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M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Old Aug 25th 2010, 6:00 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Cheers pal have you heard about any more driving contracts since you been out there and is this the first you done .talkin to Neil the other day he said it's the first one m&e done
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Old Oct 15th 2010, 5:42 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Originally Posted by monster4149
Cheers pal have you heard about any more driving contracts since you been out there and is this the first you done .talkin to Neil the other day he said it's the first one m&e done
Hi all, Spoilt1033 Here again, Havnt been on for a while, SOS, Being a bit distracted with work etc.

Where to start!

Got Email of M&E Group back in July offering me a Class One HGV Driving Vacancy in Kuwait with M&E Group, which i accepted, Flew out on 9th July, Lucky enough to be one off the drivers that started work with ITT Transport (Main Employer) on the 15th July 2010, Work was quiet/Boring with not much actual work involved - Mainly picking up rubbish, or Ground guiding vehicles to the washrack or despatch, Moved to ITT Movements about a month later and work within a small team of 4 guys actioning TMR's or Downloading Vehicle Convoys from Iraq, Driving mainly wheeled vehicles to start with and eventually moved onto Tracked Vehicles as well (M113,M88,M1 and Bradleys - All good Fun). Still at movements and enjoying the job/work but heard we might be moving to SPOD shortly where we would be loading/Unloading the Vehicles onto Ships. Went on a Visa Run in October and am now badged to work on camp till 19th December 2010 where i am hoping to do another Visa run which will allow me to work till Feb/Mar 2011. Hoping to be here for a couple of Years but M&E need to get ITT to commit to a 12 month contract (Visa18) or something that will allow those of us that want to stay permission to take an holiday sometime during the year without fear of losing this job.

There are a lot of drivers thinking of returning to the UK to spend Chrismas with their Family's (Cant blame them really, i would want to if i had kids etc) but are looking at the possibility of losing their job out here if they do? (Note to those on the waiting list, Possibilitys of job's in November/December?)

Take home averages out at about £750 to £800 a week in your hand (paid fortnightly) for a 72 hour week (144 hours a fortnight), add 45 mins travelling each way on top of a 12.5 hour shift (Possiblity of this becoming a 13 hour shift (still only paid for 12 hours) and this is a long day, (14 hours at present), (this is working on Tax Code 647L X - Emergency Tax (Point to note - hand your P45 in before you come out here - you pay less (Heard a rumour that if you do not reside in the UK for 60 days or more, you will not pay tax - not sure if this is true?)

Accommodation isnt the best but it is liveable,FREE, has FREE INTERNET (Very Slow during the Day but faster at night SO I'VE HEARD?), and has a free swimming pool for the use by M&E Drivers (Not the cleanest pool but useable?)

Transport to work is with a M&E Minibus driving amongst the crazy locals (Ayton Senna has nothing on these people!!, MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!, I SHIT YOU NOT, SOME OF THESE DRIVERS ARE BLOODY LUNATICS!!!!)
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Old Nov 8th 2010, 12:27 pm
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Originally Posted by spoilt1033
Originally Posted by monster4149
Cheers pal have you heard about any more driving contracts since you been out there and is this the first you done .talkin to Neil the other day he said it's the first one m&e done
Hi all, Spoilt1033 Here again, Havnt been on for a while, SOS, Being a bit distracted with work etc.

Where to start!

Got Email of M&E Group back in July offering me a Class One HGV Driving Vacancy in Kuwait with M&E Group, which i accepted, Flew out on 9th July, Lucky enough to be one off the drivers that started work with ITT Transport (Main Employer) on the 15th July 2010, Work was quiet/Boring with not much actual work involved - Mainly picking up rubbish, or Ground guiding vehicles to the washrack or despatch, Moved to ITT Movements about a month later and work within a small team of 4 guys actioning TMR's or Downloading Vehicle Convoys from Iraq, Driving mainly wheeled vehicles to start with and eventually moved onto Tracked Vehicles as well (M113,M88,M1 and Bradleys - All good Fun). Still at movements and enjoying the job/work but heard we might be moving to SPOD shortly where we would be loading/Unloading the Vehicles onto Ships. Went on a Visa Run in October and am now badged to work on camp till 19th December 2010 where i am hoping to do another Visa run which will allow me to work till Feb/Mar 2011. Hoping to be here for a couple of Years but M&E need to get ITT to commit to a 12 month contract (Visa18) or something that will allow those of us that want to stay permission to take an holiday sometime during the year without fear of losing this job.

