He is going to tie the knot with his favourite girl, they are planning for a wedding dinner to share the happiness with family and friends. This suppose to be a happy occasion. But sadly, without any notice the restaurant that they booked for their wedding dinner ceased operation. It’s been more than a month, since he asked for a refund and the management said they will only do partial refund.
But why only partial? ” NO REASON! It’s the management decision”, the person in charge from Tai Thong group said.
Alex Wong decided to take it to social media, hoping the top management of the restaurant group will look into the matters and be fair to him, at the same time also create awareness for others.
His post in Facebook dated Nov 25 garnered netizens’ attention with 750 responses and 1.5k shares to the date of writing.
His original post read:
I’m tired dealing with the unscrupulous company. Early this year, i paid deposit amounting RM5,300 to Royal China Restaurant Ipoh, a restaurant under Tai Thong Group Malaysia. As i planned for a wedding dinner in the restaurant on Dec 6. However, i received a message from a friend saying that the said restaurant will cease operation on Oct 12.
Prior to this matter, no one from the restaurant notified us that the restaurant was going to cease operation. When i contacted Royal China Restaurant, the person in charged said they also received the order on the same day and requested me to contact their headquarter instead, i have been informed that they moving to a new office.
On Oct 13, I have contacted the headquarter requesting them to refund my deposit, the person in charge (PIC), Kelly asked us to give them 14 days and said will refund the deposit.
Of course, we trusted her words. As a understandable consumer, although we never have food testing or received any free food from them, we accepted what they said and gave them 2 weeks to sort out the matters and do the refund.
During the period of Oct 26 to Nov 4, i tried to contact the PIC again but all the messages sent was read but no reply, and she never picked up any of my call. Finally on Nov 5, she picked up my call and she said they need more time as she was still waiting for the management feedback.
I follow up on the matter after that but nothing progressed. Until Oct 23, i managed to contact the PIC again, and she said ” We will refund you RM3,000, THAT’S IT!”
I was confused, what does she mean by ” Refund me RM 3,000 & THAT’S IT?! I paid RM5,300 as deposit, not even have a single meal in the restaurant. RM2,300 of my deposit was deducted and i was treated with this kind of rude manner, like giving to a beggar, ” Refund me RM3,000, That’ it!”
Immediately i asked her what is the reason to deduct the RM2,300?
” NO REASON! It’s the decision from my management,” she answered.
What?! I have to pay (RM2,300) my one month salary for nothing just because of your management decision. Is it my fault that your restaurant decided to cease operation?
Then i told the PIC that i wanted to speak to their “management”. But she said i’m not allowed to contact their management. What a secretive management?!
After the phone call, i got my sister in KL to help me to look for them and talk to them in person, hopefully to resolve the disputes.
When my sister reached their office, told the receptionist that she wanted to look for Kelly. After the receptionist went in, another staff named Micky approached her and said Kelly went out after lunch. What?!I was just in a call with her in her land line and now they said she was out for lunch and not back yet? and Micky then said she just went out.
My sister then asked her who else she can reached out to? maybe can referred her to another “management” who is in the office. She was told she can’t meet anyone, they can’t even disclosed the name of other management /CEO and told her straight, ” You can lodge a report to Consumer affairs department.”
We are speechless, wondering did we do anything wrong?
Thought of paying RM5,300 deposit, booked a hall for wedding cerebration, which is suppose to be a happy occasion. But, 2 months before the wedding date, the restaurant closed down without notifying us. Deposit was only refunded partially, RM2,300 my hard earn money just been snatched like that.
As a consumer, shall we just take this kind of unfair treatments?
Lastly, Alex also urged anyone that experience the same thing to contact him, and hope everyone to stay alert and not falling into the same trap again. He also hope Tai Thong group can step up to clarify and resolve the disputes.
Alex also shared with Redchili that his intention is not to make this viral but he hope Tai Thong can refund them the full amount, their hard earn money. In grim times like these, RM5,300 really mean a lot to them.