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Must see for EK pilots - Income protection issue

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Must see for EK pilots - Income protection issue

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Old 9th Sep 2007, 10:15
  #81 (permalink)  
 
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Although Camel you make out that you are very smart,unfortunately the only smart thing about you is that you are a smart a..e.
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 10:44
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megacamel, I think you should offer an incentive for the first 50 members of an immediate cash back payment. Get those members to supply you with all their account details so you can pay it directly into their accounts. I believe that is quite common for Nigerian operations.
Oh! I think you will need their pin numbers as well due to the difficulties in transferring money internationally from Lagos!
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 10:53
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Thanks AB for the explanation. Those of us who are members are grateful for the effort you have put in so far, however we did a rough estimate of what we thought the fund should be worth and came to a lot more than the 1.2 million you have mentioned. We estimated that with a conservative average membership of 300 pilots over the last 3 years (think thats about how long its been going if not longer?) that there should be an amount of around 3.4 odd million or are we way out?
Thanks
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 11:16
  #84 (permalink)  
 
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Mega Dude that was funny, but I have sent your mates in Lagos my email address and bank details for another great plan they came up with. sorry but they got in first.

I have another story (I like stories...) After I left school 4 of my mates made a pact, they would each put $10 a month into a bank account and keep contributing until there was only one single guy left out of the original 4. The last single man standing would get the money....It was a typical dumb teenage guy thing to do, motivated by drink as you would guess. Anyway, this went on for several years until there was only one single guy left and the pot was worth close to $6,000! The last single guy, who we all suspected of being gay (not that there's anything wrong with that), decided to share the money with the other 3 by having a big night out. Now does that sound like insurance or an investment plan, or just a bunch of guys pooling funds with a plan on how to share it? Don't believe they had to register a business to do it either.
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 13:02
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What is the difference between the current administration and the previous one? Both AB and MP are the board of EP LIPS,and always have been. I think the communication has always been terrible. EK Lawyer you should have read the rules and regulations of the fund before signing up.The fund was never sold as you state.
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 15:03
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dunerider, I know that I'm not very smart - I'm only an airline pilot. The smart pilots amongst us have made fortunes on the property market in Dubai or set up their own (legal) businesses. While I may not be that smart - at least I'm not dumb.
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 16:17
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6853,

The problem with your calc is the time period. LIPS has been running for a little over a year only.

This scheme is very similar to the one run by AFAP at home. That seems to work ok.

Don
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 17:22
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EKLawyer I can agree that LIPS is at a critical size that warrants some more transparancy and communication. And to be fair, AB has suggested this is on the way, not any different to a growing private company in that respect. But your gripe, and that of others is:

Failure to register a commercial enterprise in the UAE
Failure to obtain a trade licence
Failure to register directors with the trade department.
Failure to Keep audited Accounts in compliance with UAE law
Operating a business from a residential premises without a licence

I am suggesting that these may not be relevent to the scheme that is called LIPS. But hey, what do I know ..I'm not a lawyer....

I am still astounded at the attempts by non-LIPS members to discredit this scheme. To what end??? I know, as do other members, of the status and structure of the scheme, how there is a certain amount of trust making it all work. I'm comfortable with that. I do expect LIPS to mature as a scheme as it grows and at the moment that would appear to be the case. I just ask that those who are motivated by self interest, be it commercial or bravado, to choose another topic and stop crapping in 502 pilots' nests.
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Old 9th Sep 2007, 17:43
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Lips on the surface appears to be a good idea. But in the end you are trusting a bunch of amatures to protect your family if god forbid something happens to you. Get off your wallets and go out and find a proper outfit to insure your family. Remember folks...as with all things in life, you get what you pay for.

7
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 02:19
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Concerns

Guys, clearly there is a lot of concern.

I know AB set this fund up, and fair play to him. I believe he was disapointed with the AIG TopCover product and felt he could do better.
It seems to me that he is now realising the enormous complexities of running such a scheme, and that is before there are any any claims to deal with.
There are onerous legal responsiilities involved when taking funds from 'investors/members in return for a promise of future financial return, and many LIPS members are legitimately asking questions. EPC's lawyers have clearly spotted the jeopardy.

