Am i cheated?

[piggy88]

We didnt pay attention to the unit on that day so we cant confirm the unit...
That why we didnt know that the unit she told me n the receipt is different...

As the receipt is kept by my friend n i was the one asking the owner unit
We only realised it yesterday when my friends and I sat down discussing this problem

We wish to engage lawyer but we scare tha it will cost more than that deposit...

We didnt think too much about that 'token' word, we only realised sth wrong the next day when my friend show it to her manager

Her manager said token can mean as commission...
Tat y we scare , like u said , she is an agent , acting as owner...
If we reallly report her, we scare tat she will say the money is the commission for her...

[ecureilx]

We didnt pay attention to the unit on that day so we cant confirm the unit...
That why we didnt know that the unit she told me n the receipt is different...

As the receipt is kept by my friend n i was the one asking the owner unit
We only realised it yesterday when my friends and I sat down discussing this problem

We wish to engage lawyer but we scare tha it will cost more than that deposit...

We didnt think too much about that 'token' word, we only realised sth wrong the next day when my friend show it to her manager

Her manager said token can mean as commission...
Tat y we scare , like u said , she is an agent , acting as owner...
If we reallly report her, we scare tat she will say the money is the commission for her...

I am confused .. is she an agent or owner ??

I suggested lawyer to find out the real owner .. as per the Conveyencing

Token is also considered as LOI .. letter of interest payment .. but that can be foregeited if not confirmed, or not .. based on agreement (which you have none)

If you are sure she is an agent, approach CEA ..

There is no provision for an agent to take a 'token' payment

And if the agent says she charged the 'token' for commission for service, even better .. go to CEA

[piggy88]

Thx for the advice ...
I will try

[JR8]

I'm surprised that more scams like this don't take place in SG.

Real-Hustle - Phones 4 Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcD12eT8Z9M&NR=1


Just, with an 'agent' marketing a flat, and taking deposits all day long in return for a little bit of worthless paper, then after a few days, simply disappearing.

[piggy88]

Agree....
I think SG has to take an action to prevent tis kind of thing keep on happening

[JR8]

To be clear I am not saying your situation is a scam. In fact you don't seem to have made any progress in determining it is other than confused but legitimate.

It is just that your story made me think of the big-$ you could rake in if you did a rental depo scam, along the lines of the linked video. You're not the first person to turn up here who has handed over months of rent in return for a worthless bit of paper.

[piggy88]

Actually the owner kept on pressing me to pay her the remaining deposit n rental which is around 4K

We only want to pay her once all the tenants move out...
We dont want to take any risk, at least if it really scam, she only cheat us 1K

[ecureilx]

Actually the owner kept on pressing me to pay her the remaining deposit n rental which is around 4K

We only want to pay her once all the tenants move out...
We dont want to take any risk, at least if it really scam, she only cheat us 1K

yah, but if you put full deposit, you get to demand a complete receipt/contract on the spot and sue him/her is she changes her mind.

With a part deposit, you also can change your mind, and if i am the agent, who is very pessimistic, I would not count you as a confirmed tenant until you put your down payment ..

No fair is it ?? No .. IT IS FAIR

I don't know what you are trying to do ..

This is Singapore, and if you pay and the agent refused to issue a receipt / contract, then you have a VALID CASE .. until then, nada .. says my small brain .. what say you ????

[ausinsg]

First of all is the person you are dealing with an agent or the owner? Have you determined this yet?

If they are an agent they should be wearing an ID card on them at all times with their dealings with you. It will have their photo, their name and their agent number. It can be matched against the online database at the CEA website.

If the person is the owner, then the name signed on the receipt should match the owner's name. They should be willing to show you their NRIC to confirm they are who they say they are.

You can buy the property ownership information from an online government database.

http://www.inlis.gov.sg/layout/homepage.aspx

This should help you to get the basics together about if this person can complete the deal which they entered into with you.

Ask her to outline what all the steps you still need to complete are. Also ask about the stamp duty on the contract if she does not mention it.

If the person is really dodgy they may not be willing to get the contract stamped, and that would be a very bad sign for you.

[ecureilx]

If the person is really dodgy they may not be willing to get the contract stamped, and that would be a very bad sign for you.

Being a devils' advocate, the caveat is ..

if I am the agent/landlord, I too have to protect my interest, when the prospective tenant only puts up a part deposit .. and can have a change of mind, right ??

[sundaymorningstaple]

If the person is really dodgy they may not be willing to get the contract stamped, and that would be a very bad sign for you.

Being a devils' advocate, the caveat is ..

if I am the agent/landlord, I too have to protect my interest, when the prospective tenant only puts up a part deposit .. and can have a change of mind, right ??

Doesn't work that way. A partial deposit (retainer) is a non-refundable retainer to hold the premises for a given length of time, usually until somebody else or yourself gives the full funds required.

Unfortunately, the way it works here is that whoever gives the largest refundable deposit gets the biggest chance of getting the property (the LL is in violation of the law if they accept two "deposits/retainers". But if another potential renter enters the fray and puts up "All" on the spot, then the landlord must return the deposit/retainers back to the giver of same and is not allowed to retain it. However, the giver of the deposit, should he want to back out, has to kiss the deposit goodbye.

At least, this is what I've been told (to me it makes sense). I may well be off the mark on the LL's ability to rent to another if another puts up the full rent & security deposit.

[piggy88]

If that the case, I will gladly accept it, she can let anyone view the flat anytime she want, but pls just return me my deposit...

What made me doubt her is that why she told me two different block n unit...
It is impossible to forget ur own flat which u hv stay for so many yrs

[piggy88]

Can i say tat as long as i get a contract on hand then i hv the chances to win?
But wat if after we sign, then she is not the actual owner..
Will we be able to sue her n take back the money we fork out?

[sundaymorningstaple]

If she's not the owner and you don't know where she really lives, then you may well have already been shafted. This is especially true if you cannot get a hold of her already. The whole thing sounds dodgy to me.

[piggy88]

i seriously think she is suspicious..

we agreed to meet today coz I said there r 2 tenants want to view the room
i told her from last thursday. n she agreed immediately

but this morning, she suddenly sms me, said that she is busy today, we hv to arrange another day...

seriously i inform u 4 days ago, how can u suddenly just cancel our appointment

isnt it suspicious?