complaint box

Complaint box ?

If you walk into Kuwaiti offices government or private companies they usually have  complaint box. They are like a part of traditional outlook of the office and without the complaint box offices seem uncompleted. I have many times thought I should try to see the use of complaint box whether it is of any use or these are just part of their deco. I have tried government official complaint emails few times but  never have success to complete due to some unknown reasons but most websites have complaint section to click if you want to. At one instance I bumped into “Kuwaiti citizen advice buro area of Jabar al ali. It was just by chance to ask about local Paaci office location. They gave me instructions and I was impressed by their staff for their effort to explain to me. Before leaving I have asked about their office and their activities. It was big surprise to me  by knowing that Kuwait has citizen advice offices. They told me I have to contact them next time if I have complaint about any company or product. I  took their telephone numbers and left their office with good impression and  continued my journey to the next office.

After few months I came to pay electric bill into Jabar al ali offices. Most Kuwaiti offices have security man. In this office security man was their on his chair and small desk. The customer service desks were empty. All people who supposed to be servicing customers were in sitting in the manager’s office. First I thought their manager is very friendly because he let his staff to sit in his office for tea and chatting. Anyway I have started the the triumph and procedure to pay the bill. Their office is situated on different levels in other words I had few trips up and down in their offices and ended up to managers office for signature. His service counter staff was still in his office and surprise to knew he was absent. This solved my confusion of his friendliness and absence of staff from the counters. Anyway while I was waiting for managers signature I thought I better go to citizen advice buro which is exactly in your front as soon as you come out of electric office. I entered the citizen advice centre and all members of the staff were sitting and socialising.  I have explained to them reason of my arrival by saying that I have complaint about my landlord. After listening to me they have told me to go to local  ministry of trade and Industry office.  Anyway I came out of their office and back in electric office. By now the manager was in his office and staff was back on counters instead of sitting in managers office. I entered with my application for payment of  electric bill and got his signature. Now I am nearly finished my application procedure and went straight to cashiers counter and he wasn’t there because he went for midday prayer.

After half an hour the cashier returned to cashiers desk and got successful in paying electric bill. After finishing this triumph I headed towards local office of ministry of trade and industry. After arriving there I told to them my purpose of arrival into their office. I went through different sections of this office and ended up in their managers office. The manager told me that was right place “Istahlakia” for your complaint and iam failed to understand why they have sent you here instead of helping you out to resolve your complaint.

It wasn’t the only this office of citizen advice buro in Kuwait. Surprisingly most areas of Kuwait has citizen advice buros. The difference between British citizen advice buros you need to wait for your number in Britain and in the Kuwaiti citizen advice buros you can speak as many as you want to their officers as long as you have no complaint. It wasn’t my first time in Kuwaiti citizen advice buro. Actually I came to know this name through “Environmental pollution authority of  Kuwait” after completion of successful complaint against the landlord. Although EPA has full powers to take action against the companies and  traders but they sent me to citizen advice office in the area of  “Jabriah”. Their office is located near old premises  of coop jabriah. At reception I told them  purpose of my arrival and they sent me upstairs to the concerned department. On the first floor of the building I entered to the first room where one their officer was busy on the computer. I told him about purpose of my arrival and he answered why you are here? I explained to him whole story of  EPA Kuwait to his office again then he told me you should go to fahaheel citizen advice office. Anyway I came back to EPA Kuwait again and went to their engineers office. I have manage to speak to one of their young lady officer and she put me to another male officer. Very relaxed and friendly person replied to me in very relaxed manner we don’t like complaints. He then told me you know best thing you could do is make another complaint then they will take action. Iam laughing while iam writing about this trick of  “file another complaint”.

The EPA department who deals with these type of complaints have very nice,  friendly and polite general manager. I have used this term general manager for Arabic  “Raees”.

He is the person that you are feeling that you are talking to a friend instead of officer. Whenever I went there he was always there. If you are suffering from any environmental

Issues you can contact this department which is now in their new building offices. If you plan to visit them as soon you pass road 55 their offices are on your right at ring road 4. Massive big new building written on it “Environment pollution Authority”. You cant miss it. Please visit them for your concerns about environment.

Rubbish in Mirgab

Gambling in Kuwait? Prohibited or allowed?

Gambling in Kuwait? Prohibited or allowed?

