Traffic is Stressful ... so Is Doha Bank ...
Last week I tested my car, re registration.
Fail Technical for one reason, cracked suspension strut.
Failed legal for 3 reasons, tinted glass (I have certificate), chipped/dent in front bumper (I hit a police car, but that’s a different story), and a Qatar Living sticker on paint work.
OK, off to Hyundai, they fix suspension and paint the chipped bumper, dent is minor, Hyundai says police will accept it.
Re tested, no problem with suspension, passed. Police sign off tinted glass, QL sticker and dented bumper ………. Great!!!
So I thought!!! Went to register, they want QR6000 fine for going through red light!!!!
I called hubby, said I do not remember going through red light, he said OK, we’ll fight it. But they say I must go to Madina Khalifa.
So that night I check MOI site for time and date. I remember the incident. I leave the Family Food centre, head up airport road to the traffic lights to do a U turn. They are broken, all black. I wait 5-10 minutes, horns behind are honking, so I wait for big gap and go, everybody follows.
Next morning (after test) I dropped son at school, then I heading down to police station at Madina Khalifa. I went to the fines counter and ask for the photo. They printed out the photo, it was my car but you can’t see the traffic light green or red. You only see ‘black’. So I tell the ladies who serve in the counter my side of the story, they said I can go to see Colonel and explain it to him.
Up and down the place still can’t find the colonel’s room, there were 2 policeman serving the reception counter. They asked me, ‘Can I help you Mam?’. I explain to them again and they asked me, “Are you sure the light broken? We can check you know”. I told them go ahead if they want to check it. Then both of them talking to each other in Arabic and then told me that I need to see the colonel and he will reduce the fine to QR 500.
Cut the long story short, I went to see the Colonel … for God knows how many times I explain to him again. And he said OK, we reduce the fines to QR 500. I still want to argue because I feel that I am still innocent… but then how long I will have to hang around on the police station? So I went to another counter with this Colonel. He said something to the guy in the counter, after I waited for few minutes he said ‘khalas’ my fine now QR 500 instead QR 6000. Now I can go down to pay.
Off I went to the other section where you pay your fines. Gave my ATM card from Doha Bank. And I supposed to key in the pin number. Once failed, twice failed, thrice failed. The girl who served me said that I don’t have enough money in the account. I said I have more than enough. And she said I need to come tomorrow and come back again … I said no way … today is my last day of registration, if I come back tomorrow they will asked me to pay another QR 1500 for late registration penalty.
I start sweating … have a look at my purse, although I have enough cash they won’t take the cash. Then somehow I see my Barclay Visa Card (just happened few days ago hubby back from the UK and he brought back our new credit card, I don’t usually carry it around when I am in Doha, somehow when hubby passed the card to me I did not put it away, I just slot it in my purse instead, and it was really a god send right now).
I paid the fine with the Barclay Visa card, and the registration with the same card. Thanks to Barclays, and get lost Doha Bank.
Not sure I suppose to be happy because I only pay QR 500 instead of QR 6000 or I suppose to be mad because I am totally innocent and still have to pay the fines QR 500. I am just glad I get through the ordeals and still not losing my mind. Hope we do not suffer anything more serious, I felt like OK, your proven innocent, so instead of 6 yrs in prison, we only jail you for 6 months !!!! Maybe I been here too long … :-(
PS: Special thanks to Amnesia, who offer to go with me to the traffic police and help me sort the problems out. Although in the end I did not go with him, but I appreciate his offer.
I don't think Novita77 found any resolution to this, more like the police department did!!! How else do you explain the innocent having to pay?
She was still punished .... for what?
@Amnesia ! yes thank you again :) I am sure one day I will make use of your offer. Maybe not the traffic police, probably somewhere else.
lol notfromhere, you making me smile now. Apart of my ordeal with my car, actually i am quite enjoying it here in Doha. :D But i do have my bad doha day ...
Novi, "only" a year longer, but isn't a Doha Year something like 12 years in the real world?? lol
Yikes, I've been here 108 years!
lol Notfromhere ... lucky you. You been in Doha i think only a year longer than me. And yes you spoiled :P
Looking forward for our 'date' next week. x
Ah Novi, another Doha Day :-(
Ridiculous.
