SHARE with us your worst Reno nightmares!!

[Bo Chan 1]

Have finally moved into my humble abode recently and decided to warn anyone here who is looking for renovation contractor because I had the worst experience. I am not revealing the company name here because my problem is quite unique and I think the Contractor himself can easily identify himself. So PM me if you want to have the details, I know it is an inconvenience but I seriously do not want to invite trouble since I'd be living alone and am powerless against someone with deep pocket like him. Yes, consumers are no longer the kings these days. HDB ought to do something about these errant contractors.

[exquisite 0]

On 3/17/2020 at 9:55 AM, Shaun Teo said:

Engaged an ID in the Joo Chiat area. Bunch of tricksters and cheats. ?

Mine sharing what happened? Thanks

[Jojokuek 0]

Hi does any one here engaged "ur reno save" company for home renovation? Any reviews?

[Gusty 1]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share my terrible experience with Sg Renovations Contractors Pte Ltd. Unbelievably, I don’t know how they got so many good reviews in Carousell (more than 100x5stars review). So I contacted her (Melissa) to get a paint job done for my place. 
 

Contract was supposedly painting of interior/exterior/roof. Time frame in contract was 2 weeks. They kept dragging and said needed more time and asked for more money (only part of the exterior was painted and badly done). For 1 week it wasn’t raining (my contractors were doing other work in the house can testify) they didn’t turn up. I can share the photos, they are far from finishing their job. On the 3rd week, they came to remove the scaffold, there is no way they can finish their job (3rd floor wall unpainted shown in pic).  Their paint is peeling off only within 2 weeks. Simple works like plastering to touch up the walls(Written in the contract) were not done and cracks were everywhere. Refer to pics below for reference. Kept asking for top up of $$, eg pay more for aircon ledge as they are not considered external walls, wooden fence only painted half (claiming need neighbour’s permission but we already got it). There’s still alot more but I’ll leave it as it is here. You can see from the pics below how much exterior works needs to be done 
 

By this time, I asked how much more time they needed to finish their job (as quoted by them “Left 1 corner wall and some ceiling and balcony ledge”) and they said needed 10 more days and subject to weather conditions and requested unreasonable demands to get their job done, basically to drag and wear our patience out. The interior of the house hasn’t even started any painting yet at this point.

For a contracted 2 weeks job, turned out to be badly done and multiple lies told to us by Melissa and her supervisor (who was also a hooligan, called me and my wife and started swearing because we asked why is their paint quality so bad, threatened to cancel our job). I think it’s a company that people should avoid.
 

Just sharing my experience so others can be informed. Hopefully I am just one of the unlucky ones to have experienced their bad service. I welcome them to write their perspective and I will reply objectively to their work. 

 

[Yap Xiong Wei 0]

Hi everyone  , pls beware engage this Golden bricks building contractor on dec 19  very  dishonest and very poor workmanship shop the person in charge Vincent Tan and finished on Jan 20 , before the last payment make to him , he did not took initiative to conduct a joint inspection with me only just sent me a invoice and want me to pay him through Paylah ,as a first time homeowner I really do not know that I need to do so before taking over premises , then after stay for a few months I found out tiles not properly lay with chips , hollow and cracks , kitchen cabinet not sitting flat on the plinth leaving a big gap and use cement to seal up and argue that is normal as compare to the BCA renovation standard, need to call him multiple times before he came down to see all this defects , in the end he is willing to give me some compensation .below are all the defects done at my place

[Shuli85 0]

Hi everyone pls beware of dis guy Gabriel Seng Joon Hian n his partner Jay Lee from Zenith Design Theory

They taken down their facebook page but are still scamming others simply search Gabriel Seng in reddit n read all the nightmares 

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/scamsg.com/company/201629247E/amp

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=545962471

https://www.facebook.com/gabriel.gagala

https://www.facebook.com/gabriel.seng.9

[Tarepanda00010 0]

Hi, need some advice. My HDB resale flat is currently under renovation and yesterday My ID informed me that during the hacking some of the tiles pop up and they will be charging us for the cement screed, is this very common??

