A Routine Maintenance Visit Takes a Turn

A routine car maintenance visit turned into a distressing episode for a Singaporean woman when a workshop in Johor Bahru reportedly lost her car keys, leaving her out of pocket and stranded across the border.

Ms. Cai's Experience

Ms. Cai, a 31-year-old bank officer, shared her story with local media, explaining how a simple service visit quickly escalated into a logistical nightmare. On December 29, 2024, she took her vehicle to NK Car Care in Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru, for an oil change and an air-conditioning check.

Describing the scene, Ms. Cai stated, “The workshop was very busy. Around 3 PM, a staff member asked me to move my car to the car wash next door and hand over the keys. I entrusted them to the workshop owner's brother, who assured me that it would only take a few minutes.”

Hours of Waiting

Hours dragged on without any updates from the workshop. It wasn’t until 6 PM that Ms. Cai got a shocking call: her car keys had gone missing. Although the staff reassured her they were searching for them, by 9 PM – the workshop's closing time – the keys remained unfound, and her car was still untouched.

Struggles to Resolve the Issue

Ms. Cai added, “When I arrived at the workshop, the owner told me that it was Sunday and the locksmith wouldn’t be available until the next day.” Determined to resolve the situation, she took it upon herself to find a locksmith. Unfortunately, due to the vehicle's different security systems in Singapore and Malaysia, the locksmith was only able to unlock the doors but could not start the engine.

The Towing Dilemma

With her options running thin, Ms. Cai requested for her car to be towed back to Singapore so she could have a new key reprogrammed by her authorized dealer. However, the workshop refused her request, insisting that she should go back to Singapore to retrieve her spare key for duplication.

Concerned about the risk involved, she told them, “If someone finds the lost key, they could steal my car. If my car goes missing in Malaysia, who will be responsible for that?”

Frustration with the Workshop

Having used the workshop’s services without incident on three or four prior occasions, her experience this time left her feeling frustrated and disappointed by their lack of responsibility.

Financial Impact of the Incident

Ultimately, Ms. Cai had to pay approximately RM900 (around S$271) to have her car towed back to Singapore, a significant and unnecessary expense due to the workshop’s mishap.

A Cautionary Tale

Reflecting on this costly ordeal, she emphatically stated, “I will not go to Malaysia for car repairs anymore. This experience was incredibly troublesome and I don’t want to lose more because of a small issue.”

This incident raises serious questions about accountability and customer service at workshops across borders, highlighting the risks Singaporeans may face when seeking vehicle maintenance in Malaysia. Such experiences serve as a cautionary tale for others considering similar trips for car repairs.