Updated: 07/25/2013 20:06 | By Channel NewsAsia
13 out of 363 lemon law cases taken to Small Claims Tribunal
SINGAPORE: It has been close to a year since the "lemon law" for consumers came into effect, and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said 13 cases out of 363 were not resolved and had to be taken to the Small Claims Tribunal.
Mr Cheong had bought a second-hand car for S$52,000 from a dealership at Sin Ming Drive. However, he discovered there were problems with the car engine a month later.
After unsuccessful attempts in getting the car dealership to repair it, Mr Cheong sought help from CASE. After five months without resolution, he paid S$3,600 for his car to be repaired first, and then turned to the small claims tribunal.
He said: "After the consultation, the judge ordered the dealer to pay me S$1,000... To date, they still haven't paid me yet."
The car dealership said it felt that the amount spent to repair the car was too much, and that it was filing an appeal.
CASE said the majority of lemon law cases involve second-hand cars.
Seah Seng Choon, executive director of CASE, said: "Most of the cases are settled in favour of the consumers. In order to get their money back, the retailer must comply with the judgment and if they refuse to comply, I think the consumer has a recourse. They can go back to the small claims tribunal and engage a bailiff to enforce the judgement." - CNA/ac
