what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Dec 18th 2008, 11:06 am
#136
Big Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
You are right ofcourse, but what shocked me was the 2+ weeks waiting time to setup a simple bank account in the UAE. I don't even need their cheque book, neither do I need their credit card either. Just an ATM card that I can withdraw money with for my daily needs and internet banking facilities.
Dec 18th 2008, 11:08 am
#137
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Khaladiya Abu Dhabi
Posts: 4,181
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Then the banks here are breaking the visa and mastercard global rules, it is not allowed
Dec 18th 2008, 11:10 am
#138
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
HSBC do it across the table - you have your account number, ATM and cheque book immediately (think for status accounts). And they come to you.
NBAD took a couple of days, took them 2 weeks to send me the cards and PIN
NBD - no idea, check with MM
If the bank is really bad, then it could take more than 3 weeks...
NBAD took a couple of days, took them 2 weeks to send me the cards and PIN
NBD - no idea, check with MM
If the bank is really bad, then it could take more than 3 weeks...
Dec 18th 2008, 11:11 am
#139
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 127
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
That sounds more reasonable to me. May I ask what is required to open an account their? I mean besides physically being in the bank. All I needed here in Holland was my passport and a valid address somewhere in Europe. Do the ATM cards work in Europe? To my amazement my Dutch one worked in Dubai when I was there three months ago.
Dec 18th 2008, 11:13 am
#140
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Khaladiya Abu Dhabi
Posts: 4,181
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
HSBC do it across the table - you have your account number, ATM and cheque book immediately (think for status accounts). And they come to you.
NBAD took a couple of days, took them 2 weeks to send me the cards and PIN
NBD - no idea, check with MM
If the bank is really bad, then it could take more than 3 weeks...
NBAD took a couple of days, took them 2 weeks to send me the cards and PIN
NBD - no idea, check with MM
If the bank is really bad, then it could take more than 3 weeks...
Dec 18th 2008, 11:21 am
#142
Big Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Good afternoon NorthernLad,
That sounds more reasonable to me. May I ask what is required to open an account their? I mean besides physically being in the bank. All I needed here in Holland was my passport and a valid address somewhere in Europe. Do the ATM cards work in Europe? To my amazement my Dutch one worked in Dubai when I was there three months ago.
That sounds more reasonable to me. May I ask what is required to open an account their? I mean besides physically being in the bank. All I needed here in Holland was my passport and a valid address somewhere in Europe. Do the ATM cards work in Europe? To my amazement my Dutch one worked in Dubai when I was there three months ago.
To open a current account we needed residency - we opened a savings account first, gets you an ATM and internet banking. Copy of passport, passport photos, not sure what else as this was 4 years ago.
Then when you get residency you take that along, with salary certificate and they can update it with a current account, then you get cheque book and credit card.
Dec 18th 2008, 11:50 am
#144
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
I had to get a letter of no objection from my Dad when I opened my first account here 
Dec 18th 2008, 12:27 pm
#145
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 127
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Thank you. And yes, good one to. Not a real Bush fan so don't mind. But I can remember a UK girl living in Toronto once whispering to me while waiting in line "If they make one more remark about my British accent? I'll kill someone..." I just smiled "Join the club Miss / Misses UK, do you think it's any better for an American living in Europe?"
Dec 18th 2008, 12:34 pm
#146
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 127
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Aye, it surprised me that in a third world country where 90% of the population still get around on camels that they have ATM machines...and they even work for Visa/Mastercard/Plus/Cirrus etc...
To open a current account we needed residency - we opened a savings account first, gets you an ATM and internet banking. Copy of passport, passport photos, not sure what else as this was 4 years ago.
Then when you get residency you take that along, with salary certificate and they can update it with a current account, then you get cheque book and credit card.
To open a current account we needed residency - we opened a savings account first, gets you an ATM and internet banking. Copy of passport, passport photos, not sure what else as this was 4 years ago.
Then when you get residency you take that along, with salary certificate and they can update it with a current account, then you get cheque book and credit card.
Thanks for the information. I'm just in that phase where for every answer I get ten more questions pop up unanswered. I've worked in the Far East before, just never the Middle East. IndieG's answers really made me start to think along the lines if it would be a smart move to accept a job in the UAE at this moment. But 14 years ago everyone declared me crazy for accepting a job in the P.R.China as well which turned out to be really great.
Dec 18th 2008, 12:55 pm
#147
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,502
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
I bank with Lloyds TSB. Opened account in September.
Took six full weeks for the cheque books to arrive. Credit card and pin number took about a month.
This was after repeated visits and banging on people's desks.
Took six full weeks for the cheque books to arrive. Credit card and pin number took about a month.
This was after repeated visits and banging on people's desks.
Dec 18th 2008, 1:00 pm
#148
If I have to explain...
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Dec 18th 2008, 1:03 pm
#149
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,502
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
Research your industry. If it looks to be on solid grounds, it might be ok making the move (although there will always be the risk). Right now there's no telling how bad the Dubai collapse will be. This may be the worst period and we may end up having a soft landing after shedding the excess jobs (a lot of the companies went on pointless hiring binges for the past year or two, hiring people at high salaries to do not very much work. Those were the ones to go first). Or it could just be a harbinger of what's to come.
If you do come over, just don't enter into any contracts or financial obligations that would make leaving the country difficult. Don't buy a car and don't negotiate your own contract with a landlord. Have the company do all that for you, so if necessary you can just walk out the door and head straight to the airport with no financial liabilities.
My company is fine for now, but I do regret buying a car because if the worst comes, I'll lose the 25K down payment if I can't sell the car when I need to leave (the monthy payments are the same as the monthly car hire was, so no money lost there).
If you do come over, just don't enter into any contracts or financial obligations that would make leaving the country difficult. Don't buy a car and don't negotiate your own contract with a landlord. Have the company do all that for you, so if necessary you can just walk out the door and head straight to the airport with no financial liabilities.
My company is fine for now, but I do regret buying a car because if the worst comes, I'll lose the 25K down payment if I can't sell the car when I need to leave (the monthy payments are the same as the monthly car hire was, so no money lost there).
Hi NorthernLad,
Thanks for the information. I'm just in that phase where for every answer I get ten more questions pop up unanswered. I've worked in the Far East before, just never the Middle East. IndieG's answers really made me start to think along the lines if it would be a smart move to accept a job in the UAE at this moment. But 14 years ago everyone declared me crazy for accepting a job in the P.R.China as well which turned out to be really great.
Thanks for the information. I'm just in that phase where for every answer I get ten more questions pop up unanswered. I've worked in the Far East before, just never the Middle East. IndieG's answers really made me start to think along the lines if it would be a smart move to accept a job in the UAE at this moment. But 14 years ago everyone declared me crazy for accepting a job in the P.R.China as well which turned out to be really great.
Dec 18th 2008, 1:04 pm
#150
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 127
Re: what the F do you do if you get sacked and have cars and credit cards
I've had HSBC recommended to me by several people, including a few UK nationals I met here in Holland that have worked in the Middle East. But I'll stick to IndieG's offer to go see her and see what she advises me.