There are a lot of drivers thinking of returning to the UK to spend Chrismas with their Family's (Cant blame them really, i would want to if i had kids etc) but are looking at the possibility of losing their job out here if they do? (Note to those on the waiting list, Possibilitys of job's in November/December?)

Take home averages out at about £750 to £800 a week in your hand (paid fortnightly) for a 72 hour week (144 hours a fortnight), add 45 mins travelling each way on top of a 12.5 hour shift (Possiblity of this becoming a 13 hour shift (still only paid for 12 hours) and this is a long day, (14 hours at present), (this is working on Tax Code 647L X - Emergency Tax (Point to note - hand your P45 in before you come out here - you pay less (Heard a rumour that if you do not reside in the UK for 60 days or more, you will not pay tax - not sure if this is true?)

Accommodation isnt the best but it is liveable,FREE, has FREE INTERNET (Very Slow during the Day but faster at night SO I'VE HEARD?), and has a free swimming pool for the use by M&E Drivers (Not the cleanest pool but useable?)

Transport to work is with a M&E Minibus driving amongst the crazy locals (Ayton Senna has nothing on these people!!, MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!, I SHIT YOU NOT, SOME OF THESE DRIVERS ARE BLOODY LUNATICS!!!!)
ello pal got over here in sept the 11th and badge in 3days so not to bad I came out with txm in the end and was put in trans I stop there a few weeks then mover over to cran crew I'm not badging with these lot again and going home in dec but hopefuly back out with sumone else almost atraght away if thing go to plan but you never no in this place if your down here before dec call in and say ello ok pal have fun.
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Old Nov 13th 2010, 11:15 am
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Cool Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

ello pal got over here in sept the 11th and badge in 3days so not to bad I came out with txm in the end and was put in trans I stop there a few weeks then mover over to cran crew I'm not badging with these lot again and going home in dec but hopefuly back out with sumone else almost atraght away if thing go to plan but you never no in this place if your down here before dec call in and say ello ok pal have fun.[/QUOTE]

hi, meant to ask, are you on days or nights with crane crew because i see you night crane crew most nights, i work nights at movements, off mondays normally, just awaiting confirmation that company is going to pay for visa 18's for M&E Drivers staying past December. Meant to be in 2nd Batch for applying so will have to wait and see, badge expires on 19th dec 2010, so hoping its confirmed. How are you enjoying crane crew, busy enough or quiet?, told that it will be quiet for all departments until january when it should get busy again. time will tell, hoping to be here well past feb 2011 if i can, what about you, extending or returning home ?
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Old Nov 13th 2010, 11:32 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Hi pal I'm going home and hopefully coming out with another company. For the rest of the tour if it all goes to plan but as you well know. It could all change here but I'm leaving on the 11th Dec. I'm on the day shift and we are bizzy most days but like everywhere else you have your slack time. I'm hoping to have my operator tickets before i get out of here place another feather in my cap as they say. So may get to call in for a brew at sum point ok have fun cooky
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Old Dec 3rd 2010, 5:40 am
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Cool Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

hi all, spoilt1033 here again. Update Time again!

Well, As you will all know if you've been reading this thread from the start, I arrived out here in Kuwait back in July (9th), had a unforgettable experience on the Bus to the Accommodation as a welcome to Kuwait present courtesy of the bus driver/ Local drivers (Nutcases is being polite!) before finally arriving and thanking him upstairs for a safe arrival, got badged at camp Arifjan on the 14/15th and started on (getting paid from)the 15th with ITT Transport, where we did the occasional bit of ground guiding of the US Army's 915 (Normal truck) or Het (Heavy Equipment Truck/Trailer) to either the washrack (where we washed it) or to the despatch office (where we waited till it was despatched) before returning to transport. The rest of the days were spent litter picking, looking busy or doing some kind of "lesson" on how to first parade/ drive a truck with a trailer!. I Finally got the chance to leave this department to actually do some work with ITT Movements where we Drive/ Tow or Carry all types of Wheeled or Tracked Vehicles as well as various static Equipment to/from various location on camp normally to either the washrack or sterile lot but sometimes also to other locations for up arming and so on. Been on Several Visa 14 runs and am now about to start a Visa 18 application with M&E Group so the future is looking good.

