DUBAI // TV sports subscribers are angry after they were automatically signed up to a new, more expensive channel package without their approval.
Etisalat has raised the price of its beIN Sports TV package from Dh78 to Dh110 a month. The telecoms operator said the price rise came from beIN sports.
The package includes the English Premier League and Champions League football.
Customers are being charged extra even though beIN, the Qatari broadcaster, offers a Dh90 package on its website.
The price rise came into effect in the July bill cycle. Etisalat upgraded customers to the “Complete” package that includes more channels for children’s shows, movies and sports.
Loic Drezet, from France, said he was not told about the price increase, and that the upgraded package was ridiculous.
“Etisalat never informed me about the increase and I always keep a record on my phone of everything,” said Mr Drezet.
“I only want to watch sports but also the movies they show on the new channels are completely outdated. On top of that, I even had to pay Dh257 if I wanted to watch the Euros.”
“Compared with the Dh30-odd I used to pay in 2011, to me this is unacceptable. It’s an increase of more than 200 per cent in five years,” Mr Drezet said.
“By comparison, the price for beIN in France is €13 without anything else to pay if you want to watch the Euros or World Cup.
“I feel it’s a rip-off, but as we have only one provider for football I have no choice, and I feel like Etisalat and beIN are taking advantage of this.”
Another disgruntled customer, who did not want to give her name, said the new bill came as a shock.
“Etisalat said they informed customers by SMS but I definitely didn’t get one,” she said.
“When I phoned up to find out what the increase was about they told me that I was getting more channels, such as movies and kids’ channels. Bu I only signed up for the sports and I wasn’t even asked if I wanted to upgrade.
“When I saw that a Dh90 option was mentioned on the beIN website, I made several calls. Some of the call-centre staff said it was available but most said it was not. There was a lot of confusion.”
She thought it was poor service for Etisalat to remove choice when it knew customers rarely had the chance to switch their home services provider.
“Etisalat has a monopoly in many areas and the least you would expect would be to offer customers options.
“Someone who has subscribed to sport channels should have the option of having an equivalent package after the price increase, not just be told that they have to take the ‘complete’ package, with channels they didn’t want, at a higher cost.”
Etisalat said the price increase came from beIN Sports and insisted that the Dh90 package was still available to customers.
“The Dh90 package is available to everyone and is active from this month,” she said. “The price increase was from beIN, not Etisalat, due to the added benefits. BeIN Sports channel price changes are determined by beIN.
“Customers were informed about it as well by SMS.
“With the increase per month, customers now get more sports, movies, kids’ and entertainment channels.”
She said call-centre staff were aware of the Dh90 package but were telling only customers who said they were interested in the old sport package.
smccombe@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
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Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Sean Kirrane (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Falaj Hazza – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Arim W’Rsan, Dane O’Neill, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Al Basrah – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Kalifano De Ghazal, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Oud Al Touba – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Pharitz Oubai, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Sieh bin Amaar – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Oxord, Richard Mullen, Abdalla Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: AF Ramz, Sean Kirrane, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Al Saad – Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Sea Skimmer, Gabriele Malune, Kareem Ramadan
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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