Kulai engineer learns costly lesson after hiring contractor via social media

DESIGN engineer Mohd Ridzuan Nani came across a post on installing automatic gates and awning on social media.

He contacted the company and a contractor came to his house on May 30 in Taman Indahpura, Kulai, Johor to take the measurements for the automatic gate and awning.

“The cost was RM8,400 and I paid RM4,000 as a deposit the next day,” he said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal in Menara Ansar, Johor Baru.

Mohd Ridzuan said the contractor promised to start working on the project within two weeks but failed to do so.

“He came to take the measurements again and promised to finish the job within two days,’’ he said.

“The contractor kept promising to start work but never did despite repeated reminders and eventually stopped answering my calls and messages.”

Finally, on June 28, he informed Mohd Ridzuan that he would not proceed with the job as he was handling another project.

“The contractor asked for my bank account number and promised to refund the deposit by July 7,” said Mohd Ridzuan.

“I called him on July 8, as the money was still not credited into my bank account.”

Mohd Ridzuan said the contractor only refunded RM2,000 to him on Aug 8 when he learnt that a complaint against him had been lodged with the Tribunal.

He later hired another contractor to instal the gate and awning for his home.

The project cost RM8,888 and was completed in September.

Tribunal president Lee Chee Thim ordered the respondent to refund the RM2,000 deposit to the complainant within two weeks.

Those who need assistance in regard to Tribunal matters can call 07-227 1755 or 07-227 1766.