Damaged can

The other day I went to the petrol station. Not only to fill my tank, but also to fill the jerry can that I carry while offroading in the desert, just in case. The petrol station assistant, Indian or Pakistani guy, surprisingly enough from a pump assistant, had never seen a jerry can before. Even more surprisingly, he decided not to share his small secret with me. Rather, he decided to force the cap open, by bending it with his maximum force. It was too late by the time I noticed the trick, and of corse however he twisted it, the cap has not closed the can properly any more. I got quite angry as that can was 150 dirhams, not to mention the extra trip I would now need to the hardware store.

Driven by European habits, I asked for the manager. He arrived. I requested him to explain me how could I complain. I learned I could not. There is no form to fill. There is no Headquarter's phone number to call. There is no customer service to mail to. There is no way to get a reimbursement from the company. There is no way the company would stand for the faults of their individual workers.

'So what can I do?'- I asked desperately.
'Ma'm, just buy a new can, bring the receipt and he will pay for it.'
'Who?'
'Him'- pointed the manager to the pump assistant.

Well, that immediately cooled me. I mean, having the huge rich oil company pay my can and then the manager educating the guy on how jerry cans operate -after the customer had left- would be something you would expect. Worst case, if he repeatedly causes damage to the company, a small salary deduction. But making him pay for the full damage? And what if he damages my 100.000 dirham car? They give me him as a slave for life?

'How much he earns?'
'He makes 800.'

Fuck. There is no way I would make a guy earning 800, spending 300 for a filthy bedshare, eating steamed rice every bloody day for years and years and sending 300 home to his numerous relatives, to pay 150 for my damned can. No way.

So basically that is it. That is the story. It is about the lack of Worker's Union and the lack of Customer's Rights Associations. It is about Dubai.