Claims Handling & Dispute Resolution Policy
Updated Date: May 25, 2025, 12:00 AM
1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
At World Golden Gate Virtual Assets Broker & Dealer Services L.L.C (WGG), we are committed to providing a transparent, fair, and accessible process for handling all client complaints, claims, and disputes related to our Spot and OTC virtual asset trading services. Our approach is governed by both the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), reflecting international best practices.
This summary outlines how we manage, investigate, and resolve complaints efficiently and impartially, fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement. We recognize that effective complaint handling is a cornerstone of client protection and market integrity.
2. WHO IS COVERED BY THIS POLICY
This policy applies to:
All clients, counterparties, and service users interacting with WGG platforms and services
All WGG staff involved in client interaction or complaint handling
Any external stakeholder affected by or engaged in a service or transaction with WGG
This includes both retail and institutional clients, partners, outsourced service providers, and applicants for onboarding.
3. WHAT CONSTITUTES A COMPLAINT OR CLAIM
A Complaint is any dissatisfaction (verbal or written) expressed about our services, operations, or performance.
A Claim is a formal demand for redress, compensation, or corrective action resulting from a specific issue or loss.
Examples include:
Trade execution errors
Delays in withdrawals or confirmations
Asset discrepancies
Breaches of contractual or disclosure obligations
Allegations of market manipulation, insider trading, or other serious misconduct
4. HOW TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT
Clients may submit complaints via:
Email: complaints@worldgoldengate.com
Online Portal: Complaint form available on our website
Mail: Addressed to the Chief Compliance Officer at our registered Dubai office
Telephone: Verbal complaints are accepted but must be followed up in writing
All complaints must include:
Full name and contact information
Client Identification Number (if available)
Description of the issue, date, and evidence (if any)
Preferred resolution (if applicable)
Once submitted, the complaint will be logged, assigned a unique reference number, and routed to the appropriate handler.
5. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU FILE A COMPLAINT
Within five (5) business days, you will receive an acknowledgment letter including:
Case reference number
Name of the handling officer
Outline of the complaint process and next steps
Expected timeframe for response and resolution
We may request additional documentation if needed. Incomplete complaints will not be closed; instead, we will proactively assist in clarifying or gathering missing details.
6. RESPONSE TIMELINES AND ESCALATION TIERS
Tier | Issue Type | Handled By | Timeline |
Tier 1 | Transaction discrepancies | Customer Support Team | Within 48 hours |
Tier 2 | Asset loss or custody concerns | Compliance Officer | Within 7 business days |
Tier 3 | Fraud, manipulation, or breaches | CEO + Legal/Compliance Team | Within 14 business days (extendable) |
If deadlines cannot be met, you will be informed of the delay and provided an estimated resolution date. Progress updates will be provided weekly for unresolved cases.
7. INVESTIGATION, RESOLUTION, AND FINAL RESPONSE
All investigations are conducted independently and objectively.
The investigator will review internal records, technical logs, and engage relevant departments.
Interviews or follow-ups with the complainant may be required for clarity or evidence.
A Final Response will be provided within four (4) weeks (extendable to eight (8) weeks in complex cases).
The Final Response includes:
Summary of findings and legal basis
Any compensation or remedial actions offered
Instructions for escalation or appeal
Timeline for acceptance of any proposed resolution (typically 7 calendar days)
8. APPEALS AND ADDITIONAL REMEDIES
If you are not satisfied with the Final Response, you may:
File a complaint with VARA
Pursue action before the Dubai Courts or relevant judicial bodies
Agree to arbitration (if mutually acceptable)
Appeals must be lodged within 30 calendar days of the Final Response.
WGG will cooperate fully with regulators and legal authorities and make records available as required.
9. THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINTS AND DATA PRIVACY
If your issue involves a third-party service provider:
WGG will inform you in writing before referring the matter
Your data will only be shared with your written consent and under strict PDPL compliance
WGG retains final responsibility for complaint resolution and ensures closure to your satisfaction
10. RECORD-KEEPING AND OVERSIGHT
WGG retains a full record of all complaints and correspondence for at least eight (8) years. Our central Complaint Register includes:
Date, nature, and severity of the complaint
Responsible staff and case resolution timeline
Supporting documents, investigation trail, and outcome
Audit trail of decisions, escalations, and internal reviews
These records are securely stored, encrypted, and subject to regulatory inspection.
11. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
After every resolved complaint, we conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to:
Identify procedural, technical, or human control gaps
Implement corrective actions and process improvements
Feed insights into compliance monitoring and staff training
Ensure systemic learnings are recorded and tracked through our Compliance Dashboard
12. GOVERNANCE, REVIEW, AND TRAINING
This policy is reviewed annually, or sooner if required by regulation
Updates require Board-level approval and are communicated via internal training
All client-facing teams, especially Customer Support and Compliance, undergo regular training on complaint handling procedures, VARA standards, and service ethics
13. CONFIDENTIALITY AND RETALIATION PROTECTION
All complaint submissions are treated confidentially
Personal and sensitive information is protected under WGG’s Data Privacy and Information Security Policies
Complainants and whistleblowers are shielded from retaliation or adverse consequences for raising concerns in good faith
14. VARA SUPERVISORY COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION
WGG maintains active cooperation with VARA and other UAE authorities
We submit quarterly complaints reports (where required) and maintain transparency in supervisory engagements
We promptly notify VARA of any trends indicating systemic risk, misconduct, or potential market abuse identified through complaints
15. CONTACT INFORMATION
For all complaint or dispute matters:
Chief Compliance Officer
World Golden Gate Virtual Assets Broker & Dealer Services L.L.C
Office 214, Al Wasl, Dubai, UAE
Email: complaints@worldgoldengate.com
WGG values your feedback and remains committed to resolving all matters with transparency, diligence, and regulatory integrity.