Complaints against renovation contractors up due to unsatisfactory workmanship, delays

SINGAPORE – A overall of 807 complaints towards renovation contractors had been lodged with the Shoppers Association of Singapore (Case) in the very first half of the yr.

This was an boost of 28 for every cent from the 627 complaints Situation obtained about the field in the similar period of time final year, mentioned the affiliation in a assertion on Thursday (July 28).

Circumstance been given 1,300 complaints in opposition to renovation contractors past year, up from 869 in 2020.

About two-thirds of the problems this calendar year pertain to renovation contractors failing to finish tasks on timetable and unsatisfactory workmanship.

The residence renovation business gained the optimum range of complaints through this period, followed by the electrical and electronics, beauty and motor cars industries, all of which gained extra problems than final 12 months.

Scenario gained a whole of 7,960 consumer complaints from January to June, a 9 for every cent boost from the 7,260 grievances received for the very same period of time past 12 months.

Circumstance president Melvin Yong attributed the boost to upticks in enterprise functions and client transactions that have picked up since Covid-19 constraints were being eased.

“Scenario will proceed to continue to keep a lookout for unfair methods from buyers. In the meantime, we are performing with the authorities to more reinforce consumer protection laws in Singapore,” he said.

In a Fb write-up on Thursday, Mr Yong claimed most problems were for delays in task completion caused by manpower shortages and delays in the cargo of renovation materials. He reminded home homeowners that they could also patronise CaseTrust-accredited renovation contractors for peace of thoughts.

A person this kind of complaint was from retiree Chow Jhok Kheng, 70, who engaged a contractor in February to renovate her kitchen for $11,900. 

Although payment was produced, renovations were being incomplete even after two months. The contractor did not give her a deadline for when the do the job would be finished. 

Madam Chow mentioned the contractor would typically hold off or prevent work devoid of giving her notice and the partly accomplished renovation functions left her kitchen with uncovered wires and leaking pipes. Considering that gas to the home was also disconnected during the renovation period, she could not cook dinner at dwelling which considerably inconvenienced her.

Case officers assisted Madam Chow in negotiations with the contractor and all superb renovation operates was accomplished in May.