Dubai First
Reviews and Complaints

I have tried to contract both the customer support of Dubai First and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

I have been a customer of Dubai First (now part of First Abu Dhabi Bank) since May 2012. I have 2 issues.

My account old credit limit of 77, 800 AED. My last transaction date for this card was November 30, 2019, for 8, 435.84 AED. Due to inactivity, they changed my credit limit to 1, 000 AED only without informing me either via email, SMS or phone call.

Even if the account is inactive, as shown, my second issue is they have the audacity to charge me 420 AED for my credit card annual renewal fee which is stated as Free for Life on their own website - https://www.dubaifirst.com/creditcards/details/dubai-first-cashback-card/mkey/2001/mkey/2097/

I called the call center and was informed that I don't have any option for cancelling this card, only by paying the 420 AED balance. I also don't have any means of easily recovering my old credit card balance, even if I use this card again.

This is terribly a bad experience, considering that I have been a very loyal customer of Dubai First since May 2012.

This is to bring to your kind notice that I had applied for a dispute chargeback since 19/03/2020
i am a victim of fraud and happened from 3 credit cards: yours, NBD, CITI
all mentioned banks proceeded with chargeback while Dubai first informed by phone 31/03/2020 that master card company refused!
which no one can believe, how it would be accepted by other bank & your no
as i am a credit card holder i have rights and you have to protect your customer
Dubai first applied more than 1300aed as penalty while you did no efforts to return my money
since 1/4/2020 i send daily emails, & calls to send me documented reply from master card company that they refused!
i made complaint and call & send emails everyday. no one answer! what a bad service
i am insisting to open the dispute & you have to be cooperative or you pay my money back
also, remove all extra charges you added

Almost 3 -4 years back i decided to cancel my Dubai First credit card as i was hardly using it, . It took me lot of effort in cancelling the card as i had to visit the branch and I did surrender my card while doing the cancellation. Everything was going ok but suddenly from March 2020 i have started receiving mesg from Dubai First about outstanding amount. Though i have a credit balance with them but its weird that after cancellation n that too after 3 yrs or so i m getting these mesgs. This shows how bad these financial institution are being managed, no proper records management.

I have been using dubai first banking since 2015 for various purposes.I was very glad with their banking services till 2019.On 2020 they started online mobile banking only.I could not able to log in through mobile.this issue I already informed customer services.Since 3 months I could not able to check monthly statement.Twice informed coustomer care and they assured they will send statement to my email.I am disappointed to say that till now I didn't receive any statement.
All other bank sending monthly statement to thier registered customer email ID irrespective of online banking.
Please solve this issue as early as possible.Do some arrangement those who cannot do online banking through mobile .Other wise I won't be very glad to continue your services further more.

Thank You
Divya Mary alex

I am looking your support into this matter seriously as i received credit card from DUBAI FIRST on March 2019 after 15 days they debited my account AED 100 for annual membership fee in advance after my complaint they reverse on condition that i should do transaction above AED1000.

Now second year they again debited AED 210 for membership fee as my concern is i already inform bank that the sales executive who applied my credit card on based of LIFE TIME FREE then why bank charging me.
Secondly since DUBAIFIRST services gone bad from december 2019 i clear my all dues and stop using from december 2019.

Now i already raise request and complaint regarding the above matter but bank wanted to force me in defaulter list they are saying that you should pay amount which is debited now before debiting you should have to cancel.

I requested again i don't want to continue using this credit card and i already stop any transaction from december 2019 kindly cancel and the charges you are debiting is an advance fee for this year 2020 but i wish not to continue and wanted to cancel this card.

But dubai first customer care people not listening me they want i should pay this debited amount if i will not pay they will simply debit late payment fee and make me defaulters.

By such act and behavior of BANK normal people are come to commit default due to only bank behaviour.

Hope you will understand my matter and looking forward for your great help.

I went through too much of issues with Dubai First since, the time they have offered me their credit card.

Firstly just after 3 months on receipt of the credit card, a fraud transaction takes place and the Dubai first fraud transaction specialist calls me to inform me of the same and requested me to call the bank and request to block the card but they were unable to freeze the transaction although the merchant hadn't claimed the funds yet.

Secondly, i had requested 3 vouchers of 100 each but i receive one voucher of 300 for my redemption points.

Hence, this time i explained the lady nicely and very clearly. I even told her about the last time experience and she said she will make sure it doesn't repeat this time. Now i requested for 2 vouchers of 100 each however, after almost a month i again receive 1 voucher of 200.

This is heights. There is no room for improvement. hate to say this but very bad service. I regret big time taking their credit card.

I requested to close the card and disable it not to reduce the liability!
You don't have the right to manipulate me, to say closure and in small words to do reduce!
After I requested to close this card (I didn't even requested this card).
If this week this card is not closed I am going to disputes.

This is taking so long, it have been over 8 months I am trying to delete this card!
And your customer "support" keeps stalling with fake excuses.
Close this card, don't reduce

I have a credit card resolved since 2017.
The bank gave this card to someone else while keeping my contact details.
I have gone to the bank where it was shown it was resolved and 2 months after I am still receiving reminders to pay. I was asked to go to the ATM machine to change my details for a card I no longer own. How professional is that from your bank?!

The person using the card is obviously paying the card even if it is late from what is can see by the notifications on my phone.

I am now being harassed daily by a very rude woman name ‘Jennifer' who does not show any respect towards previous customers.
This comforts me in my choice of ceasing any business with your bank.

I want to make a personal complain to that person - Jennifer (04) 506 8258. I want to get a formal apology from your bank and I do not want to be contacted by this bank ever again.

