question is do the bank still chase her or can send complain in the police due to the reason that her account was on freeze? Thanks
Took a personal loan with Mashreq. Lost job recently and account was frozen completely. Fortunately had cash to pay up loan which was more than 120K. To top that, Mashreq charged 5% early settlement fee on existing loan amount because I paid in full. I’m already on another job but they didn’t want to recognize the multinational company as they’re not Mashreq’s preferred clients. In my case the bank terminated the payback period for the loan and made me pay for the early settlement fee which was more than 6K as well.
see if u people can make a one time settlement .. go for that, let them make the clearance letter first.. once u read and make sure that is the one time full and final settlement letter.. then only pay…or else the don’t easly give us clearance letter..
hello,,,
i took a loan from rbs for 48 month and i have allready paid 45 month with a loads of dificultiy,
while paying 45 instlment “yes” i missed many and they chargeed me late payments as usual,,, i know only 3 instlment left and i called the collection department for the wave off of late payments and i will make the balance amount in 2 instlment and settle in full., which they told me that they dont have such policy,,,
the reason i dont want to pay the late payment since i know many of them got discount beign a defaulter( no offence to any one) and i was harrsed at that time badly aswell.
am try to get best posible discount,,, even in this senario dhs 100 make sence,,
one of my friend told me that to skip payment for 2 month or so and bank will call u for the payment and go for settlement,, than they might considor to wave off,, what do u think about this guys???
if youll know any good guy who can help in rbs?(now adcb)
thank u
its happens !!
I have Masreq CC. They issue it to me and there is no check required. I skipped monthly dues ..well all of us have some other liabilities.. but despite.. I was able to pay after a few months with interest. still am receiving calls from legal office saying they filed a case. it is not clear to me Can they file a case..coz i thought cases are filed for those who issued checks to obtain their credit cards were as for me I have not required to issue a check.
Guys…. any info, answer, critic ( constructive ) will be appreciated.. thanks
Hi
Wow so many are trapped in debts in UAE..
Here’s my advice:-
- If you are still in UAE and has loans and credit card debts that you could no longer pay, the moment you know that you could no longer send any payment to the bank, stop making payment and run back to your home country.. Do not go to any GCC country because as soon as you been blakclisted, you will be deported back to UAE
- if you already defaulted paying your debts, more than likely the banks already filed a case against you, do not entertain calls from any collection agency. If a friend can help you make arrangement to settle the loan or refinance, then let your friend do that. The ultimate goal is to wait until the bank is going to negotiate with you
If you decided to run away from your debts in UAE, as long as you dont live in any GCC countries, you are safe and your debts are not carried to your home country.
What the UAE banks can do is send your delingquent accounts to your home country to various collection agency.
The collection agency will harass you and threatened you, just IGNORE them ALL.. FYI, outside of GCC countries, no amount of debts can send you to prison except the following case
” that you obtained the loan or credit by fraud ”
And if you have found a job, as long as not in any GCC countries, you can still go to that country and seek new opportunities. No Interpol will chase you.
I hope this helps to all and stop all the worries.
hi everyone…
i also have the same problem. i have credit card with rbs with the credit limit of aed. 3000 & due to financial problem i stop paying from oct 2009. now that i am willing to settle my outstanding balance & i called rbs hotline (which is now adcb) the customer services advice me that i have to go to the nearest branch & spoke with the right person. but the thing i was afraid off is my schedule for the emirates id card is within next week, maybe when i got there they will arrest me & bring me to jail. kindly enlighten me pls. thanks
ysa_see@yahoo.com
plzz don’t go: let any one of your friend do it for you.. or else they can arrest you or force you to pay higher amount by using some CID .. who used to have a counter at collection department..
Hi,
Myself & my husband have Credit Card and loan from FGB. Due to our loss in business, we couldnt pay back them. Now, we are trying to settle with them, but they are not reducing the amount. According to them, our outstanding is 100,000/- in total and they can reduce a maximum of 85,000/- only. We can raise a maximum of 60,000/- only and that too loan from our relatives & friends. Can you please help me to give a contact person or no in FGB to settle our debts with an amount of 60,000/-. It is very urgent. They told they already put case on us and we need to go to India for treatment for my husband. Negotiations are going on. We need to settle it this week itself.
See madam,
First gulf Bank collection department No:
in Dubai: 04-6075702, 04-6075701, 04-6075754
located near clock tower, adjusted to Hamrain centre.
Plz don’t go with your husband if he having case on against him..
go with some one who is good at communication and bargain..
and if they come to know the person who is having case is here in UAE… then they don’t go for much negotiations.. tell then he is out of UAE,,
other ways even you can seek help from layer’s
if so i would refer : First solution fsmss they would make it for almost 50% the amount
call them at: 04-3575550 :
it may help you guys…
munna,
hi, do you have any email add from the first gulf bank collection department?
HI.
I have a loan with mashreq bank but due to recession i lost my job, but fortunately, i was still able to pay my monthly due, by depositing it on the checking account that used to receive my salary, bcoz my previous company didnt inform the bank yet abt my employment status. I got new job immediately but when my previous company deposited my final settlement cheque (9,200AED), mashreq immediately frozed my account.
I went to the mashreq bank to give them my new employment visa but they didn’t accept it becoz the new company is not listed with them.
and my new company cannot make salary transfer to mashreq coz they have agreement with a different bank and ask me for a guarantor. unfortunately i cannot find a guarantor coz most of my friends are with existing loans as well.