I admit, I'm spoiled in that we have people who take care of all this junk for us. If I had to put up with that cr@p on a regular basis, I would not still be in this country.
Hmmm, now there's a thought.....
Tallg, i never got any fine in my life 6 yrs driving in Doha. And with this 6000 riyal fines i also got 7 points on my license. If you reach 14 points they will suspended your license for 3 months. Can you imagine i dont drive for 3 months in Doha? It would be a disaster for me ...
And yes ... 6000 riyal is the heck alot of money for us. It can pay at least 2 airfare back to Indonesia or UK easily and still receive some change.
Oh well... as i said, i am glad is all over now. At least dont have to do it for another year :)
Snowyowl, next time you should ask your husband to ask for the print out. I know it is hassle to go down to the Madina Khalifa police station. But for 10.000 rial its worth it to ask them the proove.
KingEdshel, yes at least i save QR 5500. I was worry stiff when i drove down to madina khalifa, i have a mental picture that all those police will said i have to pay up 6000 regardless or they wont let me re register the car. Mind you my car is 5 yrs old and only worth QR 14000. And yes, i always look for the bright side, thats why now it is my 8th years in Doha.
Chocolate, as i said ... you need a sense of humour stock up living here. And always look at the bright side.
Alexa, yes i am getting a laptop (Yay!) but Fitri persuade me very hard to get Mac instead PC. She even asking her husband to rang us from the states to talk to my husband.
Bahraini83, yes doha getting unbelievably crowded now. Peopla park everywhere. Eventhough outside my son's tae kwon do. Because lack of parking space people parking in slip road. And every evening i always see the police busy sticking the stickers over there. If you unlucky you got them.
Flammable, the police car was drove by a youngster who suddenly break infront of me. That happened during last Ramandan.
Vegas, yes thats my car with the back of my head. But the traffic light DID NOT WORK. Did you check your speeding ticket and that happened to you ?
Dmightysolomon, yes QTIC only take cash ... but to register your car they only take ATM card or Debit Card.
Very sorry to hear abt what u went through,, and now u got me really worried,,
A similar incident happened with me a few months back at Toyota signal. all the signals were down and the cars were struggling to make their own way,, even i didnt dare to move but the ppl behind me were going crazy and honking at me like there is no 2moro. and finally i did went through the signal and made a U-Turn.. same situation like urs.. and the worst part is that i was driving my friends car :(
Right now am just hoping/wishing/praying that the Flashers were down too with the signals or else...
Hope authorities do chk such situations and wave-off offenses made for that particular time span.
God help us all...
@tallg, you're right.
@novi, I'm glad that you found some resolution to this.
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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.
this year and here are my simple tips. Go to industrial area, QTI between 1~3 pm where there are few cars use the rear entrance gate to get your waiting number). You can have the result in less than 30 minutes. Go to the police station for registration afterward. If you regularly checked you violation (in the computer) and you are sure that you don't have one, and you are only getting a TPL insurance, there are people inside the police compound who can do the registration, insurance for a service fee of QR 100.00. You can leave your document and return there as you agreed (mine, I get it after lunch when I gave it in the morning). Also, it's better to do the technical inspection, one week prior to your date of registration so you still have time to remedy problems, if there is.
BTW, in QTI, they only accept cash (there's an ATM machine there though.
"dgoodrebel will always be the rebellious good one"
sister Novi, so sorry to hear that you went through all of this trouble because of something that was not your fault in the first place.
Doha bank as far as i know asked most of their clients to replace the old ATM cards with the new ones cuz of security issues.
Well, I'm glad that they were understandable and reduce the fine from 6000 to 500 ... not asking you to be happy because the fine is just a fine and paying for something that was not your fault will make you feel bad no matter what.
Be positive [asking for the impossible, i know sorry] and look to the bright side of the moon. Thank god that no one came from the other side while you crossed that traffic light and hit your car or something.
God Bless ...
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
Poor you Novi, I'm glad u survived it. Gypsy its Malayalam.
I dream of a better tomorrow where Chickens can cross the Road without having their motives questioned - Unknown
OMG its a nightmare...sorry to hear your experience...
