As part of ‘The Debt Panel’, The National published an article about a travel agent based in Dubai who owes over AED 125,000 in debt, and is now worried that there may be police cases filed against him that might stop him from traveling back home…
I am in such a mess and do not know how to get out of it.
In total I owe about Dh125,000 and I earn Dh7,350 as a travel agent in Dubai. I built up these debts paying for medical treatments for my parents, renting apartments and supporting my parents and sister in Pakistan as I am the sole breadwinner for the family.
I now need more credit to pay for my younger sister’s wedding in June and to cover a few payments that have been overdue for a long time. I have managed to close two credit cards at the end of last year through payment plans – and will finish another next month.
Since January this year I have been trying to get a loan of up to Dh15,000 to Dh20,000 – but I am being denied due to my credit record. My outstanding debts are:
Credit card 1: Dh26,666
Credit card 2: Dh21,000
Credit card 3: Dh12,210
Credit card 4: Dh7,000
Loan: Dh59,000 with a monthly repayment of Dh2,155
I have had one case made against me that I only found out about because someone hit my car. I ended up behind bars but I had been making the repayments on time. With my sister’s marriage coming up, I want to travel, so I hope and pray there are no more cases against me. How can I find out if there are?
At the moment, I am making the repayments on time, but I am always worried and am scared about entering an airport. How can I solve my debt issues?
Here is what Ambareen Musa, one of the debt panelists and Founder & CEO of Souqalmal.com, had to say.
With a total credit card debt of more than Dh66,000 along with a loan of Dh59,000, and earning a salary of Dh7,350, it is clear that your Debt Burden Ratio is well above the maximum 50 per cent, stipulated by the UAE Central Bank. On top of that you already have a police case registered against you. This makes it impossible for you to get a new loan or credit card from any UAE bank. In fact, the biggest concern is that you’re considering taking on further debt, given the current state of your finances.
The good thing you’re doing is focusing on repaying your credit card debt, one card at a time, and closing those credit card accounts subsequently. You must keep doing so with the remaining four credit cards as well…
For full article go to The National.