 

 

[balasing 0]

- - - and Design  -- took 100% renovation fees with the promise to complete the HDB renovation in 2 months is still unable to finish the work after 5 months and stopped responding as well .... worst ever renovation company I came across ...

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by balasing

[Elena Fishchenko 0]

I agree.

[greeeen 0]

• The ID I worked with has just two people (project managers) in their company. They engage various contractors for all the work done. So think of them as the main-con.

• Usually how it works is this: You either pay a project management fee and that is the price you pay for the convenience and they are then supposed to work in your interest to get the best rates for you, since they are already getting paid for that service. OR you don't pay a project management fee and they take a cut from the sub-contractors to earn. I understand that they have to make money too.

• In my case, my ID requested a project management fee of $15,000+ for the management and design of our home. (Context: The whole renovation project cost was over $100k and I stay in a private property.) Because of the fee, she said she would will not charge any mark-ups and will provide me with all the invoices. At first, she claimed it was not a practise to provide any invoices to clients. But I insisted for them. This rang some alarm bells but because they were a third-party recommendation, we still went ahead.

• Throughout our time working with her, we realised several contract amounts not tallying up, many promises to fix things always were "forgotten" and I'm not gonna go into detail but at this point, there were over 10 instances of dishonesty (that we just gave her the benefit of the doubt for) and it was getting hard to trust the things she was saying.

• We started to get suspicious when we requested for add-ons which required new quotes. I would request for 3 quotes but she always came back with just one. At first, I thought she was just lazy for always using the same expensive supplier because she didn't want to find more quotes for us and always said there was no one else.

How shady interior design firms operate in Singapore

• Our suspicions lead us to ask around and get the quotations ourselves and boy did we get a huge shock. For 3 separate additions (small issues like blinds/curtains/etc), our quotes were half the price as the quotes she was giving us.

• Turns out, one of the contractors we ended up getting the quote from was a current supplier of hers, who offered us a much lower rate. And he explained to us how her company operates, and how the ID + supplier industry works in general.

• He said they will approach the supplier and ask for the cost price that they will charge. Then, they will add their own cut to it between 20%-50% markup and ask the supplier to issue clients the invoice with the inflated amount. The more she thinks she can get away with it, the higher % she will add. Once she finds a supplier who is willing to do this with her, she will keep using that same supplier. Hence that guy giving better rates was not chosen.

• So any homeowner who receives the invoice will feel that it is legit, but actually, it is heavily inflated due to the special agreement between her and the supplier. The invoice is a clever ruse to trick homeowners.

• We ended up exceeding our renovation budget by about $30k with the provisional charges for things like electricity doubling from $10k to $20k.

• What makes us so angry is how she said she was going to charge an overall fee for project management ($15k+) so everything would be transparent. e.g same logic as hiring a main contractor. But all this while, she was getting under the table deals too, inflating the invoices and effectively charging us twice - one from the comms and one for her lump sum fee.

• Because she inflated the amount, instead of us getting our dream home we saved up years for, we had to do away with some features we really wanted because it was over our budget due to the extra money was going to her as under the table profit.

[Jasonyong 1]

Hi all, i had recently engaged Casa Interior Design for my resale 4 room flat. I went with the hacking package and abit of carpentary and it cost me 40k+ for a terrible experience. They hacked a number of holes thru my toliet wall and left behind a scar marking on the wall. Poor workmanship can be observe with damages to the original HDB carpentary. Their paintworks were terrible and i had to touchup on the whole house again due to the reckless work done. Uneven tiles and different color grout line can be seen clearly. They removed both my 2yrs system 3 and system 1 Mitsubishi aircon and intended to replace me with 10+ aircon unit. Overall a very bad experience with this ID company and all i can say is think twice before engaging them.

Edited June 5, 2021 by Jasonyong
Post pictures for reference

[JustAcustomer 1]

Don’t engage The Local Inn interior. No communication and not professional. I order to get the job they quote the desire amt thereafter lots of additional cost. Very stressful. 

