Two People’s Park Complex shops shut down after CASE intervenes

SINGAPORE — Two retailers at People’s Park Complex have closed down after they were asked to sign a voluntary compliance agreement (VCA) with CASE earlier this month.

According to a CASE statement today (Nov 25), Tele Infinity and Mobile Alliance were approached by the consumer watchdog to sign the VCA on Nov 14; their owners instead applied to strike off their businesses; and their applications were approved by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority on Nov 16.

The VCA would have prevented the two companies from engaging in unfair practices. According to CASE, People’s Park Complex has the highest number of consumer complaints for shopping malls this year — 146 from January to last month.

“As both companies have closed down, they will not be signing the VCAs,” CASE said. “The owners of the two companies had met with case on Nov 22 and agreed to resolve all outstanding cases filed with CASE and to provide a satisfactory settlement for the consumers.”

Tele Infinity and Mobile Alliance also gave up their leases at People’s Park Complex. They had both owned two units each.

According to CASE, 22 businesses have been served VCAs in the past decade. Of these, 17 have complied and signed the agreement, but the remaining five saw injunctions taken out successfully against them for declining.

“We (CASE) would like to encourage all consumers with unresolved disputes against Mobile Alliance and Tele Infinity to file their complaint with us as soon as possible,” they said.