Thursday August 9, 2012
Housewife: I was tricked into signing up for RM12,000 package
By SIMREN KAUR
simren@thestar.com.my
A HOUSEWIFE claimed she and her husband were duped by a salesperson who pressured and persuaded them to sign up for a RM12,350 health package as a Mother’s Day gift on behalf of their children.
Tan Seok Wah, 44, said she was out with her husband Chang Sang Yiew, 44, and her two children at a hotel when she was approached by the salesman to sign up for the package.
“He did not tell us properly what the package was about, he was speaking more about the company and its history,” she said at the Penang MCA headquarters on Jalan Pahang yesterday.
She said that he told her they would have to pay only RM12,350 for 20 years’ of medical health screenings.
She said the agent kept on pressuring her husband to purchase the package for her as a Mothers’ Day gift on behalf of her children.
After signing up for it and returning home, she realised that her husband’s company already provided a comprehensive medical package which included his family.
“I called the salesman and said that I wanted to cancel my purchase and I asked for a refund,” she said.
However, the salesman told her that although the package could be cancelled, there would be no refund.
“This is unfair because when he asked me to sign up for the package, he did not inform us that there would be no refund if we wanted to cancel it,” she said.
Consumer trap: Tan and Chang relating their case during the press conference. With them is Lim Furthermore, she said that the package also required the purchaser to pay a RM500 rejoining fee each year for 20 years, which was not included in the RM12,350 price.
“This was not told to us,” she said.
Penang MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Lim Thoon Deong said that MCA would take up the matter to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
“The way they promoted their products is unscrupulous and unfair to the consumer,” he claimed.
He advised consumers not to sign up for packages or products that they couldn’t afford to pay.
“Consumers should also learn to say no to these people as they are more concerned about closing sales and getting commissions.
“Companies should also give the contracts to consumers to go through thoroughly before they agree to sign up,” he said.
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