I plan to pay my loan but i am scared that if I pay by depositing on my mashreq account that was frozen, it may not be credited to my loan.
can i pay over the counter directly to my loan account? how can i do that?
to all: thanks for the wonderful and good advises regarding payment defaults.. guys, i just want to ask help from you fro my husband also, on his FGB card, his credit limit there is only 8k, but due to non-payment for 7months,it reached to 12k, we wne last thursday to FGB main office, but we just only channeled, to an asshole rep, who told us that we are only wasting his time…, he gave us 3 options to pay: 1. we need to pay 10,500 ( 1 time payment), 2. 11k( two time payment) and 3. 12k ( for 5mos) and informing us that FGB now is not offering anymore restructring plan coz the economy is recovering?! wow! that is the great surprised and shock in my life, iVe ever heard that day?!, … in line with this problem..can anybody help me and my husband if how can we settle this prob, do u know anybody from fgb that we can talk amicably in fgb..coz, really we cant afford that options, we are telling them that if my husband can apply restructing plan and can pay 500 monthly. also that asshole man, informed or maybe bluffing us that they filed the case and when i asked what is the police case no., he told me unmindfully, its under process in the legal dept?!… bluffing or out of his mind…. thanks to all advices, this site is realyy a big help to all… GOD BLESS US ALL AND PROTECT US AGAINST THESE GREEDY MONSTERS…
Pls let it go to court, then ball will come to you then U can choose your option aed 100/- per month. There they cannot play this cheating game.
hi dast,
pls. let me the correct ways to go to court for this case I need to renew my visa the soonest. I have settled the other bank the I still have some…. Pls. send me details…tnx….
God Bless!
Hello everyone…as i see, i m not the only one having trouble…i m in abu dhabi since 2007
1. hsbc is calling every single day, like 6 times a day, starting at 8 am till 10 pm, including weekends. this lasts for many months now as i m facing difficulties right now. they remain polite but i have to repeat the same stuff again and again and again…i have two credits card with them, one for 25000, and the other one for 20,000 aed..so total 45,000 aed
2. i have rak bank CC also, oustanding amount 35,000
i m planning to take a loan to pay off rak bank, and hsbc partially
my bank advisor told me that i can bargain with them…from what i m reading recently, they seem to be very unhelpful..
as munna said in her previous post, we can pay for CC only 20 % of the full amount…it seems to be very low, i can not imagine they will accept that i pay only 20 %
Please i need your advice….for HSBC (45,000 aed) how much should i go for and for the rak bank CC (35,000 aed)..how much…
please any advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks and good luck everyone
munna can u hel me to my situation pls…..
good day munna can u help regarding my credit card at barclays coz its been long time that i didnt pay almost 2 yrs from now pls help.
for sure dear.. how much u have to pay for Barclays?
hi, ms. munna, ur answers and replies to the questions here, really gave a wider breath to all of whose trapped on this situation, and for that just I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THE GOD ABOVE BLESS YOU AS WELL AS YOUR FAMILY…
in line with that, ms. munna, also i just want to inquire regarding my husbands, credit card due in fgb, last march 24, we went in fgb main branch and ask for restructuring, sadly, people there is so much bad, as i expected, but after 3 mos., only today, somebody called me and my husband telling they can give us a plan that we can pay, good that i keep record on my diary and i found out, its still the same, my hubby’s due is only AED 7,100 BUT now the bank collector, give us 2 options, opt. # 10k, full payment and they want it now, as in now…. and opt # 2 11k, but she’s giving us only til 25 June. We are trying to borrow money in our home country, we asked helped form our relatives there, but they said, maybe they can help us by end of July 2011, pls. munna, kindly help us on this….
Lots of thanks and GOD SPEED…
-faye
hi munna…where can we get in touch with you …. please leave your email address we need you help….
God Bless
Debbie
I have 2 credit cards from Mashreq bank and ADCB. The total amount of my credit was AED 42,000. I haven’t paid my bills since August 2010. I left UAE in December 2010 and by that time the total amount due was AED 30,000. I got a call from Al Wasl Legal Advocates 2 weeks ago saying that they have my file and I owe the banks around AED 50,000. How did my dues increased AED 20,000 in 4 months? They don’t have an answer! Then they said that all they can negotiate with the bank is for me to pay AED 35,000 in full by 21st of April or the case will go to police and they can arrest me even in my country(Iran). I told them I have just got a job and I can pay them in installments but they don’t agree. What should I do? I might be able to arrange for the full amount by next month or so but I am affraid that the interest will go up even more.
Please help
see they cannot arrest you while your abroad! and second thing : try to settle for one time settlement and collect the clearance letter.. then will be u can say you succeed !!
They cannot take legal action against you in another coutry,they can send legal notice and they can ban uae,if you have money half of your actual due(do not consider interest and charges)tell them I can pay only this amount if they agree U can appoint an attorney here and receive settlement letter.They of cource agree the amount that which you offer because U actually outside the country and u can get better settlement amount,do not offer any amount untill they come to your amount.
Good day. My hubby worked in Dubai before and in the process was able to secure credit cards and a personal loan. However, as an opportunity to migrate in a different country came up he had to leave Dubai. But there was not much luck in the country where we migrated to. He lost his job twice. Last year we received a letter from my in-laws that they were being harrassed by a collection agency relative to the credit cards and loans my hubby had. We were able to pay-off the 2 credit cards in cash from a loan we had to secure in the Phils. This time they are harassing my in-laws for full payment of the personal loan with ADCB. My hubby is not sure whether he issued cheques for the mo.installments on the loan.We were paying them a minimal amount as we also don’t have enough to support ourselves in this foreign country. Just today we received word that they will file a case against my hubby in Dubai and inform the immigration in the country that we are in about his case. Honestly, we dont’know what to do as this might prejudice our chances of getting a permanent residency.. We are also in dire financial straits… Much as we would like to pay we dont know where to get them… Hoping you could advise us.
