Authorities here have taken the lead in warning businesses to refrain from sticking advertisements on the doors of every building or villa they can get their hands on.
Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Director General of the municipality, said many people have complained about companies pasting their cards on residents' house doors without permission. Though the residents try to remove them, their unsightly traces remain, which amounts to a form of damaging property.
"According to the law, nobody has the right to destroy or harm anyone's property. Thus the companies' actions are against the law."
The practice is so widespread all over the UAE that residents have come to accept that as an unavoidable evil, albeit reluctantly. It is not clear if other municipalities would also give similar warnings to this unregulated practice.
Ali Abdul Nasser, a Jordanian, said though the residents of his building try to take those stickers out, the glue used by the companies is so strong that it leaves unsightly marks on the doors ruining the finish. He said sometimes the paint on the door peels off with the sticker leaving a patch.
He said many residents have warned the companies' representatives not to paste the stickers, but to no avail.
The garish, often competing, advertisement stickers range from cooking gas vendors and bottled water companies to airconditioner repairing and pest-control shops. These unsolicited advertisements come in the form of stickers or flyers slipped under each door.
While they have become an irritant to residents, the practice goes largely unchecked.
Al Shamsi said Ras Al Khaimah's municipal inspectors who have been asked to check this practice and report said that gas distribution agencies and bottled water companies were the main violators.
He said in a way the companies are taking their services to the people and making their lives easier. But, he said, they should not paste the stickers and cards - instead they should hand them to the people or leave them at their doors.
The municipal inspectors have already made a list of offending companies. They will soon be given official warning letters to stop the practice and will be asked to sign an undertaking not to repeat the offence.
Violators face a Dh500 fine. The penalty will be doubled for repeat offenders.
Gulf News
