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ABN Amro staff members accused of misbehaviour

DUBAI — Several customers of ABN Amro Bank, who had been invited to a weekend family entertainment show, have alleged that all the thrill and excitement of a promising weekend was ruined because of misbehaviour by the bank staff.

Several credit card holders of ABN Amro Bank were invited by the bank recently to a screening of the Hindi movie "Salaam Namaste" for free at the Metroplex Theatre on Shaikh Zayed Road. "There was great commotion. People were shouted at and threatened by the the bank staff and Metroplex management to the extent that one man on duty said I will kill you all, if you don’t stop," said Priya Jashnani, who witnessed the scene.

She said after a long wait for the tickets to be issued, the people were told children below 10 years would not be allowed into the cinema as per rules. "We have not read anywhere nor have been prohibited from taking children with us for a family film" she said, adding: "Hundreds of people had lined up before time at the counter which opened at 3pm. At 4.45pm when we were entering the cinema, to our surprise, we were refused entry because we had a child under 10 years with us.”

Priya said a few couples were carrying infants with them as well. "When have children ever been prohibited from viewing a family film? The idea of not taking children to horror movies or vulgar movies is a fact to which no parent will disagree, but this is unacceptable. I have seen many movies at the Mercato, Al Ghurair Cineplex, Lamcy Plaza and all have allowed my baby of 15 months,” she explained.

Respecting the rules of the theatre, the parents then requested the Metroplex management to take them in as a special case since they were unaware of the rules, but the Metroplex management asked them to speak with ABN Amro executive Ahmed Ali, who had earlier turned a deaf ear to other problems. "Despite repeated requests, we were denied entry with the children and were shouted at by the bank executive," she said.

The men and women started taking turns in taking care of the children outside the theatre. "But when they wanted to enter the cinema, they were stopped yet again and were told that it was past an hour, and as per rules of the theatre, no one will be allowed in," said another complainant, who did not wish to be named.

Other people witnessing the scenes at the theatre told Khaleej Times that many people were turned away because they were not carrying identity cards and were also shouted at and insulted in front of hundreds of customers by the bank executive.

Faisal Nazir Malik, Manager of Customer Care Unit at ABN Amro Bank, said: "All our customers were informed of the terms of the benefits upfront. These terms were also displayed clearly at the movie hall. In order that maximum number of customers enjoy the benefit, the conditions specify that children are disallowed. ID’s are also requested to ensure that only genuine customers avail of the benefit."

He said complaints of misbehaviour by staff members are treated with utmost urgency and the matter is fully investigated. He also took the opportunity to apologise to the customers for the inconvenience caused.

The Manager of Metroplex Cinema, Imran Haider, said the bank is the client of the cinema and the bank had clearly instructed its customers not to bring children to the films, which they organise twice a month.

"But the customers get upset even though they know that children are not allowed, and this particular incident was the worst that ever happened. It was due to everybody’s fault that the commotion occurred and the blame cannot be pinned on any one person," he said. He denied that anyone from the cinema management threatened any customer.