AES
 

Does anyone have experience of AES (Touting themselves as a Private Bank) but really want to get their hands in your pocket for Endowment Policies, and get the contact details of your mates?

Re: AES
 

They cold-called me last week - made a change in that it was a female caller. Told them where to go in as many words.

Re: AES
 

They appear to have problems in keeping their staff! - No mention also on the Website that they are a Private Bank!

Re: AES
 

Look out............... :huh:

http://www.international-adviser.com...-over-aes-move

Re: AES
 

.......... by the way - in what way are they suggesting they are a Private Bank? They are certainly not, and they cannot under any circumstances act as a principal in a transaction.

Re: AES
 

Thanks for the link. They are actually quite blunt by saying 'We are a Private Bank.'

Re: AES
 

Yeah, that seemed to be their main selling point, apart from the fact they are based in Emaar Square which seemed to be another high plus point in their sales tactics.

Re: AES
 

It's very simple. Never deal with any company that cold calls. It's shabby.

Too many financial companies just tell lies on the phone. :sneaky:

Re: AES
 

Didn't get anyone cold calling me.. was actually recommended by a guy in the office. Got some life assurance through one of their wealth managers and putting something aside each month, into some funds. quite happy with the guy on their side.

Re: AES
 

'Wealth managers'. An utterly pretentious title.

:rolleyes:

Re: AES
 

not sure he's actually called that - just the one that came to me, as I was writing the thread.

Re: AES
 

There are many salespeople in the UAE who use that particular title as they think it makes them sound better. It doesn't.

Re: AES
 

I would do a second pass on that one, if I were you! - They want to get contact names and numbers from each punter. This is mentioned at the beginning (Hence how they got my phone number). I didn't proceed any further.
BTW: Cold Calling to a Landline is Illegal in the UAE

Re: AES
 

Rather like being given a Business Card from a jumped-up Office Boy, to find that he is 'Vice President.'

Re: AES
 

er... I would do a second pass yerself mate. I asked my colleague who he used for his life insurance - he recommended the guy who did his (who happens to work at AES). Tricky to get your head around it I know, but do try.

Re: AES
 

Each to his own, I suppose. However, the whole approach took me make to Post-Grad days when I shared a house with a 'Policymonger' from Hambro Life! - What an education that was!

Re: AES
 

He "recommended" him?

How will he know how good he was until he's dead?

Re: AES
 

as in - he wasn't an annoying fckwit.

Re: AES
 

Q: If a Life Insurance Salesman fell into a pool of sharks, why would he not be attacked and eaten?
A: Professional Etiquette!

Re: AES
 

That's a play on the Lawyer joke...

And if you've ever had anyone die and leave debts, dependents and/or IHT bills to be paid the only person who comes to give money at that time is the 'shark'.

That's not to say Life Insurance isn't or cannot be mis-sold...it often is.

N.

Re: AES
 

When my Endowment Mortgage finished in the UK, there was a small excess after the Capital Amount had been repaid. I have been in an extended correspondence with a 'Leading International Insurer' for the last two years. They raise one problem after another;

You do not live in the Original Property! - I moved after four years!
You do not have the same Bank Account! - The Bank was demolished!
You live Overseas! - Yes . . . and?
Do you have a 'Gas Bill?' - Mohammad the Cylinder man is illiterate!
In what Country is the United Arab Emirates?
What is the address of your parents? - They are both dead!

Unfortunately, the Shark did not arrive! - I only have sporadic communication with a multitude of correspondents from the pond! - Therefore, you can probably see why my view is quite jaundiced.

Methinks that they are hoping that I will 'Go Away!'

These practices do not inspire confidence. The whole Financial Services Industry is in need of fundamental reform.

The grubby little technique of dropping a receptionist Dhs 100/- for a telephone list is not only unethical, it is immoral!

Discuss

Re: AES
 

If you read past what you quoted of me you'll see we're on the same page when it comes to best practice and consultative selling over cold calling and pushy salesmen (the sharks)...as for entire industry reform, do you mean in the UAE or worldwide?

