Q: I visited a branch of Etisalat and bought a post-paid mobile line. The employees there assured me that I could cancel it at any time. One week later, I requested the cancellation of the line only to be told that I would have to pay the fees for a whole year as I had signed up for a long-term contract. They are saying I must pay Dh2,700 for services I will not use. What should I do?
A: Etisalat, and any other telecoms company, offer discounted services to customers on the basis that they sign up for a prolonged period of time, such as 12 or even 24 months. These companies can offer better priced services in the knowledge that they have customers tied down for a certain period of time. A post-paid line for two months, for instance, would not be offered with the same discounts as one for a longer duration. So, the customer cannot terminate the contract before the agreed time mentioned in the terms and conditions of the contract. You need to check the details of the contract to establish the exact procedure for termination. If you feel that the employees misinformed you, that is a matter you could complain to Etisalat about but, ultimately, if you have signed a contract that locks you in for a year and means you have to pay a year’s worth of fees to terminate the contract, there’s not much that can be done about that. This reinforces how important it is to always check the small print on any contract you enter into.
Q: I joined a new company, which gave me a “freelance” contract. I would like to know if this sort of contract is legal?
A: The company is not breaking the law by offering this type of contract, especially if you have agreed to it and signed it. If it is an open contract without a date of expiration then you are entitled to all your rights as an employee of this company, such as end of service benefits, regardless of whether it says freelance or whatever else. It will be important for you to be able to prove that you have been an employee of the company though and that you have been receiving your monthly wages from them, if you were to launch a case against the company. However, if the contract is dated, with your work only being for a certain period of time after which the contract expires, then you are not entitled to any of these rights as it is just a temporary contract.
If you have a question for our lawyer, please email it to newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line “Know the law”.
WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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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.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
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
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle