I like the way they ansolve any responsibility - so very
typical...no apologies, non-committal statements. But cracks and
fissures are showing, regardless the meticulous facade...
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Consumer complains that SingTel sells
used phonesBy Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia
| Posted: 30 March 2007 2040 hrs
SINGAPORE: One unhappy consumer complained that she was sold a used
phone at a SingTel retail shop.
SingTel said their phones come from manufacturers and consumers
need to check the product when making a purchase.
Just because it comes in a new box does not mean it is a new phone
- which was what private banker Ivy Ling found out when she left
the SingTel Hello! shop without checking her phone.
She said: "While I was loading my contacts list, I went to the
message section and in the message section, I noticed a lot of SMS
messages to a lady called Sharon.
"The lady actually told me that she lost her phone in a cab. That
brings me further to query whether I've been sold a used and stolen
phone."
Channel NewsAsia was unable to contact Sharon to confirm if she
really had lost her phone.
But the news team verified that the International Mobile Equipment
Identity (IMEI) number on the phone matched that on the box.
Ms Ling said: "I went personally to the Hello! shop to inform them
of this thing and they told me that they'll consider this as a
faulty phone, and will replace it with a brand new phone."
Responding to our queries, SingTel said: "Hello! shops only sell
brand new phones. All handsets that we sell come directly from the
manufacturer and IMEI numbers are checked before they are put on
sale."
SingTel is currently investigating the matter.
SingTel added that consumers need to check their phones thoroughly
before leaving the shop to ensure that problems are resolved at the
time of sale.
Last year, there were over 4,500 cases of mobile phone theft.
- CNA/so
