My daughter borrowed KD 300 from a ‘friend’ three months ago on a 10 percent monthly interest. She pays back a part of the loan every month along with the interest and now she has only KD 150 left to return. But her friend has kept her passport and ATM card as collateral. My daughter now faces a dilemma as she is almost 9 months pregnant and needs her passport to complete various formalities. Can her friend keep the passport? What can we do?

Name withheld

Answer: There are many such ‘loan sharks’ operating in various parts of Kuwait and they all employ the same methods. However, their businesses are illegal and you can report them to the police. They can’t keep your passport nor your ATM card. You must talk to your daughter’s ‘friend’ and explain the situation. You should tell her to return the passport and if she does not, you can go to the police.