Bewarned!
An unhappy episode that we would like to share with our readers.
Lesson learnt.
A colleague said we have been very gullible.
Think twice before you make any "verbal / gentleman agreement" in the future.

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We are writing to highlight our unhappiness to one of your agents acting on behalf of your company by the name of Richard Lim.

We rented our apartment (**NP** #AB-CDE) through him. Rental started 1 Jan 2008.

Through his efficiency, we have engaged him to be our agent to look for tenant for our own unit at **VP** #AB-CD (Rental started 9 Jan 08).

He also mentioned that HSR is an ISO ranked company and upon knowing that, we believe that we are in good hands.

We believe you are aware that Tenant and Agent often make private arrangements to let the whole deal through. In our case, Agent and us agreed to replace the old aircon units in the Normanton Park unit and the cost to be shared 50-50, as the Agent aptly phrased it as "Present" from him to us. We agreed to get aircon quotations and we'd engage the cheaper quotation.

Turned out, our quotation is cheaper and we went ahead with the aircon installation. Total installation cost was $x,xxx. We moved in on 6 Jan 08. Agent promised to transfer his portion of 50% to us by the following week.

In the meantime, Agent has also efficiently found a Tenant for our Vista Park Unit and commission due to him was promptly paid by way of cheque payable to HSR ($x,xxx dated 6 Jan 2008). We asked if we could deduct the aircon cost from the commission but he told us not to because the aircon is a private arrangement and that HSR is an ISO rated company and the audit trail would be very strict. We believed him.

Subsequently, Agent seemed to disappear into thin air. Our SMS were ignored and our calls were never answered. Up till Feb and we were still not getting any news from him. We were at loss because if Agent refused contact, there is no way that the issue can be resolved. That left us with no choice but to contact the Landlord directly. We said we may have to remove the aircon units when we moved out as the Agent refused to honour his side of promise. Landlord said the Lease Agreement would not allow any aircon units to be removed and we respect that. After all, our arrangement was made between the Agent and us.

Few days ago, when we finally managed to get the Agent to answer his phone through a telephone line unrecognizable to him, he turned around to fault us for ‘spoiling reputation’ with the Landlord. Adding that we should appreciate his “present” to us. How could anything be considered a present when the payment is made by no one but ourselves?

The amount owed to us is not large and we are surprised that the Agent would put his and HSR’s reputation on the line over such a small amount. We are disappointed with the way the matter has been handled. Of course we would also have to warn our friends and colleagues so as to prevent unsuspecting victims to fall into the same “trap” in the future against any Agents acting for HSR.

Yours sincerely:
Chuplin
28 Feb 08