Responses from event organiser KBO Asia to their requests for refund contain swear words
By
jocelyn lee
Some who attended the Diana Krall concert at Fort Canning Park were unhappy about the change in venue and noise disruption from the F1 race.
Fresh complaints have surfaced about the organiser of the Diana Krall concert that took place two weeks ago.
Concertgoers had complained about the cheap red and white plastic chairs provided, the noise disruption caused by Formula One cars and the change in venue from Marina at Keppel Bay to Fort Canning Park.
Curt reply
The unedited e-mail reply from event organiser KBO Asia to lawyer Tan Huiling's request for a full refund of her two tickets, priced at $250 each:
'Excellent you see you run to ST like some form of blackmail, so fxxx you, you think by writing these kind of e-mails we going to make an effort to help you - simple we said we would look into your case, now your write this fxxxx bulls*** again, so if you want to have fun with ST whatever then we are not looking into your case.
Now, two concertgoers are unhappy with the rude e-mail responses they have received from KBO Asia, which contain swear words.
Lawyer Tan Huiling sent two e-mail messages to KBO Asia last Thursday, six days after the jazz concert on Sept26, asking for a full refund of her two tickets, priced at $250 each.
She felt the event was organised badly and she did not enjoy herself.
In her e-mail message, she cited a Straits Times article published on Sept26, the day of the concert. In the report, a KBO Asia spokesman had said the company would deal with refund requests from people unhappy with the venue switch within 10 working days after the show.
While the first e-mail response from KBO Asia said the company would look into Miss Tan's refund request, the second e-mail reply said: 'Excellent you....run to ST like some form of blackmail, so fxxx you.''
The 25-year-old said: 'I'm appalled at the offensive language. To write back rudely and without any apology is truly shocking.'
Miss Tan has filed a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), hoping that the consumer watchdog can help her get a refund.
Case said it has received one letter of complaint about KBO Asia.
Its executive director Seah Seng Choon said: 'This is considered a breach of contract as the organiser did not deliver what was offered. Affected customers can go to the Small Claims Tribunal to claim damages.'
He said that concertgoers can approach Case for help and it will speak to the company to try and resolve the situation.
Mr Michael Kenneth Johnson, a British airline manager and pilot who is based in Singapore, said he also received a rude response to his request for a partial refund.
The e-mail reply which was unsigned and was sent by another office e-mail address, dianakl@kboasia.com, told him to 'f*** off' and 'get a life'.
The 58-year-old, who spent $500 on two tickets, said: 'I feel insulted.''
He added he is thinking of what to do next.
When contacted, the chief executive officer of KBO Asia, Mr Adrian Hobbs, declined to comment, saying he was busy on tour.
He said in an SMS reply: 'If people are anal, then my staff have every right to be upset, so would you.'
