BetterSociety2gether

Hi Wayne, is yours a HDB flat?

Hi jimboy Sorry to hear you got cheated. It is not about the money. It is not about vengeance. It is the injustice you suffered and to help prevent others from being cheated. Thanks for sharing with us. These days, cheating has become so common. Be it spa packages, renovation, etc, etc, etc. If all of us become resigned to losing our hard-earned money than we should be prepared to lose more because there are more and more crooks in every trade with more and more sophisticated scams. It will become **** for consumers. Guess some lessons picked up here: 1) Don't be in a hurry to purchase or sign-up for anything at exhibitions. If they want our business, they can wait. We can negotiate the deal and then meet up at their shop or office to confirm. Gives us time to check if they are properly registered with ACRA and if they are a fly-by-night operation. 2) If it is a product we are purchasing, take a photo of it. This acts as a proof of the item the retailer was supposed to deliver. I know what most people are thinking - all that hassle to buy a sofa? Sigh....this is how it is these days. Its called defensive shopping. I wish it was a bliss too! 3) I wish I don't have to suggest this: Get the ID of the sales person - that is, you can charge the person for cheating if needed. Some suggestions for next steps for you: Try to check in the ACRA database for details of the business owner, gather the proof of cheating and then lodge a police report. File the claim with Small Claims Tribunal. You never know till you tried. We cannot afford to have these guys get away and run around cheating people because there are just too many cheats and scams around already. They can make our lives very very very miserable. If all of us make an effort to make sure they do not get away easily, it will be a big help for the rest of us. All the best! Just don't give up.

Dear beankurt Has the renovation started? If not, it will be less messy. You can try to come to an agreement with your contractor to terminate the contract. He will have to refund you the deposit or monies you have paid him so far. There is actually no contract between you and him because only HDB licensed contractor can carry out renovation in HDB flats. Because he does not have the license to do so, he is unable to perform the contract. The contract is also illegal hence you have a right to rescind (or cancel)it. Once you know that he is not a licensed contractor but insist to carry through with the contract, the tables would be turned - he can delay, display attitude, give you lousy workmanship, etc. You would be at his mercy and you will have a hard time justifying yourself with the authorities to help you if he abandons your renovation or gives you lousy workmanship. Besides, if found out, you could be fined up to $5000 for knowingly hiring a non-HDB licensed contractor. Since you are innocent and have been cheated into entering a contract, so better to act fast now before you lose more money and your right to get what you paid for. Just ask him one simple question - How is he going to submit application for renovation permit if he has no license? Borrow the license of his sub-contractor? - we know this is not legal. You will need to put your notice of termination of contract to him via registered mail. If he refuse to refund you, then go to CASE or Small Claims Tribunal. Don't think you have paid him any large amount yet so let's hope he does not need all that trouble and will refund you without much struggle. But hopefully you are able to track him, that he does not disappear. Actually, homeowners should be allowed to take photocopy of the IC of their contractors to prevent "Take $ and Run" situation from happening. You can read the following on the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act and find out more on your rights as a consumer: http://www.mti.gov.sg/legislation/Documents/app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/84/doc/frm_LEG_CPFTA_Act_Canc_Reg.pdf http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident=2f20efdd-4881-41b2-9ec7-09f5697e9113;page=0;query=DocId%3A403774c5-3764-4c57-bf79-ceb0a3b5ba5d%20%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0#pr11-he-. http://www.case.org.sg/cpfta.html I find the following link very useful so here's sharing it with you: http://www.wikihow.com/Terminate-a-Contract All the best!

Dear all, Great news! from next year, contractors working on HDB renovation would not only need to be accredited but also possess trained workers. http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/EA48B46FFA2B187648257B9000177036?OpenDocument

The following is an example of what can happen if the ID or Main Contractor you sign your renovation contract with is non HDB registered. Many of the renovation contractor scams, ID/contractors abandoning works and blatantly refuse to rectify defects had the root of the problem in that they make you believe they can renovate your HDB flat for you coz they hire HDB licensed su b-contractors. https://m.facebook.com/suzannah.fazli/posts/4218477195052

https://m.facebook.com/singaporepoliceforce/posts/10151935752094408 Even if your ID or contractor is recommended by friends, relatives or colleagues and you have seen their completed works, you still need to do background screening of the ID or contractor you are going to hire. As homeowners, we need to protect ourselves. Too many dishonest and errant contractors on the prowl unfortunately. If you are HDB homeowner,the person you sign the contract with must be HDB licensed cos he is the one who should be liable to complete the renovation and be liable to rectify the defects during the defects liability period. Wishing all a smooth renovation!

Hi Angry Bird and others Any updates from the police or what is the outcome? There has been some new cases of renovation contractor scam in 2013. Care to share the outcome so we can put our heads together to tackle the crooks and conmen? Hope everything is ok with all of you. Never give up till you see justice! Best regards

HDB website says "You are required to engage an HDB registered contractor to renovate your flat including works that do not require a renovation permit." Hence the contractor /ID you sign the renovation contract with will have to be a HDB licensed holder. Majority of the shoddy workmanship and abandoned works reported or contractor scam that happened has its root problem in that the Main contractor/ID with whom homeowners sign contract with are non HDB licensed themselves. They will tell you they hire HDB licensed contractors, actually meaning sub contractors to carry out the work. You also expose yourself o abandonment of works. The Main Contractor if not HDB licensed is not accountable to HDB/RADAC/BCA. in case he abandon works, he may be liable to you but he is not accountable to any authorities including CASE. In a dispute, he w have the upper hand and and no one will be able to help you.Simply put, IDs and Contractors who know they are not allowed to carry out renovation works in HDB flats without a HDB license tellou they can by hiring HDB licensee subcontractors or any other means ..the probability he is going to be honest in his dealings with you is going to be very low.