On Your Side: Six months later, customer finally gets her air miles



The banks and the airlines in the UAE have recently partnered to offer credit cards that accumulate air miles for customers. In August last year, I applied for an Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) credit card that was co-branded with Etihad Airways. The card cost me an annual fee of Dh1,000 and I was promised a sign-on bonus of 25,000 guest miles. After more than six months, I have still not received my miles. The bank blames the airline and the airline blames the bank. For me, this situation is particularly upsetting because I had intended to put the Etihad miles towards a ticket to visit my family in Canada. CM, Abu Dhabi

This issue was referred to the relevant department at ADCB because, in this situation, it is the responsibility of the bank to ensure that the relevant incentive is paid. The matter was investigated and a spokesperson for the bank advised: "In reply to the complaint, please note that as per the card promotion the customer should get 25,000 Etihad miles after paying the credit-card fee of Dh1,000. However, the customer card was blocked under lost status when the card centre generated the reward report from the system. As a result, the card was not included in the report. Therefore, and as service gesture, we have credited the miles manually to the card." CM is delighted to finally receive her missing miles and will be putting them towards a flight to visit her family.

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• More financial tips from Keren Bobker at On Your Side

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Many years ago, I invested in a number of investment trusts in the UK. For personal reasons, I now need to cash these in, but I'd like to know if I will have to pay any tax on them. I haven't touched the investments for many years and I left the UK in 2002. I hope you can help as I have tried to find information, but have become thoroughly confused about the different types of tax and funds. GM, Dubai

A UK Investment Trust is a closed-ended fund listed on the London Stock Exchange and invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of shares and securities, and other assets including property, bonds and cash. They are subject to special tax rules, which means gains made by the trust itself when its portfolio investments are sold are free from UK tax. Individual holders of investment trusts may be subject to UK capital gains tax when these holdings are sold, dependent on their personal situation. UK residents and those who have been non-residents for less than five full tax years will be liable for tax at either 18 per cent or 28 per cent, depending on their total UK income, on any gains above the annual personal allowance, which stands at £10,100 (Dh58,929) in the 2010/11 tax year. This will increase to £10,600 for the 2011/12 tax year. For any UK nationals who have been non-residents for more than five full tax years, as is the case for GM, there will be no tax liability on any profits realised.

I accepted a contract to work in Abu Dhabi for a three-year period from January 2009. When I returned from holiday in August 2010, I was asked to report to HR and was handed an envelope that stated: "It is regrettable that your services are no longer required." There was no consultation, discussion nor any explanation, which I am surely owed. I received two months' pay and benefits per my contracted period of notice, but the company refused to pay my wife's airfare home despite my contract being "married status". The company also deducted three months of rental costs for the lease period remaining after my two months' notice. Can I employ a lawyer to take action against the company? FG, UK

If an individual is on a limited or fixed-term contract, the employer can cancel it at any time without having to provide any explanation, providing the employee is compensated according to terms of the employment contract, which must comply with the UAE Labour Law. If the employer terminates a limited contract, for reasons other than those specified in Article 120 of the law (which covers incompetence, dishonesty and fraudulent behaviour), the employer is liable to pay compensation based on three months' salary or for the remainder of the contract, whichever is less. As for entitlement to the cost of the airfare for FG's wife, this depends on the specific wording of the contract. If it specifically stated that family flights would be paid in this situation, then the company should pay, but the law states that the employer is responsible for the repatriation of the employee only to a place agreed upon by both parties. Only if the employer paid for the family (and shipping of belongings) at the start of the employment will it be liable in this situation and then only if clearly stated in the contract of employment. The situation regarding the lease is unclear, but it sounds as if the company was paying the rent and deducting the payments from the salary. Once again, entitlement is all down to the wording of the employment contract. If you have been treated unfairly and contract terms were broken, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ministry of Labour. You could employ a lawyer, but that would be very expensive and probably not worth it for the amount in question.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Write to her at keren@holbornassets.com or onyourside@thenational.ae with queries for this column or for advice on any other financial planning matter.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The%20specs
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Top 10 most polluted cities
  1. Bhiwadi, India
  2. Ghaziabad, India
  3. Hotan, China
  4. Delhi, India
  5. Jaunpur, India
  6. Faisalabad, Pakistan
  7. Noida, India
  8. Bahawalpur, Pakistan
  9. Peshawar, Pakistan
  10. Bagpat, India
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

ARSENAL IN 1977

Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal

Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham

Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 05  Arsenal 1-4 ipswich

March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom

Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal

Apr 02  Arsenal 3-0 Leicester

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):

Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE

Match will be shown on BeIN Sports

ENGLAND TEAM

England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph

pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5