A woman named Chen, who recently moved into her Tampines flat, had an experience that no homeowner should ever endure.
According to Shin Min Daily News, Chen paid over $3,000 as a deposit for an air-conditioning system in her new home at Tampines.
Her interior designer had recommended a technician for the job, but what followed was a tale of frustration, missed appointments, and unfulfilled promises.
The Initial Deposit
It all began when she paid a substantial deposit for the installation of her air-conditioning system. The interior designer she hired for her flat suggested a technician for the job, and she proceeded with their recommendation.
She was asked to pay half of the deposit for the wiring of the aircon systems and just a month later, the technician asked her to pay another 20 per cent of the deposit, so as to reserve the system that she wanted.
Feeling
This raised red flags for Chen, who began to suspect that something was amiss. Sensing the need for caution, she decided to request a receipt for the payment to ensure transparency.
As she had feared, the technician’s response to her request for a receipt was evasive. This added to the growing sense of doubt and unease. She started to wonder whether her trust had been misplaced, and whether the technician had honorable intentions.
Unfulfilled Appointments
Over the next few months, Chen’s experience went from bad to worse. The technician made four separate appointments to install the air-conditioner system, but on each occasion, he failed to show up.
The frustration mounted as Chen waited in vain for the promised installation, all the while receiving text messages from the technician, filled with apologies and promises of compensation.
Frustrated with the technician’s unreliability, Chen decided to take matters into her own hands. She contacted the supplier and was in for another unpleasant surprise.
It turned out that the technician hadn’t placed an order for the air-conditioning system at all. This revelation was not only infuriating but also deeply concerning, considering the significant deposit she had paid.
Legal Recourse
With her patience worn thin, Chen decided to pursue legal action via the Small Claims Tribunal against the technician’s company, S Cool Aircon Pte Ltd.
She ended up having to get another technician to redo the wiring in her new home because the previous guy messed it up, incurring additional costs along the way.
The repercussions of this ordeal were far-reaching. Chen and her 80-year-old mother had to delay moving into their new home by four months, causing them considerable stress and anguish. Chen confessed that she had kept the situation from her mother, fearing the emotional toll it would take on her.
Interior Designer’s Perspective
The interior designer who recommended the technician also had a perspective on the matter. He had collaborated with the technician for over three years and had only good experiences until this unfortunate incident.
However, he terminated their working relationship after receiving two negative reviews and was unable to get a satisfactory explanation for the technician’s sudden unreliability.
Consumer Association Involvement
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) revealed that they had received eight complaints against the air-conditioning company involved.
Melvin Yong, the president of Case, had taken steps on behalf of three customers, seeking solutions and refunds from the company.