Q: Hi I am from India and I left the UAE in 2020 with a personal loan outstanding of 300k due to my job issues, I am in the UK currently for the past 2 years. The bank has received my end-of-service benefits and holds them. Now they are threatening me via a collection agency from India to go against my parents who have nothing to do with this loan. They are calling them by phone and messaging to threaten me from time to time. I have complained to my bank about this bullying from this collection agency but no action is taken from the bank. I am currently paying the minimum amount to the bank in the UAE towards my personal loan. I like to know what action can the UAE bank take against me in the UK and in India against me and my parents. What is the legal right the collection agency in India has to act against me and my parents? If I can't pay my personal loan due to my financial situation, what will the consequences be? Kindly advise.

Q: Hi, Can I file a complaint against a debt collecting agent for harassing me to collect my debts for a bank in UAE? They have been calling me and I responded to their calls and during my off, they tried to reach me but I could not respond to them due to personal reasons. They called my parents back home and threatened me saying they will call my boss and sent me a voice text saying "I will make you suffer". They are using abusive and unprofessional languag like "I am criminal" and "liar" and asking me "Am I a human even?".

Q: Hi, I would like to ask if a finance company can file a civil case with the amount of less than AED 5000. Does a third party have the right to collect the money under another finance company even though the company has been closed and harass anyone even if the employer has no responsibility to them? Please advise because a lot of people are suffering mentally and psychologically due to their misbehavior and wrongdoings. Thank you

Q: I have credit cards from a bank in the UAE and the limit for both cards is 7500 but the outstanding is 9800. I asked for a settlement of AED 4000 for both cards, as I paid more than 2 or 3 times the card limit and it's been blocked for more than 3 years. The collection agent keeps on calling and saying a maximum of 3 installments for 7000 as a settlement but I am not able to afford that amount. Also, the bank is denying to talk and telling me to contact the collection agency for settlement and the bank is not responsible for this. Can you please guide me in this?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I have outstanding debts in the UAE, but I live overseas now. Debt collectors are reaching out to the companies I work for, creating embarrassment and harassment. Is there any legal way to make them stop?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I was delayed in my payment to a personal loan platform and asked them if I could pay on the next salary date. They ignored my message and now call me nonstop, even at work. They use different numbers to harass me, sending rude WhatsApp messages calling me a scammer and threatening to call my employer and family to get me deported. They also pretend to be from the Credit Bureau to squeeze money out of me, even though I don't have any. They also called my sister and friend to embarrass me. They are so rude, the rudest debt collectors I've ever encountered.

Q: I am in Abu Dhabi. Someone was disputing about the money he says I owe him. On WhatsApp, I told him if you have a problem, you can complain or report that. Then he started sending me messages saying that I was a liar and a scam. And that he will come to my residential building and tell everyone that I am a liar and scammer, and he will come to my apartment and take the money he claims it’s his. He also made a racial comment about my home country (that this is UAE and not your home country where you can scam people). He also mentioned something bad about my family. I reported this to the police with screenshots of the chat. What else can I do in this case of threatening and defaming?

Q: Dear Team, I am reaching out for legal assistance regarding a serious privacy violation and defamation incident caused by a debt collection agent. The agent shared my photo and personal financial details with third parties, including local leaders and members of my community in India, causing significant damage to my reputation and that of my family. They state that I am on a huge bank debt and it’s going to legal case now, which has led to humiliation and mental distress for my family and me. Key details: 1. Debt Amount: 8,000 AED 2. Evidence: Screenshots, voice notes, and phone numbers of the individuals involved in sharing my information. 3. Outcome: Loss of reputation in my home city and even within my wife’s family because there was a rumor that I am in jail I want to pursue legal action to hold the responsible parties accountable for their unlawful actions. Kindly let me know how I can proceed.

Q: I have applied for a credit card with a well-known bank here in Dubai. During the verification course from the bank, they sent my salary certificate to our company's info at an email address to which half of the staff have access. I have been told by several members of my staff, that they received this email. I am the Deputy CEO of the company and obviously, this is not a light matter. I have contacted the bank and they have offered me vouchers for AED 1000 and then 2000 but I want to press charges for a serious offence and go for punitive damage. I know the latter is not a usual practice in the UAE, but I want to explore my options. I have also informed the Central Bank, but they say I must wait 30 days before proceeding.

Q: Dear Respected Lawyers, Subject: Request for Legal Advice Regarding Unlawful Practices by a Debt Collection Agency I would greatly appreciate your advice and guidance regarding a troubling issue my colleague is facing with a collection agency. The company has been contacting the employer, urging them to ask my colleague to get in touch with them regarding a supposed liability. This claim is related to a 15-year-old closed dispute with a bank credit card, and the issue seems to stem from outdated and inaccurate information on the AECB report. Our main concerns are as follows: Unauthorized Access: The company is accessing her AECB report without her consent. She has never given permission for them to retrieve or view her personal financial information. How is it possible for a third-party agency to openly access and track AECB reports, especially for a dispute that was resolved 15 years ago?

An interview-format article covering the topic of loans and bounced cheques in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

In the UAE, cheque bounce is a very frequent problem faced by people during their span in the country. It is covered under the purview of Commercial Transactions Law, and legal implications/penalties can be financially severe and daunting for more “serious” offenses. Bounced cheque issues may arise in a variety of commercial transactions, including but not limited to, companies’ exchanges, bank loans, property rents or purchases, and individual transactions.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

The provisions of this Decree by Law amend the Federal Law No. (18) of 1993 by replacing Clause (4) of Article (379) as well as Articles (600), (617), (641), (642), (643), (644), and adding new articles numbered (635) Bis, (641) Bis (1), (641) Bis (2), (641) Bis (3), (641) Bis (4), (643) Bis (1), (643) Bis (2), (644) Bis (1) and (644) Bis (2). The Decree-Law also repeals Articles (401), (402) and (403) of the Federal Law No. (3) of 1987.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).