American With UAE Dubai Credit Card Debt is Worried About Interpol. – Lisa

“Dear Steve,

I am an American who was working in the uae for six months and in that time I accrued credit card debt in the approximate amount of $10,000USD. This is probably an overestimate, but definetly not an underestimate. I could not stand the working conditions in the UAE so I fled the country leaving behind my credit card debt.

My mother has been contacted by the bank a few times and then once by a UAE collection agency. Her response is always the same answer: “I don’t know where she is.” I have also received emails(although they are few and far between) regarding the matter. I simply do not respond to them. The latest one states that they will hand my case over to Interpol.

Will they hand over my case to Interpol for that insignificant amount(insignificant for an oil-rich country)? What will/can be done? Should I be worried? Should I avoid flying into any GCC state in the future?

Lisa”

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The Answer

Dear Lisa,

There is a current scheme in Dubai to attempt to work out payment arrangements with creditors but from everything I’ve read you would need to be in the UAE to investigate that program. It’s administered by the local police.

Since you’ve already fled the country I would avoid any GCC country but you will not have any issues coming back into the United States.

I have not heard of any case being turned over to Interpol for a simple credit card default and and that sure sounds like a hollow scare tactic since Interpol has a much higher scale of priorities to deal with.

When you can, you might want to reach out to the bank in the UAE and attempt to workout a suitable repayment arrangement.

If you have concerns about your legal status in Dubai you might want to find an attorney in the UAE to advise you.

Please post your responses and follow-up messages to me on this in the comments section below.

Big Hug!

American With UAE Dubai Credit Card Debt is Worried About Interpol. Lisa
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American With UAE Dubai Credit Card Debt is Worried About Interpol. Lisa
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  • Rkhan1956

    The banks in the UAE cannot do anything if you are in the US or Canada. I had few loans and left in 2008 for family situation in Canada. I got few calls and then a collection agency in Canada and I told them that if they call back again, I will file charges. That was last year. If you are outside the GCC, You are okay. 

  • journey

    Hello,
    i worked in UAE for 4 years and sometime in 2006..i had a financial problem ..leading to credit card debts…to the point that i can’t pay them anymore..
    the bank filed a case to the police…they said that they will not pursue the case if i’m going to pay my debts..and the case will be erased from the police file records…fortunately some of my friends and co workers helped me get through it and settled payments on them..luckily i was cleared of the charges against me..i continue to work…then after few months, my employer cancelled our visa and sent us back to our home country…leaving unpaid credit cards and a loan fron a bank…as much as i want to go back and pay my debts…i can’t because i don’t have money and the capacity to pay…now i’m married to a Green card holder and soon to be a US citizen and he will file a petition for me and our child to join him in USA…my worries and questions are:1. do i need to declare the settled filed case before even though i was cleared of it?2. will i be refused of an immigrant visa if i declare it?3. will they know of my unpaid debts in UAE? can it affect my application?4. what are the chances of me for getting an immigrant visa?5. what will be my status?i really do need an advice…i am hoping for your utmost and favorable response…thank you

    • Rowan S2000

      Yes it will affect your application I suggest you do back to Dubai pay your dept or stay where you are do not go to US . They will arrest you from their and take you back to Dubai and you get a additional bonus of 1 year extra prisonment with your due . If it sounds not too bad go prison otherwise stay put . The US will know of your unpaid depts.

      • Ex-UAE-Expat

        Incorrect Rowan. If you have a pending criminal case in the UAE and an Interpol red notice against you for a bounced security cheque, the USA will NOT extradite you under any circumstances.

  • Dosnaprint

    my boyfriend will be working in cyprus and from manila, transit is via dubai.. he has credit card debts there. will he be able to pass thru without any hassles or will he be jailed once he enters dubai?  thanks much..

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      Others have reported they were able to pass without a problem.

    • Ysabel Ortiz777

       Hi,

      Yes your boyfriend would be held at the airport of Dubai and would be put in Jail unless he pays what he owes the bank. I am very sure of this because I used to work at FGB bank in Dubai. Please please please let him board another plane that doesnt stop over in Dubai. I am telling you he will have problems that you couldnt solve unless you pay back the bank. Trust me.

      • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

        That’s not the feedback others have posted here on the site. They’ve made flight connection transfers without a problem. But the underlying issue here is that the debt remains unresolved. So I guess anything is possible.

  • AmirMostatabzadeh

    Interpol does not have the time or money to deal with little cases like this. As a matter of fact…Interpol sucks in general. They are only used for extreme monetary theft, child porn..things of that nature. Why do people freak out so much about these things? Have you not heard about debt collectors before in your life? Those people are worse than the ex-customers they’re trying to scare lol. 

  • wiseman

    People, look into this article:
    http://www.7daysindubai.com/UAE-police-longer-seeing-red-debts/story-15653736-detail/story.html

    Seems that UAE has cleared there internationally wanted list from “debts skippers”

    • http://GetOutOfDebt.org Steve Rhode

      Good link and story. It’s about time. Interesting though the number of people reported on that list was so small to begin with. Looks like they were just on there in error to being with.

  • Ysabel

    Mike H

    You have no right to judge other people with whatever they are going through in life. For sure your life is not perfect if it is then be thankful to your GOD if you have one. You are not in the right place on the internet to bubble your mouth. Be productive, be helpful and mind your own business I am sure there are more important things in your life to do rather than judging others and condemning them. You are in this world not just for yourself unless you are too selfish, self centered and self righteous. Yes GET A LIFE SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF BEING ALIVE!

  • Ysabel

    The banks in Dubai can only file a civil case for the debtors and NOT A CRIMINAL CASE. Interpol will only entertain Bank and Financial Fraud. Check Interpol website for more informations. If you want to travel to any GCC country I advise you to change your passport report it stolen, the new passport has a different passport number that should be safer. DO NOT GO BACK TO DUBAI UNLESS YOU WANT TO SERVE IN PRISON. Do not worry about the local agencies calling to collect your debts they are simply paid to do that at the end of the day they can’t do anything about it. You signed the cheque in Dubai and the rules and policies doesn’t apply in the other countries. They only have all the rights to do whatever they want to you when you are INSIDE THE UAE. God bless everyone and do not be scared.

  • Azhuzker

    Thank you for  your feedback. So you believe I am okay here in Maylasia until I go back to the US?  I know you don’t know for sure but your opinion is that? 

    The account has been turned over to a collection agency do you recommend that I try to work with them or can i request to deal with the bank directly.  I have gotten advice that the bank is eaiser to try and work with but don’t know if that is true.   In  your opinion will  they be open to a payback that is more in line with the orginal debt of 10K?  Thank you for your help.

  • Mike H

    As to these people racking up credit card aand other debts in Dubai and then fleeing, the answer to thier problems is simple;  1) never mind looking for help on the internet 2) sell your computer and your smart phone and all your toys and use the money to pay off part of your debt.3) work hard & pay off all your debt 4) then cancel all of your credit cards 5) Save your money 6) never again buy anything you cannot pay for in full at time of purchase.  You cannot afford the lifestyle you have been living, and on top of that you are a financial illiterate.  Get smart, grow up!!

    • Lisa

      Hey Mike your a freaking moron.  I am not trying to run from the debt simply trying to pay back the orginal amount.  Why don’t you get a life and stop reading blogs that don’t concern you!  Sorry your life is perfect but others that have fell on hard times we are looking for solutions, there is a difference in trying to solve a problem and avoiding it you idiot.   I have a debt and want to settle it but I am unwilling to pay 25K in interest and late fees in one year.    By the way if I didn’t mention it your an idiot.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Hamoodi-Mo/100001992621737 Hamoodi Mo

    i have took a personal loan of 300,000 AED from one bank in the UAE and had fled the country after not being able to pay back since i had lost my job. I’m sure that the bank will notify authorities once they realize that im not paying and that i have fled, what are the chances that I will be red noticed by the Interpol and extradited from Jordan to the UAE?

    I understand that writing a bad cheque with an amount of 40,000 AED the government will notify the Interpol for extradition, but how about personal loans and credit cards?

    does the UAE police authorities notify the Interpol for such cases? 

    • Adelsamhan

      have you solve the problem with dubai banks?

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