Q: I lost my job in March 2020. Had a loan payment and credit card payment going with the bank. I could not pay the loan EMI, the bank filed a case and I had to pay the fine of AED 10,000/-. At this point, I'm still jobless and unable to pay the credit card minimum due since April 2020. My query - 1- I don't remember giving any blank cheque for a credit card since it was issued by the bank without my request, can they still file a case? 2- In the meantime, if I get a job, can I open a salary account with a different bank?

Q: I've taken a loan for 5 years from a bank in Dubai. I've paid for 2.5 years, then I've lost my job and had to leave the country. Until now I can't find a job. I couldn't pay the loan instalment for 8 months. The bank said that they've already written off the loan and is threatening to file a police case. The remaining loan is AED 340k. All I have now is only 150k. I'm afraid that I pay what I have, then stop paying. And then the bank will file a police report. What should I do? Is it possible to reach a deal with the bank to pay the 150k and they close the case and give me back the cheques? If they're going to file a police case anyway, then it's better that I don't pay the 150k. It'll be a lose-lose situation for me and the bank. I want to hire a lawyer to help me close this issue. And explain to me what are my options and how much will his service cost me.

Q: Hi I have a loan with a bank amounting to AED 165,000 but due to redundancy, I lost my job and was not able to pay the installment. When I got the gratuity, the bank deducted the amount of AED 51,000 at once from the total outstanding. Today, almost three months have passed, and now they are threatening me to file a civil case for the remaining amount of AED 112,000. Can you please guide me on what actions they can take? In case of a civil case, how much fine I need to pay? And for the mentioned amount, do I have to face a jail term?

Q: In the current system, is it possible to get a travel ban due to unpaid loans in UAE? My loan is due but due to job loss, I am unable to pay. I am a bit worried about it.

The UAE travel ban may be imposed on a person on various grounds, for instance, as the result of criminal offences, unpaid loans, breach of immigration laws or family matters. Implications of such a ban can be financially severe and daunting for the affected person. This article aims to give readers a clear understanding of what is the UAE travel ban, what are the grounds and procedures for its imposition and removal, how to check if the person is banned from travelling and other related topics.

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.

The management of individual financial affairs is crucial and all the actions must be weighed down while committing to any financial liability. Whether it's job loss that may have lead to financial failure or the opposite, one must be aware of the personal liability which will not diminish by paying fines for cheque bounce cases. There are two major types of liabilities, criminal liability and civil liability. Each has its own significance, hence, must be dealt with accordingly.