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Bank apologises for card payment delays
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Thursday, 7 May 2009Posted on Monday, 11 May 2009
Banks and Emiratisation
Posted by Adel Al Amiri at 19:24 UAE time
Banks must be blamed for their lackadaisical attitude and customers must equally be blamed for mismanaging and misusing their credit cards, carrying higher credit card balances, being delinquent on their payments and last but not the least, their infantile ridiculous behaviour. About Emaratization, the keyword is and will ever be 'protectionism' irrespective of anyone says overtly or covertly, implicitly or explicitly. The UAE may be a magnet but nothing wrong in reaffirming and reminding all expats that they will remain mere guests. To the skeptics, hasn't the 6 months residency visa confirmed the guest status of expats???
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Apologies to customer & double payments to vendors
Posted by Malik Muhammad at 14:20 UAE time
I remember year 2006 when I was working for a multinational tele-communication company, the company supplied them some telecommunication system, finally they paid twice the value of actual invoice one by normal payment and one by managerial cheques. really its amazing for a multinational banks to do this blunder mistakes, how they keep their check and balance.
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I doubt this is anything to do with Emiratisation
Posted by Mart at 13:53 UAE time
Try getting anything done with an bank in the UK (or any other large organisation) and you'll probably get similar problems. I think this is a problem that pervades all large bureaucracies - staff are often poorly trained, and know that (as there are lots of staff) other people will probably have to deal with sorting out the problems caused by their mistakes.
It requires a cultural shift in the organisation - a commitment to doing things right, and helping customers rather than just turning up to work and putting in some hours to get paid.
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Be Careful
Posted by Lester at 10:40 UAE time
Come on people......this issue has got nothing to do with the nationality of the people working there.....Any business is looking to make money at the cost of someone's negligence....Even the banks....It's not a charitable institute.....The people working for banks below middle management are doing their "Jobs".....every bank will do the same thing....Although RAK bank is far more better......
*I bank with ABN Amro, Stan Chart & RAK Bank.
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Emaratis in the Bank
Posted by J rasheed at 10:07 UAE time
I am customer of National Bank of Dubai for the last 15 years. Presently my account is in Muhaisnah Branch.
75% of the staff in the bank is Emaratis.
Whenever I visit the bank for any assistance, I have been given full assistance with well understanding of problems and solutions.
They know exactly what they are talking about. Their knowledge about accounts, computers are excellent.
They are very fast and efficient.
Many times I told this fact to them and appreciated their services and knowledge.
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Banks
Posted by OS at 09:13 UAE time
Why is everyone complaining about the banks - they are there to make money for themselves and I think the worst service I have seen in the region is from Citi Bank. The charges, the fine print, the attitude of the staff will beat any other bank by a verrrrrry wide margin.
To those who have started the Emaratisation debate again and this 'country-is-mine' etc etc, please bear in mind that if you have to tell someone that you are powerful, you really aren't. Whether you like it or not, UAE has become a magnet for people from all parts of the world. There is no going back to the 'good old days'.
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Emiratisation???
Posted by Oracle at 09:11 UAE time
I agree with Moussa to certain extent.
The problem in banks is not due to Emiratisation. It is due to lack of customer focus and training to their customer handling executives (at all levels). Furthermore there is lack of leadership (read vision) at the higher levels. The leadership has no or little idea what the customer wants and hence the strategy disconnect to goals (other than profit$$$$$). Also, there is a need of culture change (and hence thought process) in banks. They have yet to realise that "Customer is indeed the King". While I am not saying that abusive customers need to be tolerated but there is a way of handling them without getting emotional about what has been said. There needs to be a process which the bank exceutives should be trained for handling such customers without being emotional or offensive in return. Unfortunately the bank management do not want to invest in imparting such soft skills (waste of money???).
However, I have a question for Mr. Moussa & Mr. Yousef - what would you do if you buy an LCD TV and find that it does not work and you find that there are hidden charges to make it work.
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Competance and Emiratisation
Posted by Doug at 08:50 UAE time
Farhan and Moussa - you're both wrong.
Farhan - LloydsTSB is probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to not having enough locals on their staff. I have always been served at Lloyds by incompentant Brits who at best need some coffee and at worst are hungover. This is most definitely not a case of 'underqualified locals' and arguably the service at Lloyds would be far better if they got rid of some of their expats and replaced them with some competant locals.