My car is due for renewal just did the insurance today. I don’t know where and how to do the inspection. Hope my hubby do that part and I will go to traffic. I never had to go through this hell before.
Checked the violation now.. Thank God no Volitions.
hey novi
sorry to hear that .. i have suffered somehow similar experience with doha bank and traffic police
i have parked my car somewhere in the City Center mall .. where i saw everybody parking and place looked like parking area (my first week of driving in doha) theni got this ticket on my glass .. headed the police station wanted to pay using Doha bank ATM card .. PIN code once, twice, thrice it worked .. and every time i punched the same number .. i was worried that they will take QR 1500 instead if the QR 500 .. i got and SMS for only 500 and i checked my account only QR 500 was debitted from the account
lucky u had that UK visa card in your purse :)
Glad you posted this Novi, cos it proves that it's always worth going to plead your case if you think you've been wrongly accused.
I've seen many posts on QL from people bitching about getting a QR6000 fine for something they didn't do so every one tells them to go and contest it, and they reply saying that it wont make any difference and they've just paid the fine anyway. People are all too fond of moaning but don't actually bother to do anything about it.
Novita - its good that u've atleast reduced that to 500.
But the story remains untold ...
how did u manage to hit a police car ??
WOW !! Bravo .. :))
-- F L A M M A B L E --
There your car with the back of your head...
OK OK I did it...
You can't teach experience...
Yaiikss.. Rizks... but you are right.. plus they will shout at you for trying to explain to them that their signal light is carban.. hehehehe..
Cheers all
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heard your wife left you,
How upset you must be.
But don't fret about it...
She moved in with me.
lol brutus .............
If its a man, the fine would be double :-
1st- For speaking to Colonel
2nd - For jumpin on the REd signal which actually was dark
3rd - For not knowing the local Language ...:)
Have a Safe Driving All.....!!!:)
HHmm.... bad day eh novi?? but at least you got a lesser fine even though it's not your fault. Would they do the same attitude (in the traffic police) if it's a man??
cheers all
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heard your wife left you,
How upset you must be.
But don't fret about it...
She moved in with me.
Hey , Novi - sorry 2 hear what u had to go thru. though nice 2 hear u managed it pretty well. The 500 riyals fine is quite funny since it's not ur mistake , but i guess this is qatar!.
2day we just missed going thru the traffic police, insurance etc routine. My husband was in the extreme left lane going left at the signal, he slowed down a bit since the car in front was taking a u-turn and just about stopped b4 he cld hit the 4WD which from the centre lane was taking a u-turn !
Gypsy can i join the multi lingual group ?, i know three languages , and my hubby can help with the Kerala dialect- btw it's called malayalam, but the problem is i dont know arabic.
Sorry to hear that Novi, although you were lucky to have the fine reduced, i still think they ripped you off, since you are innocent. I guess its better than nothing..
Oh Novi thats sad.
I can understand, what have you been through.
btw, just have a look on this car's history i found in random search on MOI website...
Vehicle Information
Vehicle No : 234321
Vehicle Type : PRIVATE VEHICLE
Vehicle Road Permit Expiry Date : 2002-12-02
Violations
Reference Date Time Description Location Points Amount
1100020919 2003-06-28 7:54 PM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
AL SADD Jawaan 400 Q.R
0000069452 2004-07-04 10:15 AM PARKING OR STOPPING IN PROHIBITED PARKING PLACES
DOHA INTERNATIONL AIRPORT 300 Q.R
0000190520 2005-09-01 10:05 AM LEAVING A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD IN A WAY THAT MIGHT CAUSE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS OR DANGER TO OTHERS
BIN OMRAN/AL HITMI AL JADEED 300 Q.R
0000454515 2006-10-02 9:50 AM NOT LEAVING ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN THE CAR AND OTHER FRONT VEHICLES OR TO OVERTAKING ANOTHER CAR FROM RIGHT SIDE WITHOUT A GOOD REASON
AL JASRA 300 Q.R
1100058536 2006-10-04 8:03 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100059267 2006-10-04 10:44 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100058806 2006-10-05 8:09 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100059278 2006-10-05 3:03 PM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100061724 2006-10-12 10:41 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100051751 2006-12-22 5:39 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
