Overcharged by Shops?

[Mi Amigo]

I've had some dialogue via PM with FnTank and pointed out that it is inappropriate to request information in this way without indicating the reason for asking. I think he/she understands this now and it seems that this is for a college project of some kind. It doesn't look like the intentions were malicious, but rather a naive rookie error of netiquette / judgement.

On the basis that the OP is being truthful, my suggestion would be to let this one go without more severe action. At least (hopefully) it wasn't another substandard 'journo' fishing for expat quotes.

[rajagainstthemachine]

@OP : why didn't you indicate in your first that this was for a project in the first place? l you were trying to be wait street smart were you not?

[FnTank]

@OP : why didn't you indicate in your first that this was for a project in the first place? l you were trying to be wait street smart were you not?

Yeah, when I first typed out and posted the thread, I included a brief explanation/introduction(that I was working on a school assignment, etc). Then, I started worrying that people would shy away from sharing their views and experiences if they read that it was, so I edited the message..!

If I had known that it was an offence to do so, and that everyone would welcome a fully-explained thread, I would have left it as it was..!

So yeah, it was a case of my overthinking of things backfiring on me..!

I'm sorry to have offended, I hope that there is a way for me to make up for it..!

[FnTank]

In the meantime, if it is possible, I'd like to share some stuff that I just learnt of from an interview, to hopefully bring the thread back on topic..!

I interviewed the security officer of Lucky Plaza earlier tonight, and among the stuff he shared, he said that there was a case where the shopkeeper swiped a tourist's credit card twice, then only issuing the receipt for the first transaction, then forging the signature for the second..!

The tourist only got to find out about it after he went home and checked his credit card bills..! (By which point it'd be too late!)

It was something I did not expect..!

[sundaymorningstaple]

This is a known ruse that happens all over the world, especially in heavily touristed areas. You should never just give your CC to the waitress/waiter when you pay a bill. You should always pay at the register and insist the CC is always kept in full view on the top of the counter another ruse is the quick swipe of the card through a black box that records all the cc details on the swipe. This allows a bogus card to be made for "shopping sprees". Never, ever let your cc out of your sight.

Also, be sure to check the number of copies of the CC payment that you sign. Ensure that there is no extra blank leaves inserted.

[zzm9980]

Even better if your credit card supports it (Citibank and OCBC both do), enable SMS notifications for every credit card charge. I get my Citi ones anywhere in the world even while roaming. Quite useful.

[rajagainstthemachine]

Even better if your credit card supports it (Citibank and OCBC both do), enable SMS notifications for every credit card charge. I get my Citi ones anywhere in the world even while roaming. Quite useful.

This Citibank feature to me is probably the most useful and important feature ever.
Its awesome how the system manages to notify your phone with an instant sms after each and every transaction even if it happens to be an online payment

[zzm9980]

Even better if your credit card supports it (Citibank and OCBC both do), enable SMS notifications for every credit card charge. I get my Citi ones anywhere in the world even while roaming. Quite useful.

This Citibank feature to me is probably the most useful and important feature ever.
Its awesome how the system manages to notify your phone with an instant sms after each and every transaction even if it happens to be an online payment

Pay attention too to the currency Citi reports. Whatever the SMS says is the currency you use. Common knowledge is always choose the local currency; but if you see SGD instead of the local, you know they didn't. Simply circle the receipt with the local currency and sign, then you can dispute the charge since the conversion is always unfair to you.

[iamsen]

Well, I believe I look plenty Asian, considering both my parents are..

However, even though I have been in Singapore all my life, friends say that I "don't look like a Singaporean"..! (Perhaps due to my unusual fashion sense/a lack thereof? )

I'm actually local but having been away for a decade, I've adopted more foreign traits with regards to body language, (lack of) fashion sense and an almost British-like accent (despite being in a non-English speaking country). My office is just beside Funan so I often take a walk there during lunch, I like looking at technology. The hyenas would pound on me the moment I paused to look at anything.

I do get better service at eateries though. The lady boss of the noodle shop in the coffeeshop behind Funan sometimes speaks to me in Japanese even.

[JR8]

I think I have only been intentionally short-changed once in SG. It was in an old open-fronted shophouse type spice shop.

I bought three or four kinds of spice, two of which were ground to order. It all took some time and shuffling stuff to and fro, and bagging up and so on.

When they came to ring it up in the till, he added on something like $5. I already knew what the total should be. At first he played dumb, but gave me back what was right immediately after my local-born wife gave him an earful!





p.s. I've been had on a credit card two times. Once in Cuba back in the days where they had paper and carbon-copy payment vouchers. We had a meal for two, which cost say $16. I signed it off but they never brought me a copy of the receipt, and in fact all the staff went home! They must have then added another '1' in front of the $16 to make it $116! As I pointed out to my bank, 'It would be physically impossible to have a meal for even $25 anywhere in Cuba, never mind $116' (this was back in the days of severe food rationing). The bank refunded me, but I certainly always made/make a point of always drawings lines on CC slips and cheques after that, so nothing could/can be altered.

The second time was when my CC was cloned and the cloned card was used to make two physical purchases of high-end clothing in France. As I pointed out to my bank I was in London with friends at the Notting Hill Carnival that day, and hadn't been to France in years. Again they refunded me.