The Debt Panel: ‘I’m stuck overseas and my bank ignored my Covid-19 debt relief request’ – The National

The Debt Panel: ‘I’m stuck overseas and my bank ignored my Covid-19 debt relief request’ – The National

The UAE resident, who hopes to return to the Emirates from India soon, asked for a three-month deferment

















Illustration by Mathew Kurian 







I owe Dh25,000 on a personal loan and am now stuck in India because of the Covid-19 flight restrictions. I borrowed the money for some business affairs in India and have only paid two of the loan's monthly Dh765 instalments so far.



I went on annual leave to India on March 2 to see my family with the intention of returning to the UAE on March 31. However, the flight restrictions then prevented my return.



At the start of April, my employer stopped paying my salary due to the pandemic and there is no indication as to when my income will return.



Every personal finance customer at my bank received a one-month deferment for April, so I then applied for a further three-month deferment on the loan with a letter from my employer explaining I was on unpaid leave.









I have savings in India and can afford to repay the debt. I could ask a friend to make the repayments for May and June