AL QASSAR / AL DAFNA Al Istiqlal 500 Q.R
1100017184 2007-01-16 10:42 AM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
AL HILAL D Ring Road 300 Q.R
0000562611 2007-01-25 6:06 PM NOT USING SEAT BELT WHILE DRIVING IN HIGH WAYS FOR THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER
MUSHEIREB 300 Q.R
1100047360 2007-02-05 12:54 PM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ALKOR/ALDAAYAN/SIMAISMA/JERYAN Al Khor Road 500 Q.R
1100086755 2007-03-21 2:14 PM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
NUAIJA Najma 300 Q.R
1100221417 2007-06-27 8:51 PM NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAXIMUM SPEED LEVEL
ONAIZA/ALQUTAIFIYA/QASSAR Onaiza 300 Q.R
1100070789 2008-04-01 2:48 AM LOADING A VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT CAUSES DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES
AL SOUDAN-AL AZIZIYA-AL MURRA Al Bustan 600 Q.R
1100076736 2008-04-10 4:02 AM LOADING A VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT CAUSES DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES
AL SOUDAN-AL AZIZIYA-AL MURRA Al Bustan 600 Q.R
1100079638 2008-04-11 10:14 AM LOADING A VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT CAUSES DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES
AL THUMAMA Al Matar 500 Q.R
1100095619 2008-04-28 11:39 AM LOADING A VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT CAUSES DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES
FEREEJ KULAIB Ahmed Bin Ali 500 Q.R
1100200848 2008-08-22 8:54 PM LOADING A VEHICLE IN A WAY THAT CAUSES DANGER TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTIES
LUQTA/RAYYAN QADEEM/ ZAEEM Al Luqta 500 Q.R
“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
Sir Winston Churchill
Yikes....that sounds like a really painful experience.
Glad you survived ;-)
i say.. you are one tough lady handling all of these by yourself and still with composure.. :) ..i wouldn't.. :P
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
You know, having been to Madinat Khalifa about a dozen times in the last montnh (buying new car, selling old one and general misunderstanding's along the way) I have to announce that I'm quitting my current job and going into a business of making multi-lingual signage. Right now I'm looking for someone who writes in Tagalog, Hindi, Mulawawi (spelling that Kerla dialect) etc. I think we can make millions, who wants to join me?
Genesis, my husband never get the text :-(. And we have to wait another 1 week to receive our card replacement.
Long story. But basically when we just arrived in Doha he opened the account with main doha bank in Grand Hamad street. Then after he found out that Mesaieed branch is next door to his office, so he moved his account to mesaieed. He told to Doha Bank Doha to closed his account but they never did. So everytime we got something coming, replacement card, new ATM card or whatever it is. They always send it to Doha Bank in Doha, and being told account in active and the scrapped the card. So now my husband have to fill a form and ask the bank to make a new card to be send to Mesaieed.
But Doha bank have been sending sms for the last 2 months, requesting customers to replace their ATM card at the City center branch
if its a radar and not a camera then I really am in the pits as there are no pictures taken if a radar is used as opposed to a camera.
Either way I didn't do it, I'm innocent!! maybe we can start the "save the mojo fund!!!"
mojo1981
Mojo1981, you need to head down to the traffic police and ask them to print out the photos and check wether thats your car. And you can take it from there...
Novi, you're story is scaring me a bit, I had been fined at 5:41am during Ramadan and during an office day around Qatar University.
The only problem I see with that is in Ramadan I would leave for work around 6:30am from home, and that to heading towards Ras Laffan.
Secondly for me to be in Qatar University around 5:41am, I must've left the house around 5am, which I knew for the life of me, in Ramadan is a big ask.
The fine is for QR500, and I know for sure this wasn't me, dad, and or bro, as we all love our sleep during Ramadan.
Which means, I have to take my claws out and haggle in my very broken arabic.
mojo1981
agietra, the stickers is not big deal. Although is written failed on the test paper, you show the stickers to the police and he will sign the paper and stamp it to 'pass' the car.
if you worry, take the stickers out during the test and stick another one after the test. Means you need 1 sticker a year.
sorry to hear that, glad it's over...
Nov, I just curious, is it a problem to put the sticker in the car ? Or it's ok to put the sticker in the back window ?
