Icon Interior Design has reposted his account of the incident. The link is:
http://www.renotalk.com/forum/topic/71458-daunting-experience-with-icon-interior-design/
My response:
To all Renotalk Forumers,
I have made the conscientious effort in documenting my experience with Icon Interior Design, providing evidences where possible and both accounts of my claims at Small Claims Tribunals, Singapore. If you have taken the time to read, I would not want to repeat what have been posted (so as not to bore you). It is definitely fair to give Icon Interior Design a voice. Yes! You have heard both sides of the story and the decision to engage which ID firm or renovation contractor for your house renovation is entirely yours.
On hindsights, there are many perhaps (which show that Icon Interior Design may not be the one responsible for the defects/water leakage at all):
Perhaps after spending $76,000 to renovate my house (excluding variation order), I had wished for the water leakage to happen. And perhaps I love challenges and I wouldn't mind handling the problem and seeking compensation from Icon Interior Design. The entire process took 8 months and lots of my energy.
Perhaps it was the aircon piping that leaks (and NOT the quality of waterproofing works) even though the waterproofing report provided by Icon Interior Design has indicated that waterproofing is not functioning well (one possibility). The same document was submitted by Icon interior Design in defense of their claim. However, this claim was found inconclusive by Small Claims Tribunals.
Perhaps Small Claims Tribunals has made a mistake to rule the first claim in my favour. Despite considering all evidences submitted by Icon Interior Design, Small Claims Tribunals has ordered Icon Interior Design to make a payment of $6000 to me. Perhaps it was really a mistake!
Letter from CASE (dated 25 October 2013) sent about 2 months after Icon Interior Design was notified of the defects. It was ignored. Lawyer letter sent at a later date was also ignored. Perhaps Icon Interior has been diligent in responding to the defects and has been very prompt in its rectification (how long was it that I waited?). Perhaps CASE could have made a mistake, giving Icon Interior Design insufficient time to respond to the rectification.
Perhaps the law firm that I engaged to seek compensation (weeks after CASE letter was sent) had also made the same mistake. Perhaps everyone made the same mistake. We were just too impatient. We could have granted more time to Icon Interior Design.
Perhaps Small Claims Tribunals has also failed to see this point or perhaps the tribunals is equally impatient like me (demanding for compensation without giving sufficient time and space). And the perhaps go on.....
Here's an update on the water leakage. I have personally monitored the renovation of the two toilets (I have to since I did not move out during the renovation) in January. Four months have passed and I am more than happy that I had the problem solved. Both my kitchen ceiling (located below the bathroom) and the area outside the bathroom (which was flooded) are totally dry.
Perhaps it wasn't the waterproofing even though the hacking and laying of new waterproofing to the two toilets solved the problem. And everything is settled in 3 weeks. Perhaps many of us (including CASE, the law firm and Small Claims Tribunals) need to deeply reflect so that we are not fast in making a judgement on the renovation work and service provided by Icon Interior Design.
http://www.renotalk.com/forum/topic/71458-daunting-experience-with-icon-interior-design/
My response:
To all Renotalk Forumers,
I have made the conscientious effort in documenting my experience with Icon Interior Design, providing evidences where possible and both accounts of my claims at Small Claims Tribunals, Singapore. If you have taken the time to read, I would not want to repeat what have been posted (so as not to bore you). It is definitely fair to give Icon Interior Design a voice. Yes! You have heard both sides of the story and the decision to engage which ID firm or renovation contractor for your house renovation is entirely yours.
On hindsights, there are many perhaps (which show that Icon Interior Design may not be the one responsible for the defects/water leakage at all):
Perhaps after spending $76,000 to renovate my house (excluding variation order), I had wished for the water leakage to happen. And perhaps I love challenges and I wouldn't mind handling the problem and seeking compensation from Icon Interior Design. The entire process took 8 months and lots of my energy.
Perhaps it was the aircon piping that leaks (and NOT the quality of waterproofing works) even though the waterproofing report provided by Icon Interior Design has indicated that waterproofing is not functioning well (one possibility). The same document was submitted by Icon interior Design in defense of their claim. However, this claim was found inconclusive by Small Claims Tribunals.
Perhaps Small Claims Tribunals has made a mistake to rule the first claim in my favour. Despite considering all evidences submitted by Icon Interior Design, Small Claims Tribunals has ordered Icon Interior Design to make a payment of $6000 to me. Perhaps it was really a mistake!
Letter from CASE (dated 25 October 2013) sent about 2 months after Icon Interior Design was notified of the defects. It was ignored. Lawyer letter sent at a later date was also ignored. Perhaps Icon Interior has been diligent in responding to the defects and has been very prompt in its rectification (how long was it that I waited?). Perhaps CASE could have made a mistake, giving Icon Interior Design insufficient time to respond to the rectification.
Perhaps the law firm that I engaged to seek compensation (weeks after CASE letter was sent) had also made the same mistake. Perhaps everyone made the same mistake. We were just too impatient. We could have granted more time to Icon Interior Design.
Perhaps Small Claims Tribunals has also failed to see this point or perhaps the tribunals is equally impatient like me (demanding for compensation without giving sufficient time and space). And the perhaps go on.....
Here's an update on the water leakage. I have personally monitored the renovation of the two toilets (I have to since I did not move out during the renovation) in January. Four months have passed and I am more than happy that I had the problem solved. Both my kitchen ceiling (located below the bathroom) and the area outside the bathroom (which was flooded) are totally dry.
Perhaps it wasn't the waterproofing even though the hacking and laying of new waterproofing to the two toilets solved the problem. And everything is settled in 3 weeks. Perhaps many of us (including CASE, the law firm and Small Claims Tribunals) need to deeply reflect so that we are not fast in making a judgement on the renovation work and service provided by Icon Interior Design.