I am insured by TopCover and currently long term sick following an accident, and may not return to flying. My union insured me. I am covered for 75% of my salary and $500k PA cover. I know it will be paid if I don't recover. I am getting full medical opinion support from AIG, and the one concern I do not have is my financial future.



However, they KEY question you should ask about LIPS is:

In the event of me needng to claim, who will:
decide whether my claim is eligible?
monitor my claim for the future years?
assist me wth medical rehabilitation
communicate with me when I leave EK and return to my home country?


And,
what if I don't get paid, or LIPS decides that my condition doesn't merit payment, or 10 yrs from now there is no money in the fund when I claim??

30% of all general insurance claims are fraudulent. As member, how will you feel if Capt Bloggs clams because he was injured when driving drunk? Or Capt Smith claims and says he feels dizzy when he ses his roster? What is Smith or Bloggs were a manager of LIPS, or a relative, or a mate? Will you still want to contribute?


The real issue to consider is the transparency and management of such a complex, international scheme. You need clear guideline, claims investigation procedures, long term medical management, and absolute financial guarantees / security.


LIPS will need to spend a lot MORE of its money on setting up these structures, or trouble will arise.

Or, we all start to realise that AIG ( with AUD $1 trillion + in assets and truly global reach) had a point with TopCover.

At the end of the day, there is a risk/reward curve here. TopCover is cast iron and offers you 5 years of 75% of your salary, $500,000 of Personal Accient cover.

LIPS might work in the long term.

I hope you don't have to rely on hope when you are lying in a hospital bed.

Its a free world. Make a good choice. Discuss it with your wife !!!
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 12:00
  #91 (permalink)  
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Some perspective

EPC took over 3 years to start. It went from a sum total of 3 members and now has most of the EK pilot workforce as members. EPC had problems in the early days and fortunately through a lot of hard work of volunteers, EPC matured into what it is now. Only the typical slagging pilot would have considered giving EPC the flick in its infancy.

LIPS is no different. It started as a dream of AB’s and sure it has some maturing to do, but without your support it will die. For goodness sake, just have some confidence and positive contributions to make, as it is for our own good.

If in doubt how LIPS will turn out in years to come, speak with the early members of the AFAP Mutual Benefit Fund and compare where it is financially today.

And do me a favour; if you are not a member of LIPS when you contribute to this PPRuNe thread, at least have the balls to say so when you reply.
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 12:43
  #92 (permalink)  
 
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Some Perspective my arse!

What a load of ****e.. blueside.
If you want to share facts then go ahead and do so, but if you want people(ie fellow work mates) to take you seriously stick to those facts.
It was an arrogant f_ck within the EPC with an attitude not unlike yours that convinced me to resign.
No slagging involved buddy! just very poor management.
All potential members and current members have every right to discuss their concerns about lips and just what difference it makes if they are members or not is beyond me.
Or is it a requirement to pay your money up front before any questions will be answered? Sounds like you've been in Dubai too long.
If you have a vested interest or something to hide please demonstrate that you have the balls to admit it to all of us.

Last edited by ShockWave; 10th Sep 2007 at 13:54.
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 14:20
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Shockwave
I was at that time privy to your particular situation.
The EPC has never or ever will sell your e-mail address to anyone.
The facts which seem to have slipped your mind
You where, sent an e-mail from the EPC which had attached letter from a sponsor introducing their services, this was one of 4 or 5 e-mails you’re received from the EPC that year.
You took great acceptation to this and sent an e-mail to that effect to the EPC, who advised you that if you had problem with this, we could delete your name from the e-mail list. You then wrote back telling us that you didn’t see why you should be penalized, and have your name deleted.
We earn a lot of money through a small group of sponsors, we did not believe that a few e-mails a year was a great burden, we have always been willing for those that have a problem with this, to delete their name from the list.
You also said in your e-mail that if this was to continue you would resign, which you did.