Today I have been to Kuwait city by bus. While I was waiting for my bus I have
started walking around Mirgab surrounding area. I have seen one crowed of people
and first I have ignored. Few minutes later I became bit of curious about crowed and I have asked myself why these people are so busy keeping their eyes down looking inside.
Anyway I have put my phone camera on walked near the crowed pretending to be typing something on the phone. I have managed to take some photographs without letting anybody know Iam taking photos. Unluckily inside photos I don’t know what happened to them.
Inside they had one piece of card board with few numbered boxes from 2-6. Four people sitting on the ground for collecting cash and giving cash. One of them were doing double
Duty collecting / giving cash and throwing dice. Another person standing and managing the whole game. I have spent about an hour watching this gambling and surprised to know they have done business in hundreds kuwaiti dinars.
Later I have found out there are other members of the gang keeping an eye on the surroundings of this place.
I have really felt very sorry for some of those poor Indian Bengali and Pakistanis who lost money in gambling. Someone told me it happens in other places as well during lunch hours.

Noisy Air conditioning Fans Of Franklin Installed by cowboys

How do you feel if you are sleeping under roof with 32 big noisy fans running whole night without any break? It is not manufacturers fault but people who installed them they thinks they are more intelligent than the manufacturers. These units are sold and installed in Kuwait by “moassa Al khaleej” Tel: 24733598 & 24769361 Since long time I was complaing to company about problem with air conditioning unit and last year I have decided to go with them on the roof. Their technician opened the fan, told me that thermostat is missing and it is connected directly. How it went missing? You know how? If they have call out for any fault they come and just take out parts from others units and use them to repair. As soon as I heard missing I started shouting and told them no other person comes here apart from your company. Anyway after few arguments they agreed to fit thermostat without any extra cost. Other thing I was on venture to see how their unit looks. I took a ladder and looked inside where they have installed central AC unit. As I have touched the metal unit I got electric shock. Next day I have telephoned the company and told them your units are not earthed. They have called next day and both units connected to the earth wire. Problem with third world countries and Muslim countries there is no concept of safety. Thats why many people die due to minor accidents and negligence of others. Today I have contacted the company to rectify the noise coming from their air conditioning fan units. They just refused to give me name of owner of the company by saying he is Abdul Rasool Sahaf. When I asked them who is working owner they refused to give the name by just saying that guarantee of the units is expired. I would like to tell them if even your guarantee is expired but still you are liable for due to unsafe and dangerous installation. If you are considering to buy or installation of “Franklin” please think twice because they are just cowboys.

One year Kuwaiti sponsorship for 800 KD

The Middle Eastern countries are places where human trafficking is legal
and protected by their constitutions. I was renting an office with Kuwaiti sponsorship.
After couple of years I have decided to leave the office due to his rent increase and lack of business. When I have told to sponsor about my intensions he asked me to give my passport to make changes. He took my passport and told me or phoned me unless you pay me such amount of money or Iam holding your passport. It was shock to me what he has done. Next day he phoned me and told me if I could meet him. So I went to Fahaheel to see him. He said It is better you take your passport now and pay me half the money he asked for. I think he told to his friends that he took my British passport and not going to give me back unless I pay him money. His friends advised him that you are putting yourself in trouble by holding British passport so it is better for him to return it to me and he gave me back after few days. As soon as he took my passport I told to my family members that I couldn’t come back due to this reason. They have asked our local MP to contact with British foreign office for help.
Now Iam thinking what happens with these third world countries citizens when these sponsors takes their passports and putting them as hostages. You could find thousands examples of this type of cases everywhere in Kuwait and other gulf countries. The whole
Sponsor system is one form of human slavery which is protected by law in the whole gulf region and is against basic human rights.
When my visa was due for renewal I have started to look for sponsor again which was not answering telephone. I have decided to contact the department of employment for change of sponsor. It was another story I better write about it separately. I had to pay about 40 KD (2KD/day) in fine due to late renewal of my visa which was all sponsors fault.
I was at employment office sponsor has phoned me, told me he was on holidays and If you want to renew your visa with me you have to pay me 800Kd / year otherwise I will put you on plane by canceling my visa.
I told him I would like to cancel my visa with you. He came to the employment department signed to cancel my visa. Thanks god I finished this slavery type of sponsorship.
Please share your comment and story if you have one

Post office Kuwait airport

I have visited this office today to find a packet from the states. I was surprised to see how this post office works like they use to work in 60s or 70s.I think many letters from around the world ends up in the rubbish. This is due to i think there is no proper management in kuwait postal system. No computers in this office.

consumeables watch kuwait

Following pictures are toilet seats made of chip board and laminated. These toilet seats are not for toilets i think because after few months use you have to replace.
Whenever you buy these type of toilet seats please avoide and go for wooden or even plastic. beaware that chip board products are being sold in kuwait as compressed wood which is not wood at all.