Do Mashreqbank and ADCB(RBS) credit card can offer some plan for credit card payment???..can someone send details to me.
Email: dunhill_pd@yahoo.com
Thank you and much appreciated.
Dunhill
I have about AED 12K unpaid with Barclays Bank and I am trying to find out if they have filed a police case. How do I do this. I am not in Dubai and have no one there who can help me settle with them
i dont have mony i have credit card fgb from 5 years i pay all may intrest every thing but reght now i dont have mony i was not pay from last 2 moth the call me
how i make setalment tell me plz i able to 30 presentage is it possible
If u are in uae then they will not come for this amount if u outside then they will come your amount
This is to inform you that we have received the Remittance Advice Form which you have filled and return back to us as you are directed. From all indication the said fund is meant for you after our verification and you have prooven as the rightful beneficiary of the sad fund and we have processed it on your behalf. Based on the above reasons, you are only expected to pay the final processing fee (F.P.F) of 750 British Pounds Only. On the receipt of the said fee, your fund will be released to you.
I thank you for your concern over my family and I promised to do my best in making sure that your fund is released to you soonest.
May God Almighty Be With You.
Is there any way to know if you have a travel ban in UAE ? Do the banks (ADCB / Mashreq / HSBC) put travel ban in case of non-loan payment ?
Yes Mashreq do even it for 1000Drhs::
HI munna,
Mayb you could help me out with my issue:
I got detained for 2 days coz FGB filed a case against me (Aed 20,000 – bounce cheque) and been released for giving them a guarantee passport. Now my case end up in public prosecution. I’ve checked on them the staus of my case and its been sentenced and asked me to pay AED 5,000.00 fine. My questions are 1. is my AED 20,000.00 cleared after paying this amount at the public prosecution office? 2. if i go there to pay, is there possibility of arrest if i have other case?
Thank you so much in advance.
Hi Munna
Your comments are most helpful.
I am presently in the Philippines. Can you please give me a contact person in Barclays Bank (i took a loan from Abu Dhabi in December) to discuss my options with?
I truly want to return to the UAE in a few months time to get a new job and repay. Please advise..
Hi Ms. Munna, my husband has an outstanding personal loan of 71,000AED in 2009 when he stopped his payments. We are planning to negotiate with the bank for one time settlement. Since it’s already 3 years ago, do you think the bank will charge us with interest and penalty? or will the bank consider this amount for settlement. You mentioned that you had settled your friend’s loan amounting to 65T AED and you had paid only 50% of it. Is the interest and penalties included in the 65k aed you have mentioned? Do you know someone from Dubai First collection and recovery department?
hello munna!
I have a friend who have a CC in Mashreq & taken around Dhs6000/- the sad thing is he was not able to pay for the past 2 yrs due to financial problem..can u advice how to settle this?
thanks!
Hello jenny. can u help me. i am in trouble with fgb.
My daughter who is in Dubai has converted credit card dues of her husband to avoid jail of Dh 143000 in 2008 and has been paying regularly EMI about Dh 3000 Now the outstandin balance is around 67,000/ Can she foreclose the account by paying lumpsum of Dh 40,000. two years haed of final settlement date.
If not paossible can she pay lump sum say Dh 30,000 and balnce in EMI. . What is the best way to come out of this personal loan burden other than watinig till two more years.
I am Clara Grace Selvey . I am wife of Mr. Craig Selvey who was a HSBC Credit Card holder # and chronic defaulter and was about to be convicted. Having been compelled by circumstances and being his wife and to save him from severe and extreme step of conviction and jailed for default of credit card dues and interest thereon I was advised to convert the entire dues as personal loan of Dh ….. as back as in 2008. And ever since I have been regularly repaying the loan installment of Dh ….. + interest. every month. Now the outstanding is Dh …….
Now I would like to present that I approached the HSBC Bank to allow me to fore close my loan account by paying Dh 40,000 as I have received lump sum amount from my employer 12 month Rent in advance so that I can be discharged and redeemed of this huge burden on my very small income of Dh…….per month. . The bank authorities have however declined my request on the following grounds that———.
I have job.
I have been paying my installments without default.
Sir Now kindly let me present my grievances. My take home pay is only Dh. After all deductions. I have absolutely no savings whatsoever. Though I have a responsibility to look after my parents who are senior citizens back in India 69 years old mother and 67 years old father. To be honest they in turn have contributed their mite from their own meager savings to bail me out of my present situation. Pardon me for saying this that my husband has not mend his ways nor learnt his lesson. He is making my life miserable. He has been selling house hold items like TV etc.,
I want you to view the whole issue with human face and please help me come out of financial bondage.
Please help and arbitrate my case and let me foreclose my account by paying lump sum amount of Dh 40,000 by waiving few installments as I have already paid sufficient interest and repayment towards principal loan amount. I am not asking for write off I am only asking you to foreclose the accounts two years ahead..
. .
Hello
I have some credit card debt as well as a personal loan with HSBC. My residency visa was cancelled and i am now out of Dubai.
Does anyone know how I should proceed to have a payment plan with them?
Thank you very much – any information is helpful!
A.
An advice to anyone that realizes they cannot pay their loans or CC balances anymore, RUN to your country (if it is outside GCC). They cannot do anything to you outside of GCC.
I have a friend that works in a bank, and he has confirmed to me that Interpol will only be summoned if (a single) loan is more than 200,000AED. If your loan is 199,000 you will be fine!
The interpol charges the bank 50,000AED, so if your loan with a single bank is 70,000 or less for example, then it doesnt make sense for them to use the interpol.
