SINGAPORE – A total of 807 issues from renovation contractors ended up lodged with the Shoppers Affiliation of Singapore (Case) in the initial half of the calendar year.
This was an increase of 28 for each cent from the 627 complaints Situation obtained about the marketplace in the same period of time past yr, reported the affiliation in a statement on Thursday (July 28).
Situation gained 1,300 issues in opposition to renovation contractors past year, up from 869 in 2020.
About two-thirds of the problems this yr pertain to renovation contractors failing to entire assignments on schedule and unsatisfactory workmanship.
The property renovation market obtained the greatest amount of problems during this period, followed by the electrical and electronics, magnificence and motor cars industries, all of which acquired extra grievances than very last calendar year.
Scenario obtained a whole of 7,960 consumer problems from January to June, a 9 for each cent raise from the 7,260 grievances been given for the same interval last yr.
Scenario president Melvin Yong attributed the raise to upticks in business activities and client transactions that have picked up due to the fact Covid-19 limitations had been eased.
“Scenario will proceed to retain a lookout for unfair tactics against individuals. In the meantime, we are doing work with the authorities to even more improve consumer protection legislation in Singapore,” he reported.
In a Fb article on Thursday, Mr Yong stated most issues have been for delays in project completion induced by manpower shortages and delays in the shipment of renovation products. He reminded residence homeowners that they could also patronise CaseTrust-accredited renovation contractors for peace of head.
One this sort of criticism was from retiree Chow Jhok Kheng, 70, who engaged a contractor in February to renovate her kitchen area for $11,900.
Even though payment was manufactured, renovations had been incomplete even following two months. The contractor did not give her a deadline for when the work would be accomplished.
Madam Chow stated the contractor would normally hold off or quit get the job done devoid of giving her see and the partially finished renovation will work left her kitchen with exposed wires and leaking pipes. Because fuel to the dwelling was also disconnected in the course of the renovation period of time, she could not prepare dinner at residence which drastically inconvenienced her.
Situation officers assisted Madam Chow in negotiations with the contractor and all excellent renovation works was finished in May well.