[Bmak 0]

On 11/13/2020 at 4:15 PM, Bo Chan said:

Have finally moved into my humble abode recently and decided to warn anyone here who is looking for renovation contractor because I had the worst experience. I am not revealing the company name here because my problem is quite unique and I think the Contractor himself can easily identify himself. So PM me if you want to have the details, I know it is an inconvenience but I seriously do not want to invite trouble since I'd be living alone and am powerless against someone with deep pocket like him. Yes, consumers are no longer the kings these days. HDB ought to do something about these errant contractors.

Hi, can pm me the contractor name? Thanks.

[newbie999 0]

Hi All,

Just sharing a very bad experience with a self declared ID. Due to the house still under warranty period and a lot of faults still need rectification i will not post the name here. If anyone interested then PM me direct.

I did not get to see a single 3D diagram from start till end of the project. All design is just simple hand sketching and can tell is very last minutes work. They claimed they have 30 years of experience in renovation and do all sort of renovation project, the company just a simple 2 man operation and the registered business address is a HDB flat. 

At the start of the project, they are very friendly and keep meeting for discussion etc and we ask for a comfortable date which the project can be completed from them as we understand now due to covid situation work will be slower and limited number of skiledl workers. They committed a date to us and said they will well complete before the completion date. 

Initially they told us to get all the lighting, toilet, kitchen accessories etc purchase upfront so there will not be any delay to the renovation work. They even offer to bring us to purchase these items, we ask if we need to check the items when they delivered. Tell us no need, they will check for us. We purchased all these items from 3 different shop and i believe some shop they markup as we do not get the invoices and pay thru them. I am ok if they earn a cut but what come next is horror to us. All 3 shops delivery got issue. all has either missing items and they only detected when we do stocktake with the ID when the items has delivered for a few days. They did not check at all. 

The ID daily come to check the renovation progress but i am not sure what did he check.

1. We replaced the window and window grill as this was a resale flat. Quoted us 3 tracks for the window grill but when installation only do 2 track, he never realised until we tell him. After the windows was replaced, water leaking in my Masterbedroom when heavy rain, we notified him during the renovation. First time after informed, tell us will get worker come fix, water leak again the 2nd time and still no one come fix. 3rd time water leak until 25% of my masterbed room flooded then get someone to come fix. After that still water leaking even though they claim they fixed already. As i am typing now, yesterday heavy rain, water leak again. I also noticed all other window they apply cement to cover the holes/crack etc (hope i get the term right) but master bedroom they cover with silicone which is rubber like material, Not sure if this is the correct way to fix the issue? Any kind souls can advise me. 

This is not the end of the window  issue. the windows grill is so loosely fitted and the locked spring is already spoilt can feel anytime will drop out. We informed them our concern, tell us the lock spring after long usage will become lose like this, so is he telling me is a used lock they given to us? So after several discussion, they said will get worker to come in and fixed. Initially tell us morning will come, then same day informed change to afternoon. Ended the person only come at night, worst part he only come check the issue and not fixing it. Will schedule for another appointment to fix it.

The windows installation delayed very long and they claim HDB did not approve the permit even after 2 week but when i login to the HDB portal when it was approved and check. The submission and approval was within the same day. There is no delay by HDB.

2. Carpentry work tell us all door hinges will come with 4 screw and even show us picture. Ended all installed with 3 screws. The ID also never detected as usual until all the carpentry work completed and we informed him. 2 days before the initial handover date, we check and realised the kitchen bottom cabinet they used wood to level the cabinet and all the gap is never filled up at all. Imagine if we did not found out and start pour water at kitchen to do thorough cleaning all water will slip in. Again the excuse given to us is too many things not possible to check.

3. Kitchen glass door, we want to do enclose kitchen so they build up the wall and install with a glass door. Initially when everything was up, the gap on the top door frame is even bigger than the bottom one. Even elderly come to see the reno also said not acceptable. The ID offered to used some black rubber tape or some material to cover up the gap, they do not even want to offer to adjust the door frame. Only agreed to do so after we insist. The glassdoor alighnment also out when we fully close the door and they blamed is our wall issue, the Wall surround the glass door was build by them. 