You have to understand that all loans and credit cards are insured, which means that bank is not losing any money except the interest rate and insurance fees.
Hi ,
I have a personal loan of 210,000aed frm mashreq bank. I lost my job a month ago i am still paying my emi, so as not to default .But i dont know if i can travel or not .I have not informed the bank yet as i am trying to find a new job What are my options if i dont get a job in a month or so.How can i know if bank has put a ban on my travel ..When exactly bank put a ban on the travel?
Dear Madam,
I got 03 Credit card from the 3 banks witch is Mashreq, A D C B & Rak Bank. Card value is 7000.00 dhs each. i got this for an urgent matter & i thaught to clear this to get a loan from my company. But unfortunatly economy crises came & company stop the loan. So i was stuck with the cards.i’m working in U A E in the same company from the year 2005. Now my sallary is 3900.00 dhs per month. I want to clear this cards. I can trnsfer my salary that any bank whitch is can give a loan as 40000.00 dhs. Most iof the bank asking more than 5000.00 salary amount to get loan. if any bank or company or society can pay for that amount they can deduct from my salary after we discuss about the repayment plan. Please help me to clear. Thank you & God Bless you.
im my case , my frind is a alot of credit card holder , but he has not abled to paid monthly payment . and he is goiing to his home , after he is not come uae, his doubt is the banks are issued police case to him… what he do? and how to settle this problem.
i have credit card debts with HSBC amounting to 14k and 18k, i received a redundancy letter from my company…i’m paying insurance fee for both credit cards, can i just give my redundancy letter to HSBC and let the insurance company pay the outstanding debts for my 2 credit cards? what will happen?
I’m planning to leave UAE as my visa cancellation is on process, hopefully by the end of september 2011.
Please give me some advice.
i have credit card debts with HSBC amounting to 10k and 5k, i received a redundancy letter from my company…i’m paying insurance fee for both credit cards, can i just give my redundancy letter to FGB and let the insurance company pay the outstanding debts for my 2 credit cards? what will happen?
I’m planning to leave UAE as my visa cancellation is on process, hopefully by the end of september 2011.
Please give me some advice.
i have credit card debts with FGB amounting to 10k and 5k, i received a redundancy letter from my company…i’m paying insurance fee for both credit cards, can i just give my redundancy letter to FGB and let the insurance company pay the outstanding debts for my 2 credit cards? what will happen?
I’m planning to leave UAE as my visa cancellation is on process, hopefully by the end of september 2011.
Please give me some advice.
Please advise me, i had 2 credit cards from RBS AND loan for them, i made my credit card as installment basis and it was finished last November while i didnt receive statement also but i dont have the clearance from them and i am afraid maybe its not yet cleared..please advise to whom i contact, While i have also loan supposed to be finish on March but i didnt pay for starting October 2010 – March 2011, while i didnt receive also statement – please let me know to whom i can contact for RBS credit card and loan to see my accounts – where i stand now.
Kind Regards,
mary
my husband is in the bahrain…we have the same issues about the loan and credit cards unpaid…im afraid of my husband i know his taking a risk bcoz he cant afford to see us dying for starvation…we dont have any except him..if my husband will send into jail what will happen to my children.he wanted to pay his debts in dubai even in a small amount but they refuse to.what he did is he pay first the debts here in the philippines and after that he will pay then to the dubai in a bigger amount.but collecting agencies is kept threatening and harrassing us..just to stop things i change my number bcoz it happend i had a mild stroke and hospitalized.we dont know what to do.im afraid of my husbands life.i dont want him to be in jail..munna and other pls help us…
help us…
mary
i know bahrain is a GCC country…everytime i kept on reading this blog i cant help but cry and afraid of the situation might happen to my husband.will he be send out to bahrain and take him to dubai for imprisonment?? im so much worried about him…
please advice me…
@ Munna I need your help for Barclay’s settlement , I have 16000 outstanding but I never missed any payment I mean I always pay my minimum due. Is it possible that I can have a final settlement with them ? Please advise
@ Munna Could you please advise me on Barclay’s final settlement? I have a total outstanding of 16000 and I never missed any payment till date , I always pay the minimum due is it possible to have a final settlement with them as I want to close this CC.
Awaiting your reply.
Akhtar
-Can anyone advise me please… I have a loan with Emirates NBD, 3 years to pay AED 180k (this is just the principal and mentioning aside interest) and supposed to finish by July 2011.
-Lost my job in Dec 2008 and found a job in Nov 2009. My monthly installment is almost AED 6k as I used to have a good pay before I lost my job. struggled to pay the loan and thanks be to God I managed to pay even when I wasn’t having a job for 1yr.
-With my current job, 70% of the amount goes to this loan (AED 6k). My personal loan is supposed to end July 2011 and on top of it I missed 2 monthly installments = 3 months which is amounting to AED 18k which I couldn’t afford to pay anymore.
-I started getting calls in July 2011 to pay, then Aug 2011, then Sept 2011, not really everyday but once in a week or even lesser. They’re from collection dept and harassing me to pay or they would file a police case and I will be jailed. Btw never updated them that I’m working already so kept on telling them that I don’t have money (which is really true) and trying to arrange some fund but couldn’t pay the full amount; that I want to go for full settlement and asking for discount but they wouldn’t just listen. I have paid to date approx. AED 193k and yes in 33 months so the principal amount AED 180k has been covered already. However they wouldn’t agree on negotiation that I have to pay full AED 18k.
-You could imagine how I tried to meet both ends…very hard so I could understand you guys…So terrified until this moment. I also have RAK VA of 3k and MC of 9k and just missed to pay the Aug statement and they started also harassing me since not paying the Aug min payment will make both the cards cross my maximum limit.
