Raymond Anthony Fernando’s press letter - to The New Paper: ON THE SIM LIM SQUARE SAGA

Letter to The New Paper:  ON THE SIM LIM SQUARE SAGA

Tourists need better protection  

My letter to The New Paper on the above subject is published today, Monday 10^th November 2014.

It is outrageous that the Sim Lim Square retailer Mobile Air stooped so slow as to humiliate a Vietnamese tourist into going down on his knees and crying after being told  to pay an additional $1,500 for the warranty of an iPhone that he bought for $950 as reported in “Sim Lim’s nightmare” (The New Paper, Nov 5).  

Earlier the notorious infamous shopkeeper Jover Chew had, out of spite, refunded a Chinese national $1,010 in coins after she took her case to the Small Claims Tribunal.

I find it most disturbing that consumers, both from Singapore and overseas, have to put up with such horrendous treatment even as the Government is investing heavily in training for good customer service and attracting tourists to shop here.

The Consumers Association of Singapore has recognised that such unfair business practices exist, but it should do more by working closely with the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Law to stamp out such behaviour.    

It should be made easier for consumers to seek action against such recalcitrant retailers who are tarnishing the image of Singapore.

Raymond Anthony Fernando