Hard to escape from ‘vicious debt cycle’

Defaulters face jail, job loss, blocked visa and social stigma

A34-year-old Indian expatriate was found hanging at his Dubai residence on Monday. According to sources, the sales executive, who was single, had incurred large debts. Police are investigating.

Over the years, there have been a number of cases involving suicides due to the inability to settle debts.

Defaulters can end up in jail over bounced cheques, lose their jobs, have their visas blocked, and taken to criminal and civil court. In the face of the impending consequences, the defaulters sometimes resort to extreme measures.

Many debtors who are stuck in a rut are nevertheless determined to settle their dues and their biggest concern is that due to the rigid bank rules, they are effectively unable to find a middle road till the time their issue is resolved.

A 33-year-old Indian, who did not wish to be named, said he has paid back the principal on all his four credit cards but still owes some Dh150,000 in interest, late payments, and other charges.

According to him, he had missed paying monthly payments, the financial charges on which are snowballing exponentially.

What led him initially into the predicament, he said, is that he had been a victim of financial fraud, which led him to fall into debt. The Dubai resident also said he had initially taken a loan to help family member in trouble.

“I want to pay them [banks] back but they don’t want me to pay them. Instead of taking what I can give them every month, they want huge Dh10,000 amounts in two or three instalments and that I can’t afford. So, when I miss those deadlines, they add on more charges, which I simply can’t pay. This never-ending nightmare has been going on for years,” he said.

He had dues totalling Dh700,000 in credit card payments and personal loans. He has managed to pay back Dh200,000 in two years.

“No matter how much I pay, the charges keep piling up because what I pay is never enough. It’s a vicious cycle that ends up very badly for most of us.”

“I have three cases against me. My visa is up for renewal soon but that will probably be blocked. I may lose my job. The banks know this. How can I pay them if I don’t have a job or visa or if I’m in jail?” he said.

Another customer, a Filipino in his 40s, said he had taken loans to help his family and relatives. To settle one loan, he said he had to resort to another. He eventually racked up 16 credit card limits and has four legal notices against him.

He said his only option was to pay back about Dh500,000 or face jail. The expat lost his job as his visa couldn’t be renewed.