4. Aircon piping, we replaced the aircon as it was faulty, again they offered to use their contractor for us and said they have work together for very long and they know the standard of the ID. We realise the pippiing that is running on top of the wall, there are so many big hole and gap not cover up, Again we  need to inform and they come check before they get someone to fix it. Imagine some gap/hope is so big that my finger can go in.

5. Flooring, we redo the whole house except the floor tile at the living and bedroom as still is quite good condition. During reno i engage my own curtain contractor to come do measurement, the curtain contractor alert us said the reno work did not protect all the tile flooring, may end up damage it. It really happen as so many place of the tile is crack and got hole. And when we speak to the ID and show pic they did not cover all the flooring area, they claimed already in such condition when they come in to do the reno. if there is so many crack and holes, we sure would have include it in our reno since we already redo almost everything. We also have other ID/contractor onsite to do the quote and check the place out, if really so much of crack/holes they would advise us to consider replace the floor tile. Ended i spend another sum of money to do vinyl as whole house is already completed, no point hack again and redo tiling. I believe the vinyl flooring is again markup as they do not give us the invoice again and they said cannot do skirting. When i check with other vinyl flooring tell me can just paste on existing tile skirting and will be slightly thicker. Not too big an issue to do vinyl skirting. Imagine the flooring was damaged by them and out of good will, they should not markup and charge us. Just charge us as the original price. They still tell us as this is last minutes additional reno task and the handover already delay, they will get more workers to come do and complete the vinyl flooring in 1 day. On the actual day only 1 person come and do the whole flooring. 

6. Wall and floor tiling work. Some of the gap in between the tile was not fill up with cement, he can claimed it was fill up and the cement sink in. For me is either you fill or no fill up, do not think got such sink in issue. This is the 1st time i heard of such reasoning, not sure any kind souls can advise me. 

7. Plumbing and toilet accessories, they installed the towel bar when i open the toilet door and the door hit the bar. Some position they install the items is at the incorrect position. Basin water leakage, vanity top drill extra hole and scratch. All just brush it off saying extra hole is good for ventilation  and such lame excuses

A lot of such issue i find is due to poor supervision and poor workmanship but the ID insist they did their part. All these are just some of the issue i encountered and not all as too many to list out. They claimed they are with 30 years of experiences and their work standard does not show me that. 

Best of all the final reno cost me 1.5 time of the original quote and this exclude the cost of the vinyl flooring. 

I also not sure if i go CASE what kind of resolution will i get? Anyone aware and shared case reported experiences?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[889taboo 0]

Finally sitting down to just pen my thoughts after everything is more or less settled at home.

 

 

TLDR; Engaged an ID company that had a very egoistic MD, terrible experience dealing with the company, major delay of renovation giving many excuses, their inability to communicate and stay accountable for their actions. I had to basically oversee my entire renovation process, which defeated the purpose of engaging an ID company to do it for me in the first place anyway.

 

 

 I got to know D** via a friend who was starting out as a new ID. I told my friend (ID “A”) that there are no promises that we will sign with them as my partner and I do not like to hire friends. But ID A’s design piqued our interest so they were one of the IDs we shortlisted. After seeing the first design, my partner and I decided to go with ID A’s design and ID company as they offered better designs at a more attractive price point. This was the first mistake, as we did not do much research about the firm that has very little reviews but waved that concern away. Little did we know we were getting ourselves into a nightmare.

 We decided to sign with this firm, but before we signed, ID A confided in me that the company was not upfront about commission. We told them to discuss with the company and would only sign with the go ahead. Eventually, they ironed out the issue and we signed. Weeks after signing, ID A got terminated from the company. The company’s boss spoke ill of them and we took it as it is as I was not very close to them . Another ID (ID B) came on board the project.

Covid hit and our BTO got delayed quite a bit (~ 6 months ish). There was no discussion until a refresher discussion at the end of the year. Only when we got the news of the key collection, another proper discussion was done and our renovation began. Everything went very well with ID B, things were moving very quickly.

 However, things only went downhill from when ID B got abruptly terminated from the company without notice, with the managing director (MD) personally taking over the renovation (the MD was already part of the contract from the start - mind you, this MD did not appear at our flat at all until the MD terminated ID B). Our renovation from then took from 6-7weeks timeline to a never ending extending timeline, which ended up having the completion almost close to 5 and a half months, with 2 months nothing done. 

