Guess what I got called this time? It's “老外” (lao3 wai4), meaning, a caucasian. When I called a customer over the phone and began speaking to him, that's what I got called when he received a call, and told someone else he's busy.

And this week, I learnt that it's best not to use an un-accredited contractor. In one of the cases I handled, this person (let's call her A) told me that she got cheated in a renovation case. The renovation began in Jan 2005, and till April, it wasn't even halfway completed. The contractor had collected from A, a downpayment of $3000. There was a contract signed, for $15000. Said contractor, was using company 1. Then, a few weeks later, used company 2. And A was concerned because she had paid a downpayment of $3000, and subsequently, two payments of $300 each, according to the contract. Furthermore, the contractor tried to scare A, by saying he'll sue her.

When she contacted HDB, HDB told her there's nothing they could do. And when she contacted CASE, same story. In addition, she had filed a few police complaints too, because her hood and hob was stolen from the flat undergoing renovation, and she suspected the contractor of the theft.

Since I had to do a Cinderella, my advisor, Predeep, took over the case.