-Frightened, mentally tortured, some sleepless nights, so worried…I prayed and want to make it happen (Inshaalla) that 2011 I would have finished the ENBD at least.
-If there’s anyone out there who knows someone from ENBD collection dept that I could negotiate this matter and get really a slashed discount, please help me and let me know… Also I called, I called ENBD toll free this week and they advised me to visit Nad Al Sheba branch and see the lady handling my case, who 2x I spoke with her and she’s really nasty and harassing me, and even told last time that don’t call her since my case is filed with the police already….Please help.. Thanks a lot and I pray that may everyone one day gets relieved from their loan or find ease in settling them, Ameen…
i was one loan with union national bank 250thousand and my contract with my old company has be no renovation , so i has one offering from another company a ready , and also a has 3 cc from different banks , my salary change and also we fight in the court to get ours benefit with the old company , 100% we can get this money but maybe another company not accept us any more after that case , i do no what is the best way for finish this . with my new salary a can continue to pay all the stuff , but a ready the bank put the loan on my account . i do no what i”m go do !!! some one know the best way , i don’t wanna leave the country i what pay every think first but i”m scared to get some trouble with the police and after can leave the country . if some one know some think please let me know !! thank”s a lot
USA HAVE GCC ???
Hi ,
I have a personal loan of 210,000aed frm mashreq bank. I lost my job a 4 months ago i am still paying my emi, so as not to default .But i dont know if i can travel or not .I have not informed the bank yet as i am trying to find a new job What are my options? if i dont get a job in a month or so.MY visa will finish in few days …….How can i know if bank has put a ban on my travel ..When exactly bank put a ban on the travel?
Can any one pls advise….
i have weird prblm, i have taken a credit card from ADCB and i just forgot to pay 10 to 50 dhs on my total amount,and that was in 2008 and after that bank started charging me interest rate . now those charges comes up to 8,400.
this 8,400 is all interest and finance charges, i have never use this card again, i got a call from recovery department and he asked me to pay at least 2000 dhs to settle it down, i kept telling him that i have not use this money how can u ask me for such a amount but he warn me for police case and told me that i have to go jail for this.
my concern what worst they can do and how should i come out with this situation
thanks
Mus
Does anyone has an experiecne in dealing with Mashreq Bank regradingcredit card settlement. How much do they waive on principal if you are resdiding outside UAE and have not paid them anything since 2009. My limit was AED135,000 when I was forced to stop payments in 2009. Im now willing to settle and was told by a friend that Mashreq usually waives around 40-50% on principal of high limit cardit cards. He heard it from somewhere, I was wondering if anyone here has an experience with Mashreq regarding settlement?
please let me know.
hi Bill,
first of all you have to make sure that you are dealing directly with Mashreq Bank not with their 3rd party collectors.
yes, mashreq bank can waive charges but it really depends on the limit, at first they will try to push you to pay the whole amount but eventually they will give into your terms if you are a good negotiator.
here’s the thing with all banks,
just to give everyone a clear picture:
You paid the charges and interest of the cc.(win for the bank)
after defaulting, bank claims full amount from insurance (again another profit for the bank)
bank sells your account to 3rd party collection agencies, yes you got that right folks, another cash for the bank, and because you want to clear your dues with them, again they’ve won and made so much money.
Chiecas 1310 :Hi Sands, Can you give me a Mashreq Bank recovery Department if you know someone?
Further to my last post of October 16th, 2011 regarding Mashreq Bank credit card, I found Mashreq collections and recovery guys very helpful and they have shown a keen interest in settling my credit card with my own flexibility, a quality, very rare amongst credit card collection and recovery divisions. As mentioned before, I had a substantial limit credit card from them and since I used all of the credit limit and did not make a payment from last two and a half years, still the guys offered me a 35% waiver on credit limit and I have settled with them to pay partially upfront and the remaining in installments.
Morale: Speak to them gently and nicely and I guess they will help u out as the last thing they need is to recover maximum from an account which is already labelled as a bad debt in their books.
people who are living outside uae can negotiate in better way with the bank…but before any settlement payment or depositing any money to bank …dont forget to ask them the original offer letter or settlement letter to close the ammount.
i have no dues in the bank in scb in abudhabi i want to close my account from outside uae Pl advise me the right way and direction
I was taken a personal loan from ADCB around 3 years back for our company purpos while the resession time i releave from the company and my partner did’t pay the loan back as per our agreement, now i don’t know the sitvation of the loan, I want to settle the account, can any one help me,please guide me,please give me the right advice to settle it with minimum amount.
Come back to UAE and face the your police charges in the court this is the only way since you have already a police case issued by ADCB (you need to know this) however.
Okay…
Can anyone help me please…
In 2007, I took a credit card from FGB for 15000 credit limit. I was paying it religiously until 2011. My sister and my husband lost their jobs. So inorder for us to survive in Dubai, I have been missing payments to FGB. Then on October 2011, after my maternity leave, Agents from FGB are harranssing me to pay the minimum. from which I did. This February 2012, to my surprice, the agent informed me that FGB have deposited my cheque and i they have filed a police case against me last December 2011. I negotiated to them telling them that i can only pay in installment basis but they refused. They gave me 2 option: 1. pay 5,000 this month and remaining in 4 installment or pay 16000 in one time. I can only avail this option if i pay it immediately.
Please advise me… should i pay it through the agent… or will i go to the bank direclty. As of the moment i do not have cash with me. I tried telling them that i will pay 5K on the following month during my salary but they refuse and told me that i need to pay 800 today and they will deduct it from 5K inroder to avail the option.
help….
