SINGAPORE: A rat infestation in parts of Tampines has raised concern among residents, with the town council removing 146 rats from Sections 7 and 8 in Tampines East as of April 23.

On Facebook, the Tampines Town Council shared updates about their control measures, and assured that they have heard the complaints of people and are taking the appropriate actions to take care of the problem. 

Tampines Town Council Facebook Page

Part of the process is the Town Council’s mitigating measures, which involve inspection to detect early signs of infestation, burrow treatment with rodenticide, culling near bins, and deployment of rodent traps. 

The town council is also working on improving housekeeping. Measures include washing bins to remove food waste, ensuring bin lids are properly closed, and offering free bulky item removal to reduce clutter that could attract pests.

An upcoming food waste digester in N2 is also expected to help by reducing food odours and limiting accessible food sources for rodents.

Residents are being encouraged to do their part by disposing of waste properly and keeping bins clean and closed.

“Keeping rodents at bay requires everyone’s effort, and residents play an important role, too…Please dispose of waste properly and recycle food waste where possible. Every small action makes a difference in keeping our estate clean and liveable,” the Town Council declared in their post.

Aside from rats, birds are also causing stress to some local residents. In a recent report, crows nesting near Chinatown Complex have been attacking passersby, with more than 10 people affected in the past week.

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Residents raise concerns as 146 rats cleared from Tampines estates) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A widowed husband has been trying to get a refund for his deceased wife’s haircut package, but luck was not on his side after nearly six months. A spokesperson from the hair salon admitted that the package had expired, and out of goodwill, had agreed to transfer 50% of the payment, but the husband refused. 

According to Shin Min Daily News, the 50-year-old husband shared that his wife passed away from lung cancer last September, and he contacted beauty, hair salons, and gyms in Singapore and Malaysia to get a refund for his wife’s packages before her death. 

Case details 

Last October, the husband inquired about the details of the package his wife signed up for, pretending that he was her. As per the salon’s reply, his wife purchased a package, which included five colouring sessions and five hair treatments. 

“According to the package information, my wife signed the contract in August 2023, and she started cancer treatment in September. The doctor also instructed her not to apply any irritating products, so I believe she never used the package at all,” the husband admitted, who then revealed himself to the salon in November and learned that the package cost $990. 

The husband then contacted the salon to inquire about the arrangements needed because his wife had passed away. The salon initially said that they needed to pass the message to the management. When the husband tried to follow up several times, the salon claimed that they were busy. 

“I feel that if they really wanted to handle it, they wouldn’t have dragged it out for so long; it’s a bit irresponsible,” he said.

When the reporters contacted the salon, the person in charge admitted that they had contacted the husband and agreed to transfer a 50% refund, but the husband was unwilling to accept the offer. 

Furthermore, the salon pointed out that the package had already expired and that there were clear terms and conditions in the contract stating that a refund would not be possible.  

In response to this, the husband felt the hair salon had delayed the situation for quite some time now; that’s why he was unwilling to accept the refund and wanted the salon to apologise. 

Other related news 

In other related news about Singapore complaints, there was a report where a restaurant along Geylang Road charged a child with S$2 for drinking his own water, reportedly due to a no outside food and drinks policy.

Even though it was understood that the restaurant stated that customers are not allowed to bring their own food and drinks, the members of the public expressed their thoughts and opinions about this matter. 

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Husband demands refund on deceased wife’s hair salon package) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A supposed pamper day turned into a nightmare when a customer who visited J.C. Skin at Khatib claimed that a beautician scratched her face with a blade while doing an eyebrow touch-up and failed to apologise. 

In a Facebook post, the customer shared that the incident occurred during the procedure when the blade came too close to her face. However, instead of owning up to the mistake, the beautician blamed the client, stating that it happened because she made ‘a big movement’. The customer admitted that she was lying on the bed throughout the procedure and did not do so. 

“I felt very disappointed with the attitude shown. Accidents can happen, but it is important to take responsibility and apologise to the customer,” the customer declared in the post. 

Netizens also shared their thoughts and opinions in the comments section of the post. One claimed that it was not an accident, and it was intentional because it is impossible to scratch a person’s cut in the mouth area. Others say that she was bullied. 

“Claim for compensation and engage legal assistance if required. Businesses need to have insurance to cover accidents,” a netizen suggested. 

Another netizen claimed: “Even if you move, she also can’t use this as an excuse. She was using a blade, and she had to be careful and responsible for the safety of the customer.” 

Other related news 

In other related news regarding customer complaints, there was a report where a woman was nearly burned when a fire broke out at their table at a Korean hot pot restaurant. 

“When I bent down to look, I found thick smoke and flames coming out of the hole under the dining table, which scared me so much that I ran away quickly,” the diner declared.

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (‘It is important to take responsibility and apologize’: Customer disappointed as beautician cuts a her face) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Birds have once again become a problem in residential areas, this time in Bishan, where residents and businesses say the situation is getting harder to manage.

Different types of birds have been spotted targeting food across the area. Mynas have been pecking at fruits, while pigeons go after leftovers, creating ongoing frustration for both stallholders and customers.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the issue has persisted for years at Bishan North Shopping Centre, with little improvement. When reporters visited the area, pigeons, crows, and mynas were seen roaming freely, especially near fruit stalls and coffee shops.

The birds appear unfazed by human presence, often lingering near diners and scavenging around bins for food. Some have even been seen pecking at food offerings meant for worship.

A 47-year-old fruit stall worker said the problem has been ongoing for about a decade, with daily losses of $10 to $20 due to damaged produce.

“Once the fruit has been pecked at, it can no longer be sold, which is very frustrating… I cover up whatever isn’t on display to prevent further damage,” the worker said.

A 43-year-old coffee shop employee shared similar concerns, particularly around hygiene.

“We chase them away whenever we see them. They’re quite clever—they don’t go onto tables but stay on the ground looking for scraps. Even in small numbers, they’re still a nuisance,” the worker said.

Some businesses have taken matters into their own hands. One coffee shop has installed large nets to deter birds, but workers say the problem is returning.

“The number of birds is gradually increasing again. We hope authorities can step in and improve the situation,” said a 65-year-old employee.

Related

In a separate incident, crows near Chinatown Complex were reported to have attacked more than 10 people in a week, allegedly targeting individuals with bald or thinning hair.

Read more about the news story here. 

This article (Residents, businesses in Bishan stressed as birds target leftovers and more) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.