 Firstly, my partner called up to ask what was going on. I also proceeded to send a lengthy text asking the MD to let ID B finish the project before terminating as it was very abrupt. The MD proceeded to reply with words like “Let me check with the lawyer firm and get advice...legal actions” claiming  that both our initial ID, ID A, and our replacement ID, ID B, had “failed” us, “as the director of the company, our mission is to meet customer’s needs, to provide a pleasant renovation journey”. Basically using big words, they don't mean. MD also kept asking for information that could be found in the group chat which they claimed that they were unable to find, but I was able to dig it out from the chat history with a simple search function.

 Since our vinyl flooring was halfway done, the MD tried to settle it but kept asking questions about what was the arrangement. Shouldn’t they have spoken to ID B and gotten ID B to hand over things properly before terminating them? 

We then arranged with the MD for a zoom call as we were unable to meet in person due to covid. The first thing we entered the zoom meeting, the MD DEMANDED an apology from us for “screwing up their company”. Little did we know, this was only the start of this big nightmare. Instead of trying to convince us that everything will be fine, the MD started to scold us? It was at this point I did not want to continue the project with this ID firm. However, ID B assured us that the carpenter (we were left mostly carpentry) is reliable. We thought this would be a one off thing and the rest of the renovation will continue. We were wrong. 

 Proceeding this, the MD sent us a schedule that was clearly dragging the renovation duration and should not take a whole 2 months to fulfill carpentry work, remaining glass works and plumbing. Every time we ask for updates, the MD will claim that they are busy and have other project meetings, and will send us posts about covid so that they can hide behind the excuse of covid whenever there is delay (how convenient). I would also proceed to clarify the  existing SMM (Safe Management Measures) at that point of time for renovation work so that they do not have any excuse.

 I am not sure why it took so long for the carpentry detailed drawings to be done and sent back to us for confirmation as it was already initially discussed in a zoom meeting prior to ID B’s termination which the MD had claimed to be listening in as an attendee of the meeting. Also because I could not trust the MD, I had to make extra effort to scrutinize and double check all the details, to nobody’s surprise, there were details missed out or mistakes made. Which completely defeats the purpose of engaging an ID to oversee our renovation works. Also, when we went down to check the vinyl flooring, we found many gaps and edges that were not flat, that the whole floor was practically marked out with masking tape.

 The MD also scheduled delivery without informing either me or my partner, and I would get calls from delivery guys, which sometimes I am unable to certify if it is really delivery for us. Honestly this is quite scary because the delivery guys will ask for the passcode, who knows if it is really them? My electrician also mentioned that there were cases whereby people steal items from houses before. But thankfully it was really the delivery guys from the shops. However, the MD claimed that he/she told the shop guys not to deliver the toilet bowls as the size of the trap has not been checked yet, but it still got delivered. When I conveyed this to the sales person, they said they were not being told. Clearly there was some miscommunication ongoing already.

 We also had some changes to our lighting, but since ID B got terminated and things were not moving even after asking multiple times for the changes, my partner and I decided to head down to the shop to do the changes. Again, not sure why we engage the ID firm to oversee our renovation, when we have to keep doing things ourselves. 

 When I finally met the MD in person at my flat, it was the very first time I saw them at the flat. The MD ended the meeting trying to convince me that ID B was incapable and trash-talked about them, and hoped that my partner would stop being unhappy. I mean, too late for that right, you already shouted at us.

 At this point, shower glass and window grilles were up. Also we met with the supplier for the vinyl to explain why there were gaps and edges of the vinyl flooring not flat. They claim that it is like that and will settle down in time, these vinyl flooring that we requested are not interlocking, but higher premium, softer and bendable. The supplier said they will ask the worker to come and flatten the edges and also fill in the gaps with silicone. 

The MD claimed that our master bedroom, toilets and kitchen carpentry was already done. All stuck at malaysia customs (this was the weekend that Malaysia announced their lockdown and everyone was apparently rushing to get things out at customs). MD said that they will source locally for the carpenter/workshop to do the living room carpentry. But every phone call I made to the MD , they were always telling us a different story. Either busy finding or wanting to wait for Malaysia to end the lockdown, basically citing covid as an excuse for all their ineptitudes. 

