IDR chasing a UAE debt

[NicaDuke20]

Hi, I spent 9 months in Dubai in 2012. I left suddenly in 2013 after my father in law died and my partner needed me to stay home after funeral. I informed my employer I wouldn’t be returning when I was back in UK. He wanted me to post my passport to him which I obviously didn’t do but I think he informed the authorities that I had left. 

 

I had a UAE bank account that had a small credit balance and credit card with maybe a balance of about £200 on. I tried to pay off the balance but the bank closed down my bank account by the time I tried to pay it off a few weeks later. Because it was such a small amount I didn’t think much more about it and presumed (wrongly) that it would be written off. I didn’t receive any formal notifications from the bank even though I remained at the same UK address as what I left from. I have always been on the electoral role in UK so could have easily been traced. 

 

Last week nearly 8 years later and no contact from the bank or any other agencies I received an initial vague letter from IDR and yesterday another one stating that I owe First Abu Dhabi Bank  £12K on a CC and 2K on an overdraft and to get in touch with them. This was to my address I moved to a year ago. This is a mortgaged property I own with my wife. 

 

I’m looking for advice on what to do next. I’ve read many forum threads that advise not getting in contact with IDR until the point they advise they are going to take proceedings against me. I obviously dispute the debt so should I be making contact with the bank to do this or leave that for now and see what transpires. 

 

TIA 

[dx100uk]

you ignore IDR etc until or unless you ever get a letter of claim.

 

WRITE to the BANK (stated client on IDR letters)

inform them of your correct and current address

 

the sums will simply be all the unlawful interest they the UAE banks wack on debts, most remove all the interest if you agree directly with them to repay even over a longterm low £PCM plan the actual sum you ran away from.

 

 

sb times are 10 and 15yrs respectively in the UAE i believe.

 

eitherway you MUST write to the bank giving your correct address else you risk a backdoor CCJ.

 

 

 

[NicaDuke20]

Thank you very much for your quick reply.

 

So I update the bank on my new address straight away and start the dialogue

questioning the debt,

agreeing to pay the amount I left with.

It was only about £200 on the CC. 

So the interest is unlawful? Interesting. 

I will ignore IDR until point of letter of claim. 
 

[dx100uk]

typically the bank will waive the 2000% odd interest, 

BTW: did you sign open an dated cheque(s) when you took out the credit in protection and for presentation should you ever default and these were presented?

[NicaDuke20]

I’ve been trying to wrack my brains to remember but I can’t recall at all. I signed so much stuff that day. I got the credit card when I opened the account. 
If I did sign a cheque I’ve no idea if this was presented or not but might that explain why they are now saying that there is an overdraft debt. I was never in any overdraft. 

[dx100uk]

thinking correctly

 

 

[dubai 5 0]

the overdraft is probably through the monthly charge for the account which kicks in in accounts that are left open without salaries being paid in.

 

[NicaDuke20]

Thank you both for your insights. I’ll let you know how I get on on with the Bank and any future correspondence with IDR