Banks offer credit cards without an official application

Customers reported that banks offer them credit cards without an official request from them, noting that there are great difficulties they face when trying to close the cards.

They told Emirates Today that a bank offers a primary card, along with more than one free secondary card, but it later became clear that there are changed terms and conditions, demanding that these practices be stopped, especially in light of the lack of understanding by some bank employees that some customers do not want the card or are afraid of accumulating interest if they do not pay the full amount used.

For their part, two bankers told Emirates Today that some banks grant a credit card to the customer when he opens an account or takes financing, but the customer is supposed to be notified of this and take his express approval and written signature on the documents. But what happens is that some employees take the signature on the papers without informing the customer, and later the card department contacts him to tell him that his card is ready and has been sent to his address registered in the bank.

They emphasized that these are individual practices, and the customer can not activate the card, and request that it be closed within a week of receiving it, without any fees or interest.

Difficulties

In detail, customers reported that the banks they deal with provide them with credit cards without an official request from them, noting that when they object to this, they are told that they can close the card by contacting the customer service centers.

They confirmed that there are great difficulties they face when trying to close the cards, whether in relation to the customer service center not responding, or trying to discourage them from closing the card and using it, or even imposing fees after a while even though the card was not activated in the first place.

They called for an end to these practices, especially in light of the lack of understanding by some bank employees that some customers do not want the card or are afraid of accumulating interest if they do not pay the full amount used. They explained that one of these banks offers a primary card with more than one secondary card, under the pretext that it is free, and then it later becomes clear that there are changed terms and conditions, according to what was signed without paying attention.

Funding request

In comment, banker Tamer Abu Bakr said, “In some banks, the customer signs the credit card application along with the application itself to obtain financing,” adding: “Unfortunately, because a good number of customers do not care to read the papers and documents before signing them, the card is issued and sent to the customer at the registered address.”

He explained, “If the customer does not need the card or does not want to use it, he must not activate it and contact the customer service center or visit the bank branch and request that it be closed directly. If he is asked for a fee, he must file a complaint with the bank that he did not request the card, and he signed the papers without explanation.”

Abu Bakr stressed that “a bank cannot issue a credit card without the customer’s signature on its application,” noting that “the problem lies in the negative practices of some employees who hide from the customer the details of the papers and documents that he signs.”

He stressed the need for the customer to read all the papers before signing them, and requested clarifications about the terms and forms, even if they are in English.

New dealers

For his part, banker Mustafa Ahmed said, “Some banks offer their new customers a credit card upon opening an account with one or two times the salary, without the need to bring an account statement or credit inquiry, just a salary certificate,” explaining that “sometimes the customer is not informed of the matter based on the fact that he is a new employee, for example, and needs the card, and when he receives it, he will inevitably use it,” but Ahmed stressed that “these are individual practices by some employees, and they cannot be generalized or measured.”

He added, “The customer can contact the customer service center within a week of receiving the card, request that it be closed without any fees, and confirm that he did not request it, but only submitted a request to open the bank account.”

Ahmed pointed out that “the procedures in place in banks when requesting a credit card require explicit approval and a written signature on the request, and it cannot be issued without that,” calling on customers to inquire about all documents, read them carefully, and ask the employee about unclear details.

Mustafa Ahmed:

Some banks give their new customers a credit card upon opening an account, with one or two times the salary, leaving only the salary certificate.