 Every single time I asked for an updated schedule, the MD will say “send you ASAP” but the MD’s ASAP is not “As Soon As Possible” but “As Silent As Possible” because we had to constantly chase for an update - and the MD sending updates of the given deadline at 2359. It was very frustrating to keep chasing for updates and on the other hand, having to reschedule our own deliveries again and again. I also informed the MD that if they want to install anything, to inform us to see if we are okay before going ahead. Once again, what is the point of us engaging an ID to oversee our renovations, when we as the homeowners have to keep chasing for answers? Like that we might as well just oversee our own renovations right, what is the use of the ID as a middleman?

 We tried to be nice to the MD but they were clearly taking advantage and delaying for no reason. At this point, there was no work done for 1 month plus. My partner and I had enough and we questioned the MD, who claimed that we were on the #1 priority and #1 queue number for carpentry, but needed 1 whole month to complete carpentry. During that phone call, the MD out of spite challenged us to find our own carpenter and said that they will refund us. 

 We were also in contact with the carpenter who told us that the MD has not been paying the carpenter fully for their work and we were NOT #1 priority and they had another project to fulfill first. Carpenter also mentioned that the MD expected the carpenter to absorb the extra cost (the carpenter had to re-order materials to redo carpentry over in Singapore when some were already done in Malaysia) . Meanwhile, my partner and I were already looking for alternatives, another ID from another company to complete the job. 

 The next phone call was the day after the MD challenged us to find our own carpenter. My partner demanded a refund and it was a shout fest. The MD challenged us to send a lawyer’s letter and kept asking the carpenter to stay on the phone call when it did not concern the carpenter. The MD also kept mentioning that my partner was not happy with the MD, in the exact words of “你不爽我是吗？ (translation: you not happy with me is it?) “In the background we could hear another voice guiding the MD on what to say. Until my partner asked, who are you talking to? Proceeding the MD said this is my partner and also the boss of the company, show some respect. This person then told my partner “Let’s be educated people ''. In which my partner replied “Who is the one not being educated”.Following that, the MD’s partner said, “You’re not in the right attitude to talk now, you’re scaring my kids, we will talk together with your partner” and they hung up.

 We waited over the weekend, no call. On Sunday, the carpenter texted to inform that the lorry guy will be able to bring the completed and half completed carpentry as well as the materials over. 

On the following Monday, I texted the MD to inform them about my given timeline as they now should not have any excuse to further delay and I gave a deadline. The MD read my message but did not reply. I gave a warning saying that I know that my message has been read, and if there isn't any reply by 12 noon I will take it as the company does not want to continue to do our project and will refund any uncompleted work. At 12 noon, still no reply. I called the MD and my call was not picked up. I tried again at 2pm and finally my call was answered. The MD was giving an excuse saying they were in a meeting and would get back to me after discussion with the company and carpenters the next day. I emphasized that if they have read my messages but are unable to give an answer immediately, basic courtesy is to acknowledge the message right?

 On that same evening, the carpenter told us that they argued very badly with the MD that morning. It was basically the MD and their ID company blaming the carpenter and team. 

 The next day, the MD called me while I was unavailable. The carpenter told us that during the discussion, the MD and company have decided to refund us whatever is not completed. 

 The following day, the MD called me to inform us that they will be refunding us for the incomplete work. We agreed and I told him/her that since they are refunding us, I want to see and walk through the house to check 2 days later. They agreed and we arranged to meet 2 days later at the house.

 I invited my friend who has a lot of knowledge about renovations to come along to help check. When I first walked into the flat, I was already upset because the floor is still covered with cardboard. How was I supposed to check the tiling? I let my friend do most of the talking because my friend knew the proper things to check. And to nobody’s surprise, the MD also tried arguing their way out of not completing items and things not done up to standard. With excuses like blaming ID B for not doing it properly (bear in mind, this is about 2 months after ID B got abruptly terminated by this MD, why are they still accusing ID B when ID B did not even get the chance to properly handover?), saying it's my electrician’s fault, it’s supposed to be like that, if you want me to do this I will charge etc. Also, the MD instructed his plumber to install my new toilet bowls and the heater and charge for the work done without informing us first. 

