Two shops at People's Park Complex to cease operations

SINGAPORE - Two mobile phone shops on the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE)'s consumer alert list have closed.

The owner of Mobile Alliance LLP and Tele Infinity LLP, both located at the first floor of People's Park Complex, had applied to strike off the businesses from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

According to a statement from CASE on Tuesday, the approval was granted on Nov 16.

On Nov 14, CASE issued a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) to the owner of the two shops after numerous complaints were lodged against the shops. The Straits Times reported that Mobile Alliance received five complaints in the past three months, while Tele Infinity got seven complaints.

The VCA will be void in view of their closure.

"The owner of the two businesses had met up with CASE on Nov 21 and agreed to resolve all outstanding cases filed with CASE, and to provide a satisfactory settlement for the consumers," CASE added.

"We would like to encourage all consumers with unresolved disputes against Mobile Alliance LLP and Tele Infinity LLP to file their complaint with us as soon as possible."

People's Park Complex grabbed the headlines after it was revealed that the mall in Singapore had received the most consumer complaints.

The latest closures of these two mobile phone shops come in the wake the Jover Chew saga, when a Vietnamese tourist was left in tears after being coerced to buy in-house warranties at an inflated price.

The New Paper reported last week that mobile phone shop S Team, which is also on CASE's consumer alert list, will not renew its lease at the People's Park Complex when it ends at the end of this month.

From Jan to Oct this year, CASE received 244 complaints against the mobile phone retail industry, of which, 96, or 40 per cent, involved shops at the Chinatown mall.

In comparison, Sim Lim Square accounted for 20 per cent of the complaints.

grongloh@sph.com.sg