Hi Angel,
my partner had the same problem with FGB this year. he has a cc limit of 15k which he has been paying it for 2 years on a minumum payment, he tried to request with the bank if they can re-settle his card but they said they dont give resettlements…. lol. many times he contacted and talked to the bank directly but they refused him still, unfortunately for him he had to miss 3 mos cons payments due
and just last january they filed a case against him due to bounced cheque and went to prison for a couple of days, after giving a passport for his guarantee, we went straight to the legal & recovery department in Deira. As expected, these fellows are so unprofessional, arrogant and really fishy-they want him to pay his full cc limit+charges for a total of 20K dhs. we were requesting if they can give us the cc statement for the last two years because this is requested by the court, but they refused, their reason, if he can pay at least 6k then they will give him his statements.
by the way, the only mistake that my partner did was he gave a blank cheque to FGB few yrs back, which now they’ve shown us its 30K dhs which was scribled down on the chq, which obviously it;s not his penmanship. lol. these FGB are crooks i tell you, they are very unhelpful.
anyway, my partner is waiting for his first hearing in the court. under the law of uae, its criminal case but misdemeanor.
sands,
Why did it end up to Court? Were’nt you able to settle it with the bank ?
Angel,
Do not pay a single dirhams they cannot do anything to you, when you go out to this country try to settle it later it will cost you more than 3000 dirhams to clear this amount but be ready to face the judge asking you did you signed the check ” the best answer is YES” you have two option stay 10 days vacation in the jail or pay less than a thousand to clear your obligation…
Wish it would help in such a way as a last resort.
hi, can i get your details. i am also in trouble with fgb and would like to ask for advice.
I have Credit cards from ADCB / RBS, and not paid the installments for 2 months. Need to know that what will be the next steps from ADCB. will they going to file a police case against me or will make calls to me for settlement of outstanding loan. As i am still in UAE and receiving all their calls. would appreciate if somebody could guide me over this or assist me in same
thanks
FS
I have a bank loan and 5 credit cards (HSBC Visa, HSBC Gold, DUbai First Visa, DUbai First Mastercard, and DUnia Mastercard, plus Dunia Personal Loan.)
The total payable as of now, Feb. 24, 2012, is over AED60,000 (of which is a total outstanding loan balance of AED14,300). here’s the complete breakdown:
Dunia Loan: AED14,000
Dunia Credit Card: AED40,000
HSBC Visa: AED4,605
HSBC Gold: AED7,470
Dubai First Visa: AED7,030
Dubai FIrst Mastercard:AED2,950
I got terminated from work on Feb. 18, 2012. Obviously, i won’t be able to pay for all of these. My latest salary was AED7,500. I was able to pay only for the minimum dues and my husband was the one paying for the Dunia Loan. In case I get a job offer of the same salary, would it be wise to accept and live the same kind of life without any savings? My former employer is offering a very good post but i guess they will not offer a salary higher than AED7,500. (By the way, I have been here for in Dubai for more than 5 years and no earnings). Or will it better to just go home to Philippines? Will they be able to catch me in the Philippines? I am so confused what to do. I don’t wanna run away from my debts but i think I have no better option. I know it was a big mistake in the first place of having more than one credit card and spending unresponsibly.
ps.
my Dunia credit card total due became 40,000 (previously 25,000) because i took a cash advance of AED15,000 when i thought of going home. I have no money with me that’s why i did it.
I have booked already my ticket and will fly back to Philippines soon. Before I finally do this, please give me URGENT and serious advice.
thanks.
Erica
@ Sheryll: Sorry to hear about your predicament. Honestly, I am not in favor of running away from your debts. My friend who did the same is now receiving phone calls and postal mails from a collection department based in Philippines. Will it not be covered with your gratuity? Can’t you transfer these to your husband until you find a job? Dunia really has a high interest.. Unfortunately, I am not an expert on this to advise you.. As mentioned, I am not in favor of running away from your obligations. Have you tried talking to the banks and asking for options?
Frugal Xpat Hi Can you give me a Detail of any one in Mashreq Bank Recovery Department It will be Appreciated and thank you in advance,
Chie cas1310>Wrote:
@ Chris: Thanks for dropping by unfortunately I do not have any info of Mashreq Bank, Sorry
Chris
I had a platinum Mashreq credit card which was full at the time of my redundancy. For more than 2.5 years I did not contact them as I did not have that kind of money available to settle. In September 2011, I contacted Mashreq directly and after a few phone calls I got their attention as I was willing to settle. My principal outstanding was above AED100K and the interest was skyhigh.
However, the guys that I dealt with were really helpful and they gave me a 35% discount on principal, with 50% upfront payment and remaining balance in equal 5 monthly instalments.
I didnt pay anything on account of interest.
P.S. I dont know, if its significant or not, however, I wasnt in the UAE when I settled and the guys at Mashreq did not file any case against me even though I was out of their radar for 2.5 years.
So call mashreq directly and tell them you want to speak with someone in charge in settlement division.
Good Luck!
Bill
Hi Erica,
I know how you feel. Actually till now I still have some to settle, and I was very thankful that God enlightened me of what are the things that I have to do. Just few suggestions I could give you. You mentioned that you were terminated. Ask a letter from your previous employer stating there that you had been dismissed. This could help you to apply for the insurance of your credit card and I guess even on your loan, I’m not pretty sure about the loan, but this could really lessen your burden about your problem in settling your liabilities. If you have read the policy of each bank where you have taken the loan or credit card, it was stated there that if ever you have been terminated from your work, you can use the insurance which actually you are paying every month together with your monthly dues.
Check your bank statement. You are paying the credit shield/insurance every end of the month. Your gratuity could also help. Take note, you may not be able to take or withdraw your gratuity from the bank where you had taken the loan. Try to talk to your employer/accountant to issue you your gratuity in cash, then just pay the bank monthly without fail.
