UAE customers complain of threatening calls from banks

Olivier U, returned to Dubai refreshed after a holiday, but as he set foot into his house, he started getting unpleasant calls and messages on his phone from his bank because of late credit card payment.

“I am six days late for a credit card payment of Dh2,500 from my bank [name of the bank withheld] as I just got back from my holidays. I get numerous threatening calls and messages. I am a loyal customer who always pays on time [and I believe] these calls and messages policy on late payment is a bit too much. This is ridiculous and the Central Bank of the UAE should definitely send a warning to all the banks in the UAE for such practices,” a frustrated reader wrote to Emirates 24|7.

Echoing the same sentiment, a Dubai resident spoke of receiving similar calls from her bank. “I activated my new credit card but never used it as I went on holiday. When I came back I got a threatening call from my bank asking me to immediately pay up Dh200. I was quite surprised as I’d never used it. The charges were apparently for a statement posted to me. The normal fees for the statement was Dh5 but they slapped a fine of Dh199 as I’d not paid that