Errant retailers at People’s Park Complex draw more complaints than Sim Lim Square

SINGAPORE — Sim Lim Square has been in the spotlight due to unsavoury business practices of a few retailers. However, latest figures from the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) show it is not the mall with the most complaints from Singaporean customers. That dubious honour falls on People’s Park Complex.

From January to October this year, CASE received 146 complaints from local shoppers against retailers at People’s Park Complex. In comparison, shops in Sim Lim Square got 103 complaints.

This figure only includes cases filed by locals, and does not include tourist complaints. It also includes both filed cases — where consumers authorise CASE to handle matters on their behalf — and assisted cases, in which CASE helps draft a letter for consumers to approach the vendors themselves.

The number of complaints directed at People’s Park Complex retailers has in fact been rising since 2012, and not all cases relate to IT or mobile phones.

“Some of the complaints relate to tours and travel agencies. Some relate to maid agencies. The complaints are quite wide-ranging because People’s Park Complex has a wider range of retailers,” explained CASE President Lim Biow Chuan. “It doesn’t mean that a large number of complaints means all are using the same kind of sales tactics as those you see at Sim Lim Square.”

Channel NewsAsia understands that some of these businesses target Chinese nationals. They include travel agencies selling budget airline tickets to China, as well as massage parlours and beauty salons, with hidden service charges.

MALL MANAGEMENT ASKS FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGE

The management of People’s Park Complex said that for the past two years, it has taken measures to tackle errant sales tactics, and worked closely with relevant authorities — including CASE, police and Singapore Tourism Board — to reduce such incidents.

“(While) People’s Park Complex may not have eradicated the problem completely, at least it has been noted that the malpractice of sales tactics by these operators here has been gradually reduced lately,” it said in a statement.

The management added that it will continue to monitor the problem and take “appropriate steps”, and acknowledged that retailers at the Chinatown shopping centre have complained that their interests have been affected by these errant sales practices.

“We hope that the Government could pass the legislation as soon as possible so that any malpractice of sales tactics could be dealt with effectively by law, to protect the interest of the public and the image of Singapore as a shopping paradise,” the management said.

CASE added that it is not in the business of trying to shut down errant retailers, and prefers to work with retailers to ensure that they comply with the Consumer Protection Act. CHANNEL NEWSASIA