Bad Massage Saloon Experience

(Latest Update at the bottom of the post- 28 Feb 2019)

Dear readers, my name’s Michelle and I’d like to share something that happened to my mum over the past few weeks with a certain massage saloon.

The massage saloon at People's Park Centre

Appointment Card from the Saloon

Unclear receipts given by the Saloon

This was what happened:

On 22 January 2019, my mum was shopping at People Park Centre and was walking past a jade shop. When suddenly a lady interlocked arms with my mum and reached out for her neck from behind and said that it was only $18. Since my mum wasn’t feeling well that day and was unable to free herself from her grip, she reluctantly walks together with her towards the massage saloon. 

Upon entering the shop, the lady continued with the massage and said, “Isn’t it comfortable? Go into the room and take off your clothes, we will help you massage more!” My mum did as she was told and was given a towel to cover herself and laid down on the massage bed.

Another lady called ‘Ah Xia’ took over the massage and shortly after, two other ladies (one of which was the store manager, Sany) entered the room.They began promoting their massage packages. My mum was advised that the massage cost $280 and that one session wasn’t enough to remove the toxins from her body. Sany then told my mum to make the payment of $280 first. As my mum felt fearful and trapped in that situation, she nervously paid that amount at the counter with Sany.

After paying, my mum said that she needed to use the bathroom. Not only was she denied her own clothes, but she was also told to use a dustbin container as a toilet cubicle instead. Apparently, they did not want and allowed her to leave the shop. Unable to pee, my mum helplessly returned to the room for the remaining duration of the massage.

Sany resumed promoting their massage services and introduced a 20 session package for $2800 to which my mum stated she had no money. Sany said she could split the package into 10 separate sessions. The ladies in the room pleaded and tried convincing my mum saying that if she signed the package and make payment now, there would be a 10% discount and the current session would be free. At this point, my mum thought that she could reconsider her options during the next few massage sessions and so agreed to the package. Sany then asked for my mum’s card limit which was $2000.

After the massage, Sany requested for the remaining $1220. She instructed the cashier lady to follow my mum to a nearby ATM as she withdraws another $1000 in order to complete the payment. An appointment card and receipt for the package was given and the cashier lady returned to the shop after collecting the money.

During the second visit (25 January 2019), my mum was told that the shop would probably close half a year later and this news worried her greatly as she was afraid that they would run away with the money.

On the third session (28 January 2019), just as my mum began her massage session, the cashier lady offered her ‘special services’ with a dildo and my mum declined immediately and stated clearly she wasn’t interested in that sort of service.

Things got a little complicated by the fourth session (29 January 2019), a masseuse named ‘Ah Juan’ told my mum that she could benefit from a different treatment which involves using a machine capable of detecting toxins in the body. Usage of the machine include putting medicinal herbs and powder on her and that each machine usage equates to 5 treatments out of the 20 sessions. 

My mum agreed to use the machine as she wanted to get the sessions over and done with as soon as possible. Ah Juan went ahead and operated the machine and claimed that it was effective in removing the toxins in my mum’s body by showing her the changes in the machine’s screen each time powder was applied on my mum. 

Ah Juan then ushered Sany in, who then waved a cream (that was in a small plastic container of about 150g) in front of my mum’s face that cost $1800. My mum’s underwear was then removed and the cream was applied all over her privates and body. In hindsight, I regrettably suspect that the cream could have potentially temporary impaired normal cognitive functioning.

Sany, a self-proclaimed Chinese physician said that people who had thyroid diseases and could not be cured by doctors were all miraculously healed by that cream. She added that this one-time application was insufficient in dosage and people who opt for this particular machine treatment usually spend $18,000. 

In return, my mum replied that she does not have the money. Sany suggested a discount bringing the total cost down to $7000. Once again, my mum said that she had no money. The price was ultimately brought down to $3000 as a ‘special discount’ under the condition that no one should know about it, not even to me. 

Sany also said that my mum could borrow money or pawn away her valuables so that she can afford the package. She pretentiously wanted to help my mum get rid of the thyroid disease adding on that the treatment will nullify the potential need for expensive hospital treatments or surgeries. Also, she promised that this will be the last time they ask her to sign up for any more sessions.

Throughout the entire conversation, my mum told me that she got very dizzy and her mind was in a mess. In the end, she agreed to pay $3000 for this additional machine treatment in hopes of treating her thyroid disease. 

Since my mum did not have her card with her, Sany told the cashier lady to go take a taxi and travel to Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Hub together with my mum, so that my mum can head home to retrieve her card.

While walking with the cashier lady, my mum saw her friend who waved to her but the cashier lady interlocked her arms tightly against my mum and steered her away from her friend’s sight. They then hailed a taxi and headed towards AMK Hub together.

On the ride there, my mum found out that the lady who first pulled her into the shop was from Malaysia while the rest are from China. When asked for a receipt, the cashier lady said that she did not have one. My mum said that she would not pay her if a receipt was not issued. The cashier lady then typed away at her phone and pulled out a receipt from her pocket where she claimed to have found it.

Afterwards, my mum went back home to get her card and then back to AMK Hub to withdraw $3000 for the cashier lady. After making sure there was $3000, a receipt was issued and both the cashier lady and my mum parted ways.

My mum continued to visit on 30 January 2019 and 1 February 2019 for the fifth and sixth session respectively. The additional treatment is now in the third session on 1 February 2019.

This story in its entirety was only made known to me after the second payment of $3000 was made.

We consulted the Police as well as CASE and was advised that it is considered a criminal offence if:

•  Your card is taken against your will to be swiped.
•  Your signature is forged.
• You are being threatened with a weapon.
• A picture of your naked body is taken against your will.
• You are being kept from leaving the premises against your will.

Things you should always know when using a service:

• You should never pay with cash so that the trail of money can be tracked.
• A full agreement in black and white should be provided with all the terms and conditions clearly stated.
• Do not enter a dubious shop where the prices and services are not clearly stated.
• You must get an electronically printed receipt that clearly states the services you are paying for.

My mum suffered greatly due to this incident and is even on the verge of depression. She didn't think that she would fall prey to such scams in Singapore.

It is my sincere wish that through my sharing of this unfortunate incident that there will be no one else falling prey to their scheme by being better informed of the tricks these shops may use to make you pay for their package.

Thank you very much for reading and please help us by sharing this so that it reaches more people. Hopefully, we can find the other victims so that we may work together to obtain a fair settlement with the Saloon by sharing this Facebook post.

Sincerely,

Michelle


Update:

Fortunately, the owner of the massage saloon responded to CASE and an arrangement for settlement was made privately. We only got back $2200 on 21st February 2019 but it was better than nothing.

On that day, I went down to the massage saloon with my mum to collect the $2200. My mum walked ahead of me as she approached the massage saloon. The manager saw her but didn't notice me so she immediately places her arm around my mum's shoulder and begun steering her into the saloon. The manager attempted to start convincing my mum to reconsider her options again but stopped when she looked up to see me staring at her.

She placed her arm down immediately and went into the massage saloon, then coming back out after a moment with the $2200. We left immediately after getting the $2200 as we didn't want to spend another minute anywhere near the massage saloon.

We made some edit to the pictures as we are no longer able to reveal everything about the case after the settlement have been made.