Think twice before leaving this country. Will you be able to find a good job in Philippines? Will your burdens be left here? If yes, then go ahead, but if not, then face the problem. You wont notice that its over one these days just have faith make effort to eliminate your problem 1 by 1. If your husband is here, then he will be your no# 1 supporting system and your good friends. Lastly if you have some properties in Philippines where you could sell to help you out from these problems, then do it. All we have to do is learn from our mistakes and don’t ever do it again,
I hope I was able to share some suggestions which could be able to help you. Wish you all the best, Good Luck… and God Bless Us All……
Don’t lose hope Erica Have FAITH GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US….. : )
Hi Debbie. I really, really appreciate your advice and concern. i think d insurance will ot cover my termination coz my employer has made it a point that the termination is because of my mistakes. it is really a long story. anyway, i have already made a decision of leaving. im just still so worried about my would-be life in Philippines. I’ll try to put up a small salon and at the same time, work (as a nurse). My husband or more appropriately partner (we’re not married) promised that he will support me and our children.
Indeed, it was a big lesson learned. I may not come to GCC anymore because of this. But I’m sure that everything will be worth it as I spend my time with my kids back home.
I just hope that no one will catch me in the airport as I leave. Please, if you have any idea regarding exiting the country (UAE) with outstanding credit card dues, please share.
Thank you so much.
Jenny,
by paying the 5,000 fine to the prosecutor, your 20,000 debt is cleared, your passport wiill be given back to you but if you have another case,, then no chance of having your passport and they can catch you again. So if you think that you have another case, better bring a relative or friend passport to be your guarantor and that they will not put you in jail.
Hi adel, do you any idea, of how to renew a visa if you have existing case? do you have email address? can I send you mail?
Hi Erica,
If you’re payment is on time or if your payment is only one month delayed I think you can still leave. But if its more than 2 months I’m not so sure. Asked your PRO if he can check it in the immigration, or ask someone who could check it for you before you leave.
Debbie
i have 2 mashreq bank cc, the payments is 2 months over due, due to some emergency i went to my home country thats why i was not able to do payments, i am getting too many calls daily on my mobile which is on roaming.
my question is, upon 2 months payment delay, did they file case against me or they will just wait for another month, i will be going to dubai within this week.
please suggest.
kh
hai,
I went India for an emergency vacation and unfortunately I extentend my leave and my supervisor put me in suspension and now they inform me that I am terminated and my visa is canceled. I have 2 credit cards ( FGB and ADCB). I took AED17,500/- from FGB and AED 10000/- from ADCB. I dont have any income now.They are calling me to my land phone and mailing me. I know that i cant go back to GCC because I didnt get out from UAE properly. As per GCC rule now I can’t work any GCC. So what should I do? Should I pay my dues? I am ready to pay as soon I got a good job. please help me
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to offer one thing back and aid others like you aided me.
once i take loan from one of the bank in UAE but unfortunatelly after 3 instalment i terminate from the company . If i want to pay some money from my settlement balance is covered by my insurance that bank giving once we start loan . please give me the suitable answer
Hi,
Absolutely nice blog…!
I have similar case as everybody else posted here..I have personal Loan and Car loan with Mashreq Bank… I was a victim of economic downfall in 2009 and came back to my home country .. I was in touch base with them until last year when recovery guys started behaving rude.. However, I learnt there’s a police case filed on me.. Kindly suggest what is the procedure to get out of this consequences with a “CLEAN CHIT” …Do i hire a lawyer or negotiate with the bank….
Reply awaits…
@ Amaan: Thanks for dropping by. I am not really quite sure about your case but what I learned from my friend is that you have to settle your outstanding amount and ask for bank clearance. Then present this clearance to the police station so they will lift your case.
What’s the best way …either i negotiate myself or hire a lawyer for the same …! Please advise if you know any legal adviser and/or if you have any contact person in mashreq collections..Thanks..
Appreciate your response..,
Hi,
Nice to see this blog. I want to ask, I have already settled my bank dues in Dubai Bank and they have issued a clearance letter already. Should I still need to go to the police station in Dubai and present this letter? I was detained there for 4 days last 2010 because of this case, then I got out after my husband paid an initial amount and we paid the remaining for 1 year monthly installment until November 2011. The Dubai Bank recovery agent who gave the clearance letter to us said that my case is cleared, but I could see that he’s not sure. So do you think I still need to go to the police station? Also, how can I check if I have other police case filed against me? I still have other bank dues to settle, right now I am paying FGB thru settlement.
Hope you can help me. Thank you so much and may God bless you.
@ Tterb: Thanks for dropping by and good that you already settled your bank dues. As far as I know, you have to present the clearance letter to the police so they will lift the case. I think it is better to see yourself that you are cleared from any legal case.
I am in a big trouble as I lost employment in UAE and I have loan around 200,000AED (spread over three banks) and outstanding credit cards around 120,000AED (spread over 5 banks).
It is possible for me to clear these dues on monthly instalment basis if I continue in the employment.
But since my company terminated me, my friends advised me to leave UAE immediately to escape police arrest as I cannot repay all the outstanding amount at one go.
Sir, I have the intention to clear the dues., but since I am afraid of going to jail in UAE, I just boarded a flight and came to India now.
But I cannot pay anthing if I do not have any job.
I want to convey this information to all those Bank people who are chasing me through telephone calls from UAE to India.
Now, I heard that COLLECTION AGENCIES in INDIA will also start threatening me.
I would like to know what are the consequences.
Please let me know what is the best thing I can do….. I am still without job and I do not have any assets.
