On Jan 25, she paid a deposit of $300 to I-Motoring for a $2,200 Yamaha X-1 motorcycle. The sales executive who attended to her told her that it was the minimum amount required.

He then told her to sign the forms that stated the downpayment, as well as papers that spelt out the monthly instalments she had to pay for two years. He then told her that she might need to increase her downpayment in the event that the finance company does not approve the loan, due to her young age.

He told her that she would be able to collect the bike two or three days after signing the form. Not once did he mention anything about needing a guarantor despite knowing her age and that she has no regular income. He also failed to inform her that the deposit is non-refundable.

On the morning of Jan 29, she received a call from the salesperson saying that the loan application had been rejected. Now, she either needed a guarantor above 21 years old with a minimum income of $1,300 a month, or to look for a first-owner above 21 and a guarantor while she be named the second-owner.

She made a second trip to the shop and asked the salesperson why a guarantor was not mentioned before. According to him, this rule had just been introduced by the company and that most bike shops have the same practice. He also told her that the deposit could not be refunded since the application had been processed.

On that same day, I called the salesperson seeking an explanation. He insisted that my sister knew that she needed a guarantor and that this was common practice.

My sister is very upset as she felt she was misled into signing an agreement which was not clearly explained. She had painstakingly saved the money from working part-time.

Yvonne Lam (Miss)