r348

didn't want to post any comments, but what happened recently was the last straw. Main recent problem: their electrician (not sure if it's theirs as paid the cheque to the ID's name and not the co) installed the switchboard with a different sized tester switch. as it was not the same brand as the rest of those smaller switches, the height is different, therefore the long piece of connector below those switches that connects them all could not secure properly to the tester switch as it was higher. so after 1 yr with the current not being able to flow properly finally blew and burnt the tester shorting the whole circuit in the house. lucky i was home and there was no fire. so my advise is to make sure the switchboard brands are all the same. Other minor problems: 1) more than 20 hollow tiles. excuse was, wet that time won't know, only dry already then will know. come on lah, it's the amount of cement put and the mixture that dictates whether it sticks properly or not. 2) supposed to wall mount TV in room, but partition wall guy forget to put extra wood in the partition to fix the rack. in the end have to put on console that was fixed on the partition wall. too heavy so cracked the jointing part of the console and partition wall. 3) carpentry guys smoked and threw ciggies on the tiles AFTER i have replaced the hollow ones leaving burnt marks that can't be removed. 2 spots. others can't be bothered to mention. anyway no matter how good the firm is, as long as they employ incompetent sub-cons, it's all the same shoddy work being done.

ok thanks.

Are they both using the same 15 amp switch? Or just a normal switch will do for storage heater?

Is it normal that the old kitchen tiles are not being hacked away and laid with new tiles before putting the kitchen cabinets for resale flat? Contractor say save money since we can't see the old tiles after cabinets are being put in place. Will there be any problems in the future?

Hi, Anyone got the RH-Katana promotion package with hob from Rinnai? Does this Katana work well? Thinking of getting the package because it's quite worth it at $1199 (original $1900). Thanks.

read your blog. wah, ID gave you so much problems ah? your 5rm resale that mike quoted only 29k? i was quoted more than 35k for a resale 4 rm. what are the major things that you are doing? does your 29k include baroque's resale 5rm package price?

yes, that's why police said civil case, not criminal. so going to court will cost a bomb bigger than the whole reno costs.

Yup, bottomline is still luck.

see my above reply.

People that complain should back up with proof. Vice versa for those who give praises too. As all forummers would know, there will definitely be some ID companies coming in as "ghost" writers, similar to our Straits Times Forum page, writing good things about their own companies and criticising competitors. Of course for this case, it might be genuine that he/she had a bad experience with Baroque, but bottomline it takes two hands to clap and expectations between customers and companies may differ greatly to the extent that 1 may become rather unreasonable. Just my 2 cents. Cheers.

haiz, it's not as though we do not know how "efficient" our home team are for cases against common people like us. if you're high profile, case will be solved very very fast. anyway, just to clarify about the company that locked out my bro, it's actually the sub-con that did it. that's because the main con has a reputation of holding back payments to the sub-cons. that pissed the sub-con off and so they locked the house. the main con then demanded full payment before completion when it was agreed on progress payments to be made upon completion of each stage of works. went to police and small claims tribunal, they said civil case, have to appoint lawyer if want to pursue. in the end, no choice have to make full payment (which is definitely cheaper than bringing case to court) and prayed for the best. in the end house managed to be completed before wedding day, but of course unhappily lah. so bottomline, that's the risk of making full payments before completion of works. coz you'll never know if the company may just close down, owner run away, sub-cons do nonsense works.

one more thing to note about being locked out. The police has no case against the ID. This is a loophole which the ID knew about. So even if you report to the police, there is nothing they can do about it because no crime is committed.

For me, these are what I will look for. 1) Their registration date with HDB (http://www.hdb.gov.sg//bn25/isos118p.nsf/List+by+Company?OpenView&Count=15&Start=1&RestrictToCategory=A&CurVal=Company%20Name&SerVal=) - The older the better. Higher chance that they might not just change their names because the old one's reputation is gone. But that does not mean that new ones may not be honestly new companies. 2) Their carpentry factory should be in-house. 3) ID should work around what YOU want, rather than what he/she feels is nicer. Unless you have no idea at all. 4) Minimum upfront downpayment. Remaining upon completion of work. Those that want almost 90% of payment before completion of work, I will stay out no matter how good that company is. That's because 90% risk is on you whereas 10% is on them only. Do you think they earn less than 10%? My bro had the experience with his ID that put a padlock to lock him out of the house unless he paid up in full before the completion of the house. He went to complain to CASE and CASE said:" Oh, it's this company again." All these factors are my own only. It's up to the individual how they feel and what they want from the ID company. Cheers.

You joined this forum the day before and your very first post is to complain about them? Hmm.....

anyone can PM me Kelvin's email? Thanks!