Sometimes I think Qatar has too many rules : tint, water usage, electricity usage, sponsorship, exit permit, and now I guess there's a rule to put sticker in our car ...
Tell me about it Nov!!! Was strolling along an avenue in Paris the other night and a car was driving along the PAVEMENT...didn't move for us either...we had to jump into the road...no radar on that street either so think the driver got off with it. Hmmphh!
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But equally proud of you that you did not give up and had the fine reduced. Well done.
Going back to what happens in the UK, a situation like this they would be. That the ticket authority most of the time the local authority or traffic authority would sent you the fine home with the picture of the violation and if you think you had be hard done then you have the right to appeal the ticket.
Anyway back to qatar you really give us Inspiration Novi, be it the villagio with Pizza hut staff or at the Police station your our guiding and shining star.
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Thanks novi for putting this up...when we renewed our car, found we had a qr10,000 fine for red light camera incident and hubby just paid it without explaining. Next time I will go with him and do as you did..(if we weren't in the wrong the next time as well)
I may be blonde but I am wise
smile lots laugh more
China ... lol ...
DG ... I need a stack of sense of humour in my store room in order to survive living in Qatar or Doha in perticular.
i dont even remember i see the flash, it was in the morning in a bright day light. All i remember that the traffic light did not work. Because i remember i sat in the car not moving for sometime with another cars honking behind me.
these are novita77's threads and posts, read through these and get to know her:
http://www.qatarliving.com/user/novita77/track
Oh, and when you are finished in a year or two's time, come back and let us all know what you know about her :-)
Omar I think you have joined the wrong website dude....
They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to see it... --George Carlin
Do you get flashed if you stop but slightly after the stop line? I am estimating like maybe 1 foot over the line?
I am not sure if it was me that was flashed (twice from behind me) as I didn't see any one else running the light...
Is it a fine to stop after the stop line?
They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to see it... --George Carlin
You see, alls well that ends well! Good luck Omar - she's gorgeous!
i feel very sad to hear that you got traffice violance...
Anyways i am new user over here....so can i know about you? novita
That sounds like quite a day...the systems were definitely against you :( Luckily you're sweet natured and patient so came through it with your sense of humour just about intact.
I wish I was as tolerant and patient as you. Sigh!
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I have got a stack of ém lol.
i feel very sad to hear that you got traffice violance...
Anyways i am new user over here....so can i know about you? novita
Sorry Marhabtain, so you been there done that and got the tshirt :)
Nah, I have been in this part of the world for over 20 years so I know the score but at least I KNOW the score - thats the difference u c.
Soon enough would be your turn to be in my shoes. Dont forget we are living in the same country. :)
QS , the colonel said they will cancel my point as well ... but i wont be surprise if they 'forget' to do that.
Yes i defenitely lucky with the credit card.
Dont you just 'love' Qatar?
did they cancel your points at least? did you take care of that? they might "forget" very easy...
i picture you jumping up and down in the Traffic Dep.. looking for somebody here and there, trying to solve the problem... and they all don't give a damp about anything! :)
i know it's stressfull.. i would have gone MAD completely..:)
..must say you were lucky with this credit card!
and yeah.. you have a beautiful car Novi.. :)
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“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
If that doesnt work try Gin.
insha allah Qatarisun ! You should see my face when i came back from the test centre and found out that i have QR 6000 fine and 7 points on my license.
And can you picture me going through the red light with my little matrix.
Next i will get in trouble because someone reported me flashing land cruiser from behind.
poor Novi.. :( poor all of us who is going through this or that bloody nonsense time after time, day after day...
but ...as you said, dear:
"Hope we do not suffer anything more serious"... Amen!
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“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Sorry to hear that story novita77, but not surprising.
Firstly it appears a lot of people got caught out with Doha Bank ........... I wonder if Bow Tie guy is in the paper tomorrow appologising? I somehow doubt it, probably will be pictured announcing record multi billion rial profits for Doha Bank .......... again!!!!
As for the police, I would guess you being female, you threatened their dominant male ego .......... how can you be right and they be wrong? Here woman, pay QR500 for being innocent and on your way my girl!!! LOL
But you been here a while now, and like me we must accept that the justice system is appalling. But good on you to question the original fine.