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  1. #1
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    Scots expat trapped in Dubai homelessness hell after being terrorised by ....

    Scots expat trapped in Dubai homelessness hell after being terrorised by debt collectors who threatened he would be raped in jail
    A SCOTS expat is trapped in a homeless hell in Dubai after debt collectors threatened him with rape and jail.
    Desperate Jonathan Castle, 59, made the move to the thriving UAE capital in 2002 – lured by high wages and glamorous living – and until 2010 was a successful copywriter at a top ad agency.


    Jonathan with his wife SusanJonathan’s nightmare began when he accepted a number of credit cards from Emirates Bank and got caught up in the “Dubai lifestyle”.
    Jonathan – who was born in London but raised in Thurso, near Caithness – fell behind with payments and the unpleasant side of the Dubai loan business began to invade his life.
    Debt collectors and heavies began to bombard him with calls, turned up at his work and even told his wife to become a prostitute to help pay up.
    The Scot cut back on his lifestyle; rarely eating out, sold his car and moved to a cheaper part of the city.



    DubaiBut was not enough for him to meet his payments and in Dubai, unlike in most countries, debt is a criminal offence punishable by substantial jail time.
    He is now living on pals’ sofas and getting by with handouts after being terrorised and threatened by heavies chasing him for debt.
    He revealed one collector hurled abuse at him, saying: “You filthy defaulter. this my country. Give me my money and go home to your country.”
    The destitute expat added: “The stress was horrendous. They cursed, insulted me and constantly threatened me with jail, explicitly frightening me with how I would be raped and beaten during my sentence, which would be for years, not months.”

    We told last year how Scots tourist Jamie Harron, who was nicked for touching a man’s hip in a Dubai bar, had his dropped – just 24 hours after he was jailed for three months.
    Harron, 27, was said to be “distraught” at
    being caged for brushing against Emad Tabaza as he tried to avoid spilling a drink.
    Jonathan’s wife Susan went on: “They were aggressive and insulting with me too.


    “Shouting down the phone that if I really cared for my husband I would be ‘standing with the prostitutes down at Bur Dubai’ to help him.”
    He went on: “It’s a catch 22. Emirates NBD bank has a police case filed against me for missing credit card payments.
    “But the fact I have a police case against me means I can’t get another visa, so I am not allowed to work, so I have no hope to earn money to meet the payments.”
    The police case comes with a travel ban, meaning it is forbidden for him to leave the country until the debt is paid.


    He said: “The sentence for debtors is three years. But you don’t get to go home after the three years.
    “You get 30 days of freedom to arrange to pay the debt, or you go back inside indefinitely, until somehow the debt is paid.
    “While most of my friends are enjoying their retirement, I am 59, and living the life of a penniless student.
    “I Just pray that one day I can escape this city, finally visit my father’s grave and live out my remaining years with my wife"

    Radha Stirling, CEO of UKbased NGO Detained in Dubai, said: “UAE banking laws are in desperate need of modernisation.
    “The fact that the bank knows the debtor cannot pay from inside jail and yet will keep him there indefinitely until a relative bails them out means that the bank is effectively taking the debtor hostage.
    “The fact that a debtor can noget a new job because of the police case is also an obvious legal strategy to force them into jail. Such punitive measures clearly do not facilitate debt recovery.”

    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/2064044/jonathan-castle-scots-expat-dubai-homeless-debt/

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat YourDaddy's Avatar
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    no link to gofundme page?

    is this privilege only reserved for Thai sexpats?

  3. #3
    Being chased by sloths DJ Pat's Avatar
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    He says he got ''caught up in the lifestyle''

    Easily done but he must have lost it

  4. #4
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    know the rules and pay ur debts, fucktard

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DJ Pat View Post
    he must have lost it
    No. He borrowed it. I'm not really one to talk about finances, but at least not having a credit card I can't spend more than I have.

  6. #6
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    Why is it that so many people don't foresee the obvious? Their own old age.

    This massive down-turn in the oil biz that started to bite in 2015, has left guys that worked for years on great money, poor with no savings whatsoever. They're in their fifties, or sixties and are too old to get other work. No sympathy for them and no sympathy for the Jock in the article.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal View Post
    but at least not having a credit card I can't spend more than I have.
    30 years of having a credit card and only paid interest once when I forgot a repayment on time. You can have a credit card so as to reap the benefits. All it takes is some common sense and not use money you don't have.
    I have little sympathy for the Scotsman getting himself into trouble, the little sympathy I have is because the laws and system there are unfair and brutal.

  8. #8
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    I thought Jocks were renowned for being frugal.

    This guy was chucking it around like Jack Meoff

  9. #9
    Not a Mod. Begbie's Avatar
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    Try buying an international flight without a credit card.

    Dubai is just a huge shopping mall with whores and bars. I’d get bored within a week. Was he maxing out his card on Russian hookers?

  10. #10
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  11. #11
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    Bit of a Catch-22 he's in now, eh ?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Begbie View Post
    Try buying an international flight without a credit card
    That's easily done via agents or at airport counters. You can even pay in cash at 7/11 now

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Begbie View Post
    Try buying an international flight without a credit card.
    I've bought plenty of international flights. I've never used a credit card for one.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    I thought Jocks were renowned for being frugal.

    This guy was chucking it around like Jack Meoff
    I bet the Jumeirah Jane spent her share too.

  15. #15
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    If I were in his shoes I'd think seriously about getting myself smuggled over the border and get to the British Embassy in Oman.

    What woud be the cons to this?

  16. #16
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    ^ extradition, public flogging, severe beating from taxi driver for having no dosh?

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat raycarey's Avatar
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    perhaps i missed it, but how much does he owe?

  18. #18
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    They obviously hadn't seen his wife when they suggested she become a prostitute.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong View Post
    They obviously hadn't seen his wife when they suggested she become a prostitute.
    I'd heard fat white skinned was all the rage for Arabs.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by raycarey View Post
    perhaps i missed it, but how much does he owe?
    I read somewhere £500k which doesn't sound right unless he was a big cheese in his previous life, takes some spending.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat raycarey's Avatar
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    ^
    if it really is that much, there's a lot more to this story.

    and IMO the bank isn't completely without fault for extending that much credit to an immigrant copywriter on a work visa.

  22. #22
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    500k? WTF high lifestyle was he living? No sympathy from me...

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    I bet the earth moves when they make luv? Along with the bed, the wardrobe and building.


  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Pragmatic's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dillinger View Post
    I thought Jocks were renowned for being frugal.
    Born in London.

  25. #25
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