Hair salon customers left in limbo after closures

Another customer told Shin Min Daily News that a family member had visited the Jurong outlet on April 13 to request a refund for a package purchased at the Ang Mo Kio branch, but was rejected.

When the customer returned to the Jurong outlet on April 24, he discovered that it had also closed.

Although contact numbers were displayed outside the premises, he claimed that calls went unanswered and other contact methods listed on name cards were no longer reachable.

New tenants took over Ang Mo Kio salon’s premises

When Shin Min Daily News reporters visited the Ang Mo Kio outlet, they found that the Hair Gallery signboard had been removed and the interior cleared out.

The unit has since been divided into two spaces occupied by a traditional Chinese medicine clinic and a shop that sells fruit and vegetables.

A worker at the fruit and vegetable shop said the business opened about two months ago and initially received inquiries from former Hair Gallery customers.

“About 10 people came by asking what happened to the salon, but the number gradually decreased,” he said.

A staff member at the neighbouring clinic confirmed that the clinic took over half of the former salon space, while the remaining half was rented out to the fruit and vegetable shop.

Salon director reportedly overseas

Shin Min Daily News reporters subsequently visited the residence of a director linked to the salon company, and were told by a domestic helper that her employer had been in China for more than a month and had yet to return.

Attempts to contact the business through the number listed on the renovation notice remain unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Hair Gallery’s Bencoolen outlet is listed as permanently closed on Google.

CASE received 4 complaints

Responding to Shin Min Daily News’ queries, CASE president Melvin Yong said the consumer watchdog received four complaints concerning Hair Gallery’s closure between Jan 1 and June 9 this year.

CASE is currently assisting the affected consumers.

Yong, who is also the MP for Radin Mas, took the opportunity to encourage consumers to patronise beauty businesses with CaseTrust accreditation, as these businesses are required to have prepayment protection mechanisms in place to safeguard customers’ prepaid monies.

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