What was meant to be a leisurely Monday escape for a group of four Singaporeans to Johor turned into an unexpected ordeal when their rental car, sourced from Tribecar, broke down, leaving them with a hefty bill and a ruined day, according to a report by Mothership.
The Ill-Fated Journey: A Bid to Beat the Traffic
In an attempt to avoid the weekday traffic blues, the group opted to drive to Johor on a Monday, only to be met with an unfortunate twist of fate – their rental car succumbed to mechanical issues, stranding them on Jalan Dato Onn Utama.
Having chosen Tribecar for their rental needs, the group paid over $60 for an eight-hour car rental. Despite being repeat customers familiar with the route up to Kuala Lumpur, this experience would prove vastly different from their previous trips.
Seah, one of the group members, highlighted concerning signs that hinted at trouble. The car’s mileage raised eyebrows, doubling that of a typical 10-year-old vehicle, and the air-conditioning malfunctioned on the Causeway. The driver, Aq, noted peculiarities in acceleration and steering.
The Unplanned Pit Stop: Breakdown on Jalan Dato Onn Utama
The car’s misfortune struck just moments away from the group’s intended lunch spot. Aq promptly contacted Tribecar, only to be instructed to tow the car back to a Singapore workshop, emphasizing that any repair attempts in Malaysia would jeopardize their claim for reimbursement.
Forced to part with over $400, nearly depleting their funds for the day, the group had the car towed to Singapore, opted for a cab to salvage their lunch plans, and finally took a bus back to Singapore. The unexpected turn of events left them not only frustrated but also short of a day’s leave.
Tribecar’s Response: An Investigation in Progress
A spokesperson for Tribecar defended the car’s condition, stating that it had been serviced on Nov 23, with all components, including the alternator, deemed functional. An authorized workshop is currently examining the vehicle to determine the cause of the breakdown. A commitment to refund the towing cost awaits confirmation that the breakdown wasn’t due to the hirer’s actions.