Dear Sir/Madam
Please send me the split up/breakup of the amount you are generating in the statement, bcoz as per my knowledge your charging extra amount from me. As per Me and the conditions while taking the loan on 08-Oct-2019 its was monthly installment for 12 Month is 900 AED with 0.40% but charges are far higher which you are sending me every month and it is not acceptable for me.

Waiting for your kind reply.

Regards,
Dhiraj Gondane
+[protected]

When I spoke to customer care executive, he had asked me request number that I have received for cancellation which I didnt had as the earlier executive said internal mail has initiated and no request number for such request.

I have registered compliant and awaiting for response against the compliant that I had made.

Now I had asked the request number for cancellation of both insurance and awaiting for cancellation.
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2. I have the benefit for cinema ticket but when I spent the amount and checked my statement, I couldn't able to see the benefit for almost 2 months. Awaiting for the response from bank. Raised request also for this issue.
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3. I have been charge late payment fee of 275 which I have requested bank that I am new and not sure about the due date, they had responded that if I spent 2750 dhs in next 60 days, I have the option to reverse the late payment fee. I accepted and spent the amount which they mentioned but still awaiting for the reversal. Almost a month over now.

I am a new user of Dubai first credit card, I received the card last year October 2019 i tried to use it in a fast food chain worth 49 since i am a new user i don't know my due date yet. Since I am not receiving SOA i paid the said amount in Nov 2019. Again I used the card in December worth 59 since they have a new app tried to use it hoping that i can see my SOA there.
And Yes! I saw my SOA with a total bill of 753.58. I have late payments and accident insurance and credit card sheild that I am not aware of.
I tried to call in their hotline but they want me to use 2000 aed within 60 days before they will reverse 1 late payment charge.
I tried to send a mail to but no feedback.
I need help on this matter.
I don't know what else i can do.

My credit card was closed on the 10th of october and after the said 35 days lock in period, I've called the call cantre countless number of times to get my clearance letter and so far nothing has happened.

I have really lost my patience as sometimes the call centre isn't even operational.

Worst bank i had to deal with. As me tioned, I've lost my patience and I'll be going to raise a compliant with the concerned authorities and also through the news.

My bank guarantee from another bank is put on hold just because i haven't tecvd the clearance letter from Dubai first. And i have a lot of people to give money to, from this bank guarantee.

In April 2018, I was offered a free for life Dubai First credit card.
I used it regularly from April 2018 to July 2018. And I was able to pay all the outstanding amount.
From July 2018 until August 2018, the outstanding balance was around 8700 dhs.
That's when I got a call from a Dubai First employee telling me I can apply for a Smart Payment Plan.
Unfortunately, I did not quite understand all the terms and conditions. Even though the employee mentioned the charges and fees of the payment plan, at that time I agreed without fully understanding the consequences of closing or cancelling the plan early.

Furthermore, I traveled to U.S and used the credit card between August 2018 and September 2018. I made a total purchase of 14000 dhs.
Again, I received a phone call from another Dubai First employee telling me I can apply for a Smart Payment Plan. Without hesitation, I asked for the same payment plan I had applied for the previous month.

In January 2019, I had enough money to pay off all my outstanding balance. I called Dubai First to ask for early closure of the two Smart Payment Plans. To my utter shock, I was told I had to pay ALL the interest charges of the duration I applied for (4 years). The employee told me I had to pay my outstanding amount and on top of that an additional 27000 dhs interest charges!
Dubai First wants me to pay them 27000 dhs as "punishment" for wanting to close the payment plan 3.5 years earlier!
I went to Dubai First office to handle this matter and I was informed there was nothing they can do. Because I had agreed to the terms and conditions and there was a recording of the phone calls as proof! I tried to explain that I wasn't aware of the full amount I would be charged as cancellation fees. But it was no use.
I also contacted Central Bank of UAE, but they said this matter was out of their jurisdiction.
I am helpless. I don't know what to do. I read many reviews of Dubai First and there are many customers like me who fell into their trap.
Please if you can help me with this problem I would be entirely grateful. I cannot pay 27000 dhs cancellation fees. It is unfair, a rip-off.

P.S. Dubai First is under First Abu Dhabi Bank

Since sat we are requesting and calling your customer service representative its so hard to follow up and sometimes they ask my husband to wait and they hang the phone for 15mins. We just only requesting them to reduce our credit limits to 10, 000 aed they told us wait for 3 working days and they will call but no return call until now .when we are trying to call no one pick up our call please do some action to this situation
Flat 601, Pearl Tower Building( Royal Plaza Gifts Building) Electra St., Abu Dhabi

My credit card was enrolled into a settlement program. I paid for the remaining amount and made an early settlement with Dubai First.
I called and spoke with an agent and got a callback from them after more than a week. After which, I paid immediately the specific amount that the agent mentioned and tried to call the next day on their customer care department. I was advised by the Customer care Agent that they will transfer my concern to collections team, I received an SMS informing me that my request was resolved. I then called the Customer Care again, they told me that I should wait for few days before a called back from the concern department. In my hopes that I can find a reliable number from any agent of this bank, I dialed a specific # and spoke with a collections agent. I then explained my concern that I am requesting for a clearance, but customer service department cannot proceed with the request unless I am cleared from the them (collections team.)

I waited for few more days, then I received a call from the collections agent that I should wait for 35days before I can receive my clearance. Wherein the customer care department once mention that the clearance letter will be within 3-7days.

How would that be possible that I already paid for the entire amount and that I need to wait for 35 days from the day that I pay for me to be cleared. As advised, I pay the amount that specifically mentioned by the Agent and still I needed to wait for more than a month to have clearance.

Hope you could help me out me this bank issues