Moussa - I broadly agree with you but let's make a point clear. Yes, this is the UAE but that means that Emiratis are entitled to APPLY for jobs and be considered a priority over expats with equal qualifications. If an Emirati is not qualified to do a job, they are not entitled to have the job. In the same way, as a UK citizen, I'm entitled to apply for the job of nuclear technician in Britain but I am not entitled to have the job because unfortunately I did an arts degree rather than something useful.
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NEPOTISM & SYCOPHANCY
Posted by Aisha Al Hammadi at 05:07 UAE time
As usual, the same sniveling critics will claim that any incompetency revolves around Emiratization, please get over it and get used to reality, the UAE belongs to us, its nationals. The core issue is that rampant nepotism has pervaded all departments of banks as a result of which incompetent, condescending and indolent managers will recruit their own phoney incompetent sycophants. The call centres and other departments were and still are managed by slothful amateurs who consider these call centres/departments their football grounds, their cat-walks, their kingdoms, their paseos, etc.
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Posted on Sunday, 10 May 2009
Emiratization Acceleration
Posted by Moussa al Fahim at 21:37 UAE time
So now it is an Emiratization issue??? We have said it innumerable times that this is the UAE and we are entitled to all its jobs. Whether you like it or not, whether you admit it or not, whether you agree or disagree, the very simple fact is that we are the citizens of this great land and expats will remain guests. Swallow this bitter pill, it will do you all lots of good... eventually...
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Good Riddance Transfer Certificate
Posted by Yousef Al Qubaisi at 21:26 UAE time
We all are at the mercy of technology but bear in mind that all banks and bankers are just sick and tired of uncouth and haughty customers who really think they own the bank and its employees just because they have an insignificant platinum credit card. Wake up and smell the coffee, very glad that some banks are closing the accounts of such arrogant customers. Overbearing customers have been and will be shown the door with a Good Riddance Transfer Certificate. Such wacky juvenile immature behaviour will not be tolerated.
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General Observations
Posted by Farhan at 18:08 UAE time
What some of the people may not know is that most of the Banks operating locally are not the credit card issuers themselves ... they issue the same on behalf of Arabian Financial Services ... hence the delay in the updating of the information. Secondly, in order to meet the emiratization standards, most of the banks including Mashreq, Emirates Bank, Citi, opted to replace their call centre/ front end staff. Now the main issue is that these people are not trained properly and have absolutely no product knowledge. Arguing with customers is the order of the day insisting that they are right. Not once but on numerous occasions I had to shout back to advise to check that I am also a senior banker and wouldnt buy what they are saying. Nevertheless, no one bothers to even check those 'your call may be recorded for our quality enhancement program', wonder what the program is?
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..Wait till you deal with NBK!
Posted by Nishad at 16:23 UAE time
I've been having a problem (bank created) with my credit card and despite sending mails, calls, posting website messages etc - all you get is the standard automated reply saying it is being addressed and will be looked into! Its over a month now. No one bothers to call you back.. and the best part is, I am a Tahabi (Privelaged customer) !!!
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Bank apologises for card payment delays
Posted by Srivatsa at 16:17 UAE time
I have experienced citi Bank, SCB, Mashreq and RAK Bank. I had very good experience with RAK Bank. I do not waste time standing in Q at counters. Staff greeting u and making ur normal transaction a pleasant experience. You can reach any authority - Manager etc..
Come on guys there is also a good banknamed RAK Bank - experience it.
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Banks are responsible for the present global crisis
Posted by Ananth at 15:57 UAE time
At least Lloyds bank has realised their social responsibility by waving late payment on credit card payment.I am at a lost to understand any rhyme or reason for some of the charges the poor card holder has to shell out as processing charge,finance charges,insurance or credit shield and top it with billed finance charges etc.When the bank sales executive come for canvassing they will never tell any of these hidden costs and trap the poor customer who is forced into a debt trap.How many innocent people are languishing in the jail because of the banks greed and lack of transparency.People with hardly 2000 to 3000 income are carrying bunches of cards and spending 90% of their income only to repay the debt.Authority should immediately interfere and instruct banks to stop looting the customers and bring back credibility to the banking system.American president has already adressed to this issue in his last meeting with credit card CEO's and there is an urgency for a strong mechanism in UAE to bring back the confidence of people.
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