Q: I have an unpaid credit card in the UAE. I no longer live in the UAE. However, I am trying to make payments as best I can. ENBD has referred the account to a collection agency, who is, of course, threatening with civil action and a "lifetime" GCC travel ban. In the next few months, I will be able to clear up the account but I need some time after being unemployed since leaving the UAE 12 months ago. If this goes to the civil court, is it best to hire a lawyer to deal with this since I am not in the UAE?

Q: Hi Sir, I have a concern regarding the issue with a collection agent for RAK Bank. I didn't pay my credit card debts for several months due to some family financial matter. Now, I am in trouble and put in a warning by the management for termination, because of the collection agent who keeps on sending emails to the company's email addresses on our website. He is harassing me also and affecting my emotions, mental health and credibility in the company. I have informed him that I can provide a payment by next month, but he keeps on insisting to pay on 28 and sending to the company's email address. What should I do?

Q: Hi Sir, My credit card cheque was bounced and I got in jail and paid the fine after the public prosecution hearing, but they did not give me a clearance. They just let me out in the jail. I would like to ask if I have a travel ban. The bank keeps sending me and for the 8th time that my cheque was bounced again. Is it also possible that they can repeatedly bounce my cheque? They also threatened me that they will file a civil case a week after the other case was finished.

Q: I have a Najm credit card, I used to do a minimum payment every month. I am working for a company for the past 2 years. I am not getting salary on time I used to get salary after every 2 or 3 months. I did them a minimum payment but late by arranging for one or another. I came to know that there is a final settlement for the credit card where you can pay a fixed amount every month. I requested them for the past 6 months but they didn't help me. Also, I came to know that they have put my salary of 11500 but I am getting a salary of 5000/-. Every month they are torturing me, for that can you help me with this. They also say they will deposit my security cheque and file a police complaint. This time when I went to meet one of the people for Najm card, I told him about my situation but they are not ready to listen. He gave me two options, either to pay 18500/- in one stroke or 20500/- in 2 instalments

Q: Hi Anitha, Due to the financial crisis, I am a defaulter of 2 cards. Now, what will be the next step they will do?

Q: I left the UAE last year with some credit card debt and despite emails to the bank asking for methods to pay from overseas, they never provided the information. They handed the debt to debt-collectors who harassed some people in the UAE telling them there was a travel ban on me. I always wanted to pay the debt, I have numerous emails (to two debt-collecting companies and the bank) offering to do this with a payment plan and yet none of them has responded. My questions: 1. How do I find out if there is a case against me? 2. How do I find out if there is a travel ban? (I would like to return to work in the UAE). 3. How can I negotiate payment with establishments that refuse to communicate? 4. Can I put a complaint into the Central Bank and ask for the debts to be wiped out considering the lack of response to my attempts to pay? Please advise and I will be happy to pay for the appropriate service. Thank you.

Q: Dear Sir My question is that I have two credit cards of a total outstanding amount of AED 60000 including interest and late fines...etc. I am not paying the credit cards payments for the last six months due to financial issues. I contacted the bank for full and final settlement after giving a discount but the bank has not agreed to give a discount and asking to pay the full outstanding amount. What would be the legal consequences in case of not paying the cards payment? Please advise how to settle and close these issues. Regards, S.A.

Q: It is appreciated if you please advise on the below situation! 1- What is the maximum amount of fine that can be imposed in a misdemeanor, criminal case? 2- What if the fine imposed in a criminal case is not paid? (a huge amount is imposed by the court which I am unable to pay).

Q: Hi, I have an outstanding credit card amount of AED 22,000 unpaid since March 2019, which has now gone up to AED 38,000. Since Nov 2020, a third-party debt collection agency is behind me for this amount. Now the bank is directly negotiating for AED 18,000 in one shot payment. I am unable to pay this amount. As per your experience, what is the minimum amount that banks will agree with to close this issue? If they go for a civil case, will the judge grant me a lesser amount to pay?

An interview-format article covering the topic of the travel ban and reasons leading to it in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

يلعب الشيك دوراً مهماً في الحياة اليومية سواء في ميدان المعاملات التجارية أو في ميدان المعلامات المدنية باعتباره أداة وفاء والتزام تحل محل النقود في التعامل بين الافراد. ونظراً لهذه الأهمية فقد أصبح أكثر الأوراق التجارية انتشاراً وتداولاً بين الناس، على الرغم من حداثته نوعاً ما. فالشيك لم يبق كما كان في بداية عهده أداة لسحب الودائع المصرفية لحساب الساحب ذاته، بل أصبح أداة وفاء تحل محل النقود سواء على النطاق الداخلي بالنسبة للمعاملات التي يقوم بها الأفراد داخل الدولة فحسب وزادت أهميته.

The provisions of this law, promulgating UAE Civil Code, govern the civil transactions in the United Arab Emirates. The commercial transactions remain subject to the laws and regulations applicable in their regard.