I'll say one thing for M&E Group, it might have been a bag of shit at the start with been messed about and crap passage of information, but they have improved a hell of a lot since then, they have also kept their promise and are sorting the Visa 18's out so that the guys that want to stay, can (me being one of them!)

We now have Aaron as the M&E Rep, so passage of info is better than it was, which can only be a bonus!

Hopefully moving out of this Accommodation in Feb 2011 sometime, but will have to wait and see.

To anyone thinking of coming out here to work for M&E Group, You might have to go at short notice, but this job is worth it, £750 in your pocket for every 6 shifts worked (72 Hours paid) is better than you'll find in most places in the UK, Work is not overly hard, its just the long hours and boredom you have to contend with.

Worthwhile advice:
If your going to come and work out here,

BRING A LAPTOP WITH SKYPE and Some sort of program to hide your IP Address (Recommend HOTSPOT SHIELD) ALREADY INSTALLED AND also PLENTY OF READING MATERIAL!! (BOOKS - NOT PORN, LOL)

To all those that left, enjoy the UK, I hear the weathers great at the moment and i'll be thinking of you all while I'm enjoying the sunshine,getting a tan and earning good money for doing hardly anything.
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Old Jan 24th 2011, 8:19 pm
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Hi Guys, anyone still out there on this contract ?, as it is being advertised all over the internet at the moment... whats the vacancy situation like ?
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Old Jan 24th 2011, 10:23 pm
  #68  
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Originally Posted by DyslexicDOG
Hi Guys, anyone still out there on this contract ?, as it is being advertised all over the internet at the moment... whats the vacancy situation like ?
There were vacancys, but dont know if there are any more still available? might be 1 slot left, lad left on sunday.

Might be moving accommodation end of feb, and hopefully getting visa18 soon, application already underway, had blood test, x ray and fingerprints taken, waiting on badging for camp arifjan plus visa18
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Old Jan 24th 2011, 10:57 pm
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Cheers for the quick response Spoilt . I put in the application form earlier...lets see where it ends up, hopefully not file 13 LOL.

Wish you luck with the Visa 18 and hope to see you sunnyside sometime soon
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Old Jan 26th 2011, 11:34 am
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Talking Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Hi again,

Update time again (just for you Mick!!!), lol

Where to start?

Went home in December when badge expired (20th Dec) with promise of being able to return, (Paid for my own Flight - £630 for the flight (rtn), £70 for my train journey (rtn), landed at Manchester Airport (It was open, thank god!!), left with temps at around +30, Landed in -10, Was tempted to get right back on the plane, lol

I came back on 4th Jan, flew into kuwait from Manchester Airport (Still open , thank god!!!), to +30 temps again, told after a week that i had failed the rebadging process. A few of the Origional Drivers decided to return to the UK rather than wait for the badge to be resubmitted with proof of Visa18, I decided to stay and wait for badge and am been rewarded for being patient.

Hopefully within the next week/fortnight, my Tempory Badge (60 Days) will come through so i can go back to work, Hoping the Visa 18 will be completed shortly (hopefully before my Temp Badge runs out and also before April)

Been informed that if we have the Visa18 completed by April, we should be able to Claim all Tax back from the 9th July 2010 onwards.

Oh well, will have to wait and see, as far as i know, there are 2 Guys that have left Kuwait, so i Imagine there should be 2 Jobs vacant very soon.

Bit of Advice!!!!

If you get the Call, Be ready to go, lol

Expect 10 to 14 Days for Badgeing Paperwork to go through.

