Case issues alert after multiple complaints of car rental firm

The Straits Times reported that the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) has flagged a car rental company for a spate of conspicuously similar complaints.

Case received six complaints against Ace Drive, a rental company located in Ubi Avenue 3, in the first seven months of this year, and five of them had to do with customers who made payments which the company later said it did not receive.

Case Executive Director Seah Seng Choon said a staff member from the company would claim that she had paid the rental on behalf of the customer so as to secure a car which another party was interested in. She would then ask the customer to pay the amount into her bank account. Later, Ace Drive would inform the customer that no rental booking had been made, and that the staff concerned had left the country.

When the local papers contacted the company, Ace Drive Director Tan Boon Yeong explained that they are also a victim of the scam, and has even offered affected customers 50 percent off their next rental 'out of goodwill'.

Case said it tried to negotiate for a refund for one customer, but the company denied liability. Other consumers sought redress at the Small Claims Tribunals, but Ace Drive's management refused to budge.

Police said they have classified the case as 'criminal breach of trust as a servant', and investigations are ongoing.