Johor Tribunal orders KK contractor to repay RM4,000 for incomplete roof painting job

The Star

18 hours ago

Claimants and respondents waiting at Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal office for their matter to be heard. — ZAZALI MUSA/The Star
A roofing contractor has been ordered to cough up RM4,000 as a partial deposit refund for failing to complete a painting job.
A marketing executive, frustrated by the contractor's delays in repainting the roof of his home in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, filed a case with the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal.
The claimant, Chin Liqi, said he decided to file the case with the Tribunal in Johor Baru instead of Kota Kinabalu because he worked in Singapore.
Chin said he came across a classified advertisement in a newspaper for roof painting services during Chinese New Year when he was back in his hometown of Kota Kinabalu.
'I hired this contractor as I was on a short-break from my job in Singapore,' he said,adding that he did not have time to shop around for other contractors.
The roof repainting work was for his family's double-storey terrace house in Taman Sempelang, Sembulan, within the capital city.
He said the contractor quoted RM10,400 for the project, which was scheduled to begin in early April and completed by April 10.
The first payment of RM3,000 was made on April 1, followed by RM1,500 on April 5, bringing the total deposit to RM4,500, the claimant said.
'Two workers came to the house to clean the roof while my parents were at home on April 5.
'At that time, I had returned to Singapore,' he said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal.
The claimant said that was the only time the workers came to the house.
'I called the contractor repeatedly from Singapore and he gave several excuses as to why the workers never turned up,' Chin said.
He said the contractor cited reasons such as rain, public holidays, workers on sick leave or assigned to other projects.
'After that, the contractor was not reachable and neither did he respond to my messages,' said the claimant.
'I'm only claiming RM4,000 refund from the respondent instead of RM4,500 since the workers did roof cleaning which is about RM500,' he said.
Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli ordered the respondent to refund RM4,000 to the claimant within two weeks.
Those needing Tribunal assistance can call 07-227 1755/1766 or visit the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Level 17, Menara Ansar, Jalan Trus, Johor Baru.