 I was lucky to have my friend as this friend helped me draft a settlement agreement to protect both parties and the refund amount was also discussed on the spot. The MD asked for a soft copy of the settlement contract to ask the company’s lawyer to read through. The rectification would begin 2 days later as the MD claims they only can clear trash and cardboard then. Fine, fair enough.

 The next day I was talking to my new ID (lets call them ID “C”) and discussing the work to be done. ID C also found out that measurements from the detailed drawings (provided by MD) are wrong. All the measurements from the detailed drawings could not be trusted anymore. 

 On the first rectification day, the MD was not around but sent the second in command person to oversee. The painter was there and we asked about the “wet” looking patch in one of the rooms that the MD claimed was not the painter’s fault but blamed my electrician (but there were no electrical works done in that room?) The painter replied that the MD does not know and gave a stupid reason because the painter remembered he painted halfway then went off thus the uneven paint but assured us that the final coat will cover. We proceeded to check the other rectifications while the painter rectified some unsatisfactory places for painting. The second in command person also rectified anything we were unhappy with e.g. masking tape marks and took notes and pictures of other things that needed to be rectified. It was mainly the tiling, grouting and cabinet base and some vinyl issues. The MD also replied saying the lawyers are busy. MD also told me the company would only refund $250 for half the paint job done which was ridiculous because we were quoted so much more and it was really just not acceptable. My friend called and spoke to the MD regarding this. 

 2 days later, the tiler was doing some rectification of the tiles, but according to the MD, the tiler could not understand what we wanted about the kitchen tile base which we earlier explained to the second in command guy. So we agreed to meet the tiler and the MD next morning to explain what we wanted done - basically to even out the tile base, rectify some gaps, and also to complete the tile base that was halfway done - which when my friend called the MD to explain, the MD claimed to have told us that it was only supposed to be done before the cabinets went in but it was never communicated to us at all. (more lies and deceit by this MD)

 The next morning, my partner and I arrived and explained to the tiler what we required. At the same time while the tiler was rectifying the base and completing the base, we checked the tiles for the rectification. However, the MD was not present and only the second in command person was around. We waited 2 and a half hours for the MD to come and I kept asking when the MD was coming. (Once again, isn’t it common knowledge and courtesy to INFORM the client  that you will be late??) Finally, the MD shows up after the tiler has long left completing the job. The MD only came for barely 5 minutes, saying that they are asking the lawyer to get back soonest by end of the day and if there are no more rectification, they don’t want to come back into the house anymore. I was being informed that the vinyl rectification was to be done on the same day but in the late afternoon we were informed that the vinyl installer does not want their worker to come up to the flat by himself and asked if it can be postponed to another day.

 That same evening, I chased the MD for the lawyer’s comments and asked for it not to be sent 2359 as I would need time to read through and discuss with my partner if it is acceptable for any changes to the settlement agreement. The MD sent the lawyer’s comments back and when I looked at it, it was clearly not a lawyer’s doing as the comments had very bad english and unnecessary repeated comments. After looking through and making final discussions, we arranged to meet 2 days later to sign the updated settlement contract and to collect our refund cheque.

 2 days later, to no one’s surprise, the MD was late. (Is it even surprising at this point?) Settlement contract was signed with 2 witnesses. I requested for my cheque, but the MD said the company can only issue cheques 2 days in the month, which one of the days was the following day. I said ok, then I want you to inform me when the cheque is ready. We will go down to the office to collect. 2 days later, I asked for my cheque, but the MD only replied late in the evening that the office was busy and writing the cheque. (Again, as much as you are busy with your ongoing projects, is it that difficult to just inform us rather than waiting for us to chase?)  We told the MD that we will collect the cheque the next afternoon. Luckily the cheque went through and we got our refund back.

 

I will never recommend this company to anyone as I would not want them to experience the horrendous experience my partner and I had. 

 

If anyone wants to know, they're located at Ubi.