Whatever money borrowed from UAE banks is spent inside UAE (bad investment done by me on a business and I was a grave loser) and I did not take any money to India.
I am really afraid that the collection agency goondas will come to my home and threaten my innocent family members.
Also, please let me know whether Indian police will also arrest me for bank default or cheque bounce case in UAE?
Also, some people say, since my total outstanding comes to around 320,000AED (50 LAKHS), INTERPOL will also chase me……….?
I am really afraid sir……….
Appreciating your kind response.
Regards,
Bhuvanesh Babu
Dear Bhuvnesh
Relax – you did the right thing by leaving UAE.
I am in a similar position and have debts over 2million in cards and loans.
I left the country 10 months back.
Expect calls from the bank in the initial 2-3 months period and then from the recovery agents following that.
Some recover agents will even make a visit to your residence.
Here is what you must do:
1. First of all relax – the worst is over. You have left UAE and there is no law in India that can prosecute you for your debts in UAE.
2. Do not believe anyone who says that you will be reported to Interpol. Trust me Interpol is very busy with much more important matters than chase 100s and 1000s of people down for debts with the banks. Banks make a killing on interest and charges, so please do feel guilty.
3. If possible change your local contact number and address. If you cant change it then atleast you should not reside in the same city, which has been listed in your passport or at the address with the bank. Chose a different city or even a different country (not GCC) and start your new life.
4. If you family resides at the address which is recorded with the bank – give them specific instructions that they should simply say that they are not aware of your whereabouts. Remember to not feel threatened or intimidated by the calls from the banks or collection agents. Your family simple must continue to say that they do not know where you are and are not concerned with your whereabouts. Do not get into a conversation with them. Just maintain the tone and hangup the phone.
5. If any recovery agents visit your residence – PLEASE DO NOT FEEL SCARED.
they have no authority to do anything. Worst case is that they will try to intimidate you by giving you or your family all kind of threats and stories. First thing is that you should not face them. Let the family meet them at the door and maintain the same response that they are not aware of your whereabouts and have no concern. Feel bold and confident and tell them to go and do whatever case they want to file. TRUST ME, THEY CAN NOT FILE ANY CASE.
The fine print in all loan and credit card applications clearly states that the jurisdiction for all disputes is in UAE courts only.
There is no INTER-DEBT law between UAE and India.
6. Chose to communicate with banks and recovery agents only through emails. Even for that purpose, it is best to maintain total silence for the first 6-10 months. Simply file all their emails in a separate folder. Do not reply back.
7. This is the time period for you to concentrate on settling down and getting your life back in order. Try to be focused and save money aside for the time when you are ready to settle with the banks.
8. Once you are ready, then reply back to any of the last emails received from the collection agent or bank. Ask them what is the best offer for settlement.
Do not fall for their terms or threats.
simple chose to dictate your own offer and stick by it.
They will ask you for your address and phone number so that they can discuss with you. DO NOT GIVE ANY DETAILS.
Tell them that email is the best way to communicate.
9. Finally make them your offer. If you are offering a one shot clearance payment – go with the rule of 15% of the principal amount of the credit card and 35% of the principal amount for the due loan amount.
10. Obviously your offer will not be accepted in the first try. Maintain your offer and continue to inform them that you do not have the funds to offer anything better.
11. Be prepared to negotiate and give extra offer of 5% more after a few tries and make that your last offer. TRUST ME, most banks will accept eventually.
Dont be in a hurry. If they dont accept, leave it. They will contact you back after few days.
Negotiating with banks and recovery agents is a WAIT and SEE game and should be played with patience.
12. IMPORTANT = Insist that the bank should send you an original letter of settlement which states your defaulting account number, your name with passport details, total outstanding and the final agreed settlement amount.
The letter should clearly state that on payment of the agreed settlement amount, the bank will issue NOC and withdraw any police cases and clear your name with the Central Bank.
This is a very important step. Ask the bank to send you the letter in original to a post box in UAE, which may belong to your friend. Your friend can then send the letter to you. DO NOT GIVE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS.
Also demand for the letter in original and before you make any payment.
13. Even if you have agreed to a settlement through a recovery agent – DO NOT PAY THE MONEY TO THE AGENT. Pay the money through your friends and relatives directly to the bank to the account number mentioned on the letter.
Keep all receipts and records of all the correspondance.
14. Once the payment is done, request the bank for the clearance NOC letter. Which they will issue within 3-5 days.
15. Once you have the letter, submit the same to the police station and check if they have cleared your name from the police record.
16. You are now FREE to enter in UAE and continue your life where you left.
All the above are thoroughly researched and personally experienced by me.
I am now at the final stages of clearing my debts and hope to return back to UAE shortly.
The key is NOT to get intimidated or threatened by them.
I wish everyone good luck and Pray to Almighty Allah that he helps us all to resolve all these troubling issues as soon as possible.
Regards
Kay
Thank you Kay for your detailed response which is highly informative.
Also, please note that my current situation is I am almost bankcrupt… i dont have any asset in India. I dont have any money …. i borrow from my sister and her husband every time… until i get a job, this will be my situation.
Even if i get a job in India. I dont think it will be sufficient for me to pay off the debts.
I have NO INTENTION to work in the Gulf… because i have earned a psychological stress there… whatever i earned there, I had spent there itself… without bringing anything to india.
no car, no house, no family function… all money got through bank loan and credit card was spent in UAE itself (bad investment and spent for untrustworthy people).
This is the reason for my worry…………
in case if I decided to work and live in India from now,
whether UAE banks or collection agents can SUE me in India…?
whether Indian police will book case against me?
whether INTERPOL will try to book a case against me in India?
please let me know my friend….
God bless you also.
- Bhuvanesh