Bring enough Kuwaiti Dinar to last 4 Weeks (2 weeks to Badging/ 2 Weeks untill First wages)

Taxi's to Supermarkets normally 2 Dinars (Local) and 3 Dinars (Distance)

but free Minibus normally available (most of the time)

If you can, GET YOUR PHONE UNLOCKED BEFORE YOU COME OUT, local Sim card (Watinaya) normally costs around 5 Dinars.

Internet Dongle (Zain) can be bought for 10 Dinars and comes with 5 Days internet (1.5 Dinar Credit)

30 Day Connection costs 5 Dinars to topup (1GB Download Allowance)

Topups for Phone and Internet can be bought locally (Till Feb)

!!FREE INTERNET IN ACCOMMODATION - BUT DOESNT ALWAYS WORK)

PPS - Bring a laptop pre - installed with Skype and Hotspot Shield, if you want to use it

Bring Plenty of Dinar if you are planning to eat out regulary, lol, or going for a coffee (It can get Expensive)

Eat out Meal

Normally a Starter, then Main course (Prefer Steak myself) and a couple of Drinks (Non Alcoholic, sorry!!!) will cost around 10 to 11 Dinars plus Taxi cost of 4 to 6 Dinars

Coffee = Normally around 1 and a half to 2 Dinars (Enjoy the 10 min walk)

You wont need US Dollars untill you get badged but i normally spend around 10 Dollars a night ($6 Subway Sandwich, 2x $2 Drinks)

12 Shifts (6 shifts x 2wks) x $10 = $120 for meals on camp (I work Nights)

I spend on average

$240 Dollars a month (£140)
250 Dinars a month (£600)

Total Outlay (£740)

wages for Month (£3000)

Balance left (£2260)

Breakdown of 250 Dinars

5 Dinar on Phone (Weekly) 20 (mthly)
5 Dinar on Internet (Monthly) 5 (mthly)
20 Dinar on Eating out (Weekly) 80 (mthly)
10 Dinar on Coffee (Weekly) 40 (mthly)
Rest on Shopping 105 (mthly) (adjust accordinally)
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Old Jan 26th 2011, 11:37 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

PS (Mick!!!) Any new entrys welcome, nudge, nudge, wink ,wink,

IN OTHER WORDS - PUT PEN TO PAPER. LOL
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Old Jan 26th 2011, 11:38 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Originally Posted by DyslexicDOG
Cheers for the quick response Spoilt . I put in the application form earlier...lets see where it ends up, hopefully not file 13 LOL.

Wish you luck with the Visa 18 and hope to see you sunnyside sometime soon
LOL, if you end up out here later this week, will probably be me showing you round, lmao
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Old Jan 26th 2011, 12:55 pm
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Not heard anything yet .....but all is in order if I need to go (could even manage it with 2 hrs notice lol).

Thanks for all the info you have provided so far ...... invaluable
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Old Feb 19th 2011, 8:50 am
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Hi Spoilt,
I am coming out there on 25th Feb 2011 with TXM , flying from MAN with Qatar Airways to Doha, then a flight from Doha to Kuwait City.
I've read all your threads just wondered if you could answer a few questions for me ?
Where do TXM lads stay ? on my paperwork it just says Mahboula !
I've a mate who was out there with M&E and is coming out on the 26th with Millbrook.

I welcome any tips you have.

Cheers Ian
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Old Feb 19th 2011, 11:24 pm
  #75  
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Default Re: M&E Group in kuwait (advice needed)

Originally Posted by Mahboula Muff
Hi Spoilt,
I am coming out there on 25th Feb 2011 with TXM , flying from MAN with Qatar Airways to Doha, then a flight from Doha to Kuwait City.
I've read all your threads just wondered if you could answer a few questions for me ?
Where do TXM lads stay ? on my paperwork it just says Mahboula !
I've a mate who was out there with M&E and is coming out on the 26th with Millbrook.

I welcome any tips you have.

Cheers Ian
Mahboula is nearer to camp arifjan where you would be working, who's the lad from M&E? It isnt Gary Kilsby is it or Steve Davis?
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