Q: Why are the service charges and taxes at hotels and restaurants hidden from the consumer? Is there a law that forbids companies, restaurants or hotels from displaying the full amount on a menu or a price list?
A: All hotels, restaurants and companies are required to mention service charges on their price list or menus. If those charges are not mentioned or omitted but later added to a bill then the consumer is not bound by service charges. The key is to notify the consumer about those charges prior to any purchase. If a consumer feels that charges are unjust then he can file a complaint at consumer department pursuant to Article 13 of Law no?24 of 2006.
Q: I've noticed that some petrol stations around the border of Oman take a variety of currencies; is this common with all Adnoc stations or only a few strategically located ones?
A: If the gas station is located in the UAE then it falls under purview of UAE consumer protection laws (law no 24 of 2006). Prices for petrol must be charged in accordance with standards set by UAE authorities. A petrol station may be willing to accept currencies, other than local currency, at its discretion or in line with company policy. There is no breach of law in the UAE if a seller or supplier is willing to accept currencies other than local currencies. However they cannot refuse to accept local UAE currency.
Q: What right do you have to a refund if you buy a product from a shop and it's not faulty, you have just changed your mind?
A: As per article 5 of law no 24 of 2006, a seller is obliged to either exchange a product or provide a refund in only two circumstances: a) if the product or goods supplied were faulty; or b) if the product was supplied with a wrong description - the description of product does not conform with standard specification. A seller is not obliged to refund you if you have changed your mind after the purchase. A cause of action can only arise if, and only if, one of the two aforementioned grounds exists.
If you have a question for Mr Elhais, email newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line 'Consumer Q&A'.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.