N.

Re: AES
 

No offence meant against you, Norm at all. What I quoted was a UK Experience, which also transcends into Medical and Car Insurance! - Let's play the game of asking one spurious question at a time, and hope they 'Go Away!'

On the other hand my experiences here in the Middle East have been akin to the 'Americanised' selling practices of Hambro and the like, used in the UK during the early 80s.

What regulation is there here in the UAE? The 'Nice Gentleman' from AES rattled off his IFA status, etc., but he had difficulty with literacy skills! - If the forms, and a few Emails were anything to go by.

Re: AES
 

No offense taken.

The UAE has zero regulation at present but that is due to change...hopefully sooner rather than later. Even a minimal qualification standard will turn off many of the double glazing salesmen. There are probably on 3-4 companies in the UAE who self-regulate correctly and at something akin to current UK/EU standards.

The Central Bank has supposedly banned cold calling but I know this still goes on, albeit in a subdued manner.

The main problem is the lack of knowledge of people calling themselves "advisors" and the hard sell approach.

N.

Re: AES
 

Norm,

I must have been tempting fate today! - I received another Email from Shark Pond, this afternoon, asking for information that has been sent previously!

Is it me?

Re: AES
 

It's appaling, but not all IFA are slimy charlatans. Some of us have proper qualifications, have never cold-called in our lives and have ethics.

I find it amazing that people don't check out who they are dealing with, but a simple rule to start with is that if they cold call they are to be avoided.

Re: AES
 

You're paying karma off...I believe Hell is a place where you are cold called three times a day ;)

N.

Re: AES
 

You don't believe in Hell, so you have nothing to worry about.

Re: AES
 

Only in the earthy sense...

N.

Re: AES
 

My advisor told me that they are not a private bank, but a private bank status company. Their main selling point is that they are not only regulated by the necessary authorities within the UAE, but also with the FSA (Financial Services Authority) in London. :britflag: I had a brilliant experience with them, they managed the transfer of my UK frozen pension. I would recommend them to anybody. :thumbsup:

Re: AES
 

How long have you been working for them?

Re: AES
 

I'll second that. We can smell the bullshit you're emanating from a mile off. :thumbdown:

Re: AES
 

Nope, I'm just happy with the service I received. I had a really bad experience with other financial companies, which cost me a lot of money. I was forced to look for someone to transfer my pension, as it was in trouble back in the UK. I was cold called by UK company who connected me with AES. On booking the meeting they attached the following video:(URL removed)

Re: AES
 

Cold called? Always a bad sign...

Re: AES
 

I get ****ing loads of these because one twat in the office gave them everybody elses number.

I especially like telling them that you're not interested very politely. Then a week later get another call of 'Gareth' to set up a meeting with 'Quentin Huffingdon-Witherall' who is a senior Wealth Prick.

The best bit is, the follow up call ALWAYS contains a bare faced lie; "I remember you were really interested in saving for that holiday and setting up a pension"...um, no you ****tard, I was interested in you leaving me alone. I even consider my job to be above yours you ****ing peasant.

Rant over.

Re: AES
 

Quentin Huffingdon-Witherall? That's a new twist! I got Squadron Leader Hardleigh-Worthit!

Re: AES
 

bbc1, panorama: 'who took my pension?' - youtube.com/watch?v=gajTHiHW8iA - that's the video I was referring to. Just out of interest, has anyone had a bad experience with a financial firm and which one was it? Whenever received a lot of cold calls or got done with a 25 year friends provident or zurich saving plan...

Re: AES
 

Or maybe received PMs on this forum touting for business?

Isn't that against forum rules?

Re: AES
 

Out of interest......... what does Goldust do?

Re: AES
 

Some colleagues fell into the '25 year plan' trap. Unlikely they will see their money unless they live in UAE (or tax free country) until 2032.