STOMPer L says his friend, who was on holiday here, was charged $10,103 when he purchased two iPhone 5 handsets at a shop in Lucky Plaza.
Said the STOMPer:
"Last Friday (Nov 16), a foreign friend of mine shopped at a phone shop at Lucky Plaza. He bought 2 iphone 5s (32 G) at the shop known as EOne Mobil Plus Pte Ltd at Orchard Road, Lucky Plaza, unit B1-48.
"My friend was told it cost S$1,150 per phone and he agreed and paid them cash S$2,550 including GST for 2 iphone 5s. After that they asked him for his passport to register his iPhone with the Apple Store.
"When they returned his passport and handed him a receipt to sign and he did, after that the shop people demanded him to pay the balance of S$7,500 for his purchase of two iPhones. My foreign friend was shocked to learn he had to pay so much money before they could release the phone to him.
"My friend called me after he spent much time asking for the return of his money but in vain. Finally he had to call for help, and I went down to Lucky Plaza to see what I could do for him.
"I was deeply upset when the shop people told me that my friend agreed to pay S$10,103 for the phones, and he had signed on the receipt.
"I called the police on the spot and the police came, but not much that the police could do for us. Because what the police claimed was that this is a willing-seller-willing-buyer case, hence they could not intervene.
"I was very upset then, and finally my foreign friend had to gave in because he had to catch a flight to return to his country the same evening. Finally, he paid S$4,280 for two iPhone 5s (inclusive of GST).
"I still have the receipt showing the S$10,103 that my friend was initially charged for 2 iPhone 5s. I hope there will be not be another victim of the similar case in the future."
STOMP understands that an iPhone 5 32GB handset retails for about $1,088 in Singapore.