Those are the facts,

Sorry if it’s off subject

NB:I am a member of the EPC
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 14:29
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SW
It would seem you have changed your post re selling of the contact numbers.
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Old 10th Sep 2007, 15:53
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Devil Shockwave's arse

Shockwave you did get one thing factual and that is you are an arse and as a result I am not going to get into a slinging match with you after this post as you will be persona non grata.

From the sound of your post and the following, you had a personal issue with someone in the EPC organisation. Maybe you have a lot of personal conflicts, as your reply was very aggressive. I merely said that EPC was a good idea and it was great that the guys did it voluntarily so we can enjoy the benefits. I also said that LIPS is a good idea. Maybe you should stick to the point and not bring your personal vendettas into a professional arena.

For the record:
  • I don’t have a vested interest in EPC or LIPS, other than being a positive person who wants to enjoy the benefits of both organisations.
  • Read my post again, as I stated to make a declaration if you were not a LIPS member.
  • Let your colleagues be the judge of your post.
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Old 14th Sep 2007, 04:59
  #96 (permalink)  
 
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LIPS new payment options

I've just received notice that all LIPS payments are to be made into AB's private bank account which I suppose does finally answer the one question I had and that is that there is no locally company set up and therefore LIPS is actually trading illegally in the UAE.

LIPS is being sold by a resident of the UAE to other residents of the UAE, with payments being made in the UAE in UAE Dirhams. It would take an extraordinary leap of imagination to suggest that it is not a UAE based business.

And as for paying into AB's personal bank account.....what is he thinking?!?!
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Old 14th Sep 2007, 08:18
  #97 (permalink)  
 
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I AM NOT A MEMBER OF LIPS

I did not join LIPS due to the many of the observations mentioned before. But before you all join in and demand to see his UAE registered company status, how many of you have been paying into EPC's local bank account, with your locally earned Dhs and not questioned the legal status of OUR CLUB?

I think clarity in all of these business enterprises needs to be addressed and the management of them handed over to responsible outside agents.
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Old 14th Sep 2007, 10:36
  #98 (permalink)  
 
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I am a member of LIPS, and am rethinking. To put funds into someone's personal account is very very risky. So what happens if for some unknown reason AB cannot access his account? Does he get interest on the amount of 500x320dhs each month? What if AB decides to leave EK, where are the funds? I khave no beef with AB and have zero reason not to trust him, I think he has done the pilots a tremedous favour in setting this up. However, IMHO, it just needs to be set up with some ordinary safeguards, run by a committee of peers and quarterly audits. Maybe we are in a transisition stage and within a month or two, all will be satisfied. But the email I got says to leave 12 checks in his box. Or one big check. Don't think so........

Where do I get TopCover info and what's the reviews on that? Would rather stay with a scheme run by our peers.
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Old 14th Sep 2007, 10:37
  #99 (permalink)  
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If you were a member, then you would have received an e-mail detailing the legal status of LIPS.
For sure the payments into AB's bank account are not the best, but as the EPC pulled the plug, its a temporary measure i hope.

EGGW
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Old 14th Sep 2007, 12:42
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Sorry to side track the thread again, but it is kind of relevant when you deal with unprofessional organizations or early start up organizations who have yet to sort out all their difficulties.

Not from here:
I changed my post a few minutes after writing it because it was not what this thread was supposed to be about, so if you received the original, sorry about that!

However, I do find it unsettling that a member, or past member of the EPC committee believes that it is acceptable to air private dealings with their members in a public forum. It is indicative of the poor management that I have already talked about. Also FACTS are only ever known by those directly involved and even then they are also miss represented, bent, embellished or just plain changed to suit what ever agenda some one may have.
I would advise you to remove any information you may have posted about some ones direct dealings with the EPC that you may have been involved with while in an official capacity. Very poor show, inappropriate, incorrect, and not unexpected. Legal expenses for the EPC is not something that should have to be paid for from members contributions because of the stupidity of one of its officials.


blueside:
I am not normally an angry b_stard but your post deserved an angry reply and it obviously wound me up which I regret letting happen. Your second post only displays again the intolerance of your first, persona non grata! grow up!
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