We have submitted HDB defects list since 17-Mar-08 and till to date, they are still rectifying the defects. In fact, most of our precious time was spent on negotiating with HDB/BSC to fix defects which both claimed is not a defect in the first place!

Well, Premium flat comes with premium problems and we paid a premium price for it! Given a choice, we would definitely not purchase premium flats in future. Our flat was built more than 6 years ago and left vacant, so it is unavoidable to have problems like rust, stains and some wear and tear. But on top of all these, the biggest problem which we are facing is poor workmanship. We thought HDB should follow standards based on BCA but was shocked to know that the so-called standards were just some guidelines and HDB need not to follow! Duh!

We arranged for a joint inspection with the Building Service Centre(BSC) engineers days after we submitted the defects. They claimed that they do not work on Saturday which is obviously a lie, but still we took half a day leave to meet them on a weekday. Throughout the joint inspection, minor defects they are willing to rectify, but when it comes to major ones which required a change of material, they insisted is normal. The whole joint inspection was basically a session to convince us that each and every defect is normal. It was a complete waste of our time.

Ever since the joint inspection, we refused to liaise directly with the BSC engineer and instead, liaise directly with our HDB officer, Jamie. Initially she was very helpful and even took the initiative to update us on the rectifications. After few weeks, she seemed to give up and start to 'bo chap' us. She then kept on pestering us to have a joint inspection with BSC engineers each time we submitted a new defect list. (Now she told us BSC/HDB do work on Saturday) But we outright refused. However, we do understand that she was placed in a difficult position, stuck in between us and BSC engineers ... but well, that is her job, isn't it?

Most of the parquet skirting timber strips at the living room were badly damaged and gaps, holes, nails and putty stains can be seen very clearly. The same appeared for the 3 bedrooms but not as bad as the living room. During the joint inspection, BSC engineer told us is normal! When Jamie went down to take a look personally, she got the cheek to tell us she agreed that the parquet skirting was quite bad but she couldn't request BSC to change immediately. She told us that BSC engineer mentioned that all these could be rectified, which we really doubt so. Well, so what if they managed to cover up, the parquet skirting timber strip was already badly damaged. The best part was, BSC used the glossy type of stain to varnish the skirting and it looked so horrible after that. In the end, they got no choice, but to change all our parquet skirting timber strips in the living room. Problems weren't solved, the workmanship is still as bad and they purposely choose different tones of the parquet skirting timber strips for us, and the tone is not at all consistent and they insisted that this is normal because wood colour is natural. When we asked for an explanation on the bad workmanship, Jamie's reply was "it is already better than the previous one."

Our parquet flooring is dull, uneven and lackluster. We read from forums that most of them got their flooring re-varnished, and some said this is a must if there are hollow parquet flooring to be repaired. But during the joint inspection, BSC engineer just refused to do it for us saying all are in good condition. After voicing out our concern to Jamie, She then agreed to re-varnish. Same issue for hollow tiles, BSC engineer refused to change some of the hollow tiles, saying it is not as hollow but Jamie agreed to replace those for us.

If they have agreed to rectify at the very beginning, the rectification process wouldn’t have dragged so long.


Dull, uneven and lackluster parquet flooring


Gaps, holes, nails and putty stains all over parquet skirting.





Rusty Screws, hinges, handles and locks on all windows


Rubber lining caved in


Scratches and dents on door


Uneven joint between wall and tiles


Scratches on switches


Screws not tightened properly

ID, Jason Yip (Unimax Creative / Unimax Creation) - Part 4

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The appointment with Jason's Manager...

We reached their office on time and he wasn't around. His fellow colleague helped to call him and he was asking questions like who we are, whether we make appointment and what is the appointment regarding... After that, that guy told us he is just nearby and will be back in 10 minutes... Felt very annoyed because he seems to have forgotten about our appointment and we waited more than 10 minutes?


I went to the toilet and when I came back, the manager is already back and Terence was explaining to him on how un-responsive Jason is after we signed the contract. The very first thing I asked is whether the refund is confirmed. He confidently told us the refund is not a big problem and he will definitely refund us and the amount is so small. He said the purpose of the meeting is because he wants to hear the customer
side of story and not a one-side story from Jason.

Apparently Jason told him that we are very fussy about our own house on the HDB defects and that we are a very difficult customer and so he will suffer if he takes our project. So you see? The problem is because he does not want to do our business. By the way, what does me being fussy about my OWN house got to do with him? Everybody knows how sloppy HDB Contractor is and I believe no one will love to have a house full of defects right? This just makes me believe that Jason is not confident with himself and his company's workmanship...

I dun like the Manager. I asked him whether our contract is "Case Trust" since we are using their sister's company name and not the main one, and he went on to share with us on why they waived our GST by using their sister's company and that they have to incurred the GST on their side since they still have to pay GST to their supplier. And you see, he didn't answer my question. I asked the same question again and the answer is not convincing. He said both companies are handled by the same group of people and so it will be the same, which I doubt so...

Is he expecting me to be grateful to him for absorbing our GST and to pay GST to his supplier out of his pocket? Seriously this is just his company's internal affair and I do not want to know.

These are the issues we feedback to him:
- Jason promised to reserve the free gift of stainless steel cutlery set but in the end forgot, resulting in out of stock.

- Jason said he will replace the stainless steel cutlery set with a wok and kitchen utensil set, but in the end told us only have the kitchen utensil set.

- Jason asked us to check Mayer website ourselves when we asked him which one is the free gift, and we sms-ed him the model number of the work and utensil set asking whether that is the one but no reply from him.

- Jason said it is out of his goodwill to give us the free gift and keep on emphasizing that we are not at all entitled to it in the first place, but he is the one who said will reserve the free gift for us.

- Jason said his company do not give free gift anymore so he cannot replace the gift with anything else, but in the end twist his words in saying his company do not give free gift but the supplier does.

- Jason indirectly labeled us as nasty customer and said we are very particular about our HDB Defects.

- Jason argued that he did confirmed the day and time to meet us even though he did not. No apology at all and just said it is indicated in his organizer.

- Jason refused to give us 2D drawings saying it is not at all accurate.

- Jason said the promotion for kitchen at $69/pfr is over because it is for their 10th anniversary and pressured us to sign with him, but the same promotion is still on, on their recent expo home fair except that it is now 11th year anniversary.

- Jason said he dun earn commission from his introduced electrician, curtain tailor, air-con man and all quotes would be direct from respective company. Later on he said company earns commission from it, and this is very normal.


Throughout the whole conversation, the manager just side with Jason most of the time, even explained to us on how stingy Jason is and that he couldn't bear to fork out his own money to buy us the stainless steel cutlery set.

Well, No apology at all... Anyway, he said refunds will be done within a week.

To Unimax, I wish you all the best in your downhill business!


If you have any issues with Unimax, I think can contact this manager too. I only realise he is the General Manager after the whole conversation.
Paul Chang
+65 90619998