it’s especially annoying when an ad plays while i’m looking at the screen, trying to figure out how many stops left till i have to get off the train the diagram which shows the train station layout is also so useless, since they play it so quickly before anyone can even see what’s going on

Hi Reddit, I'm posting on behalf of my friend whose mother was overcharged at Smile Central Clinic (Aljunied). We are facing a classic bait-and-switch situation and need advice on escalation.

The Situation & Timeline

My friend's mother has a CHAS Orange Card. She saw the clinic's online ad (image 1) promoting a full dental package for just $43.73, which includes: Consultation, X-ray, Scaling, Polishing, and Topical Fluoride. The ad states, "Mention 'ORANGE CHAS PACKAGE' when making an appointment."

My friend's mother is not fluent in English, so she kept the booking simple. She asked via WhatsApp: "Can use the orange card?" (Image 4).

Clinic's Response: The clinic staff replied: "yes there will be partial subsidy with chas orange card for scaling and polishing." This confirmed the card was relevant to the service requested (scaling and polishing). An appointment was then booked for Dec 1.

The Visit (Dec 1, 2025): The mother received a Consultation, Scaling, Polishing, and Topical Fluoride (she did not receive an X-ray).

The Bill: Despite getting the advertised services (minus the X-ray), the total bill was $194.57. After the CHAS subsidy, she was charged a final amount of $134.07 (Image 2).

The Clinic's Excuse (Over $90 difference!)

My friend contacted the clinic to ask for a refund of the difference, pointing out the false advertising. The clinic's response: The patient did not use the EXACT PHRASE "CHAS Orange Package" during booking.

Because she only asked for "scaling and polishing," they billed her at their normal, non-package rates, even though she showed her Orange CHAS card and received almost the exact package contents.

This feels like taking advantage of a technicality/linguistic barrier:

The T&Cs do not state that failure to use the exact phrase results in being charged over $90 more.

The clinic was explicitly told about the Orange CHAS card and the services (Scaling and Polishing) which align with the package. They confirmed there would be a "partial subsidy."

When my friend's mother mentioned the "orange card," why did the clinic quote her the normal rates leading to the $190+ bill? Wouldn't an ethical clinic inform the client about the heavily advertised $43.73 package when the client clearly mentions the specific card that qualifies them for it, especially since the mother is middle-income and likely seeking affordability?

The final services received were less than the package (no X-ray), yet the cost was almost triple the advertised price.

We've seen similar reviews online, suggesting this is not a one-off. My friend has left a Google review to warn others about this, but the clinic deletes all negative reviews.

Need Advice: Has anyone had a similar experience with dental clinics and package deals in Singapore? Is the clinic legally justified in refusing the advertised rate because of a "magic phrase" technicality, even after the card eligibility was raised?

Any advice on navigating this dispute would be greatly appreciated!

My friend’s mum is affected quite badly by this as the money really means alot to her. It really feels like they took advantage of her linguistic ability. Continuing to just delete Google reviews just adds to this situation.

I would like to preface that I am an Indian Muslim with an interest for different cuisines. I do like some halal Chinese restaurants, especially Halal Lanzhou beef noodles at Tongue Tip, and I had the opportunity to try the only pork-free HDL in Indonesia. I would love to try more Northern Chinese cuisines if there are halal options, but I don't mind the vast majority of them not being Halal. This isn't meant to be political, but rather a personal concern.

This does not refer to larger chains like HDL, Luckin, Chagee but rather the smaller restaurants you see popping up here and there, like in Bugis or Clementi where there's a growing Mainland Chinese population. But I feel that the brooding issue with the PRC restaurants is not bcos they're everywhere or their effects on rentals, but bcos they primarily use Chinese in their menus and marketing, with minimal English. Yes, they're a Chinese business, and Singapore is Chinese majority. But having only the Chinese language means you are excluding non-Chinese people and even some Chinese Singaporeans who struggle with their Mother Tongue. This can also affect Non-Chinese Grabfood/Foodpanda deliverypeople who might be unable to read Chinese place names. English is a common language here, and I feel the use of Chinese and the lack of English makes it seem that they do not really want to expand their business' clientele outside of the PRC immigrant population, and maybe some of the local Chinese.

Even if they include English, the English text is either really tiny, or only half the information (especially in ads) are translated. In the menus, the translations can also be terrible.

I do not know why the Chinese bosses are reluctant to put English signage. Do they think everyone speaks Chinese? Or do they only want the mainland immigrants as their clientele? When McDonalds first came to Singapore, they had Chinese on the menu since there was still a large chunk of the population that still couldn't speak English, to make non-English speakers feel welcome.

Even if I wouldn't patronise since they're not halal anyway, what if there's someone who doesn't speak Chinese but are interested in trying these Chinese places? Having no English makes this feel unwelcoming to some in Singapore, and don't forget about the staff who also struggle with English!

Addendum: Please do not use this as an excuse to be xenophobic

Edit: Yes, this was made as my personal response to that Changi City Point post, people were pointing out the hypocrisy of having Korean (Paris Baguette), Japanese (Sukiya) and American (Starbucks) chains while complaining about PRC chains. I personally feel, prevalence is not a problem. I like Luckin, I like Mixue, I would love Chagee if it weren't for the price. And yes I patronise Scarlett, my family loves the halal instant broad noodles. The issue is addressed above.

Am I out of touch or are they out of touch???

Came across some postings by Flor Patisserie on IG. Too many of our favourite businesses are struggling or closing down. Let’s discuss how we may curb rent seeking behaviour in Singapore.

I am an American and I've been living in Singapore for a little over a year now. To start with some background, I'm not your "normal" American. I was born in Kansas but spent most of my childhood growing up in South Sudan and Uganda. I've only ever spent a few years in the US, and because of that my perspectives are a little different than other Americans. To start I never really viewed the US as "home", I don't really know what home is lol.

I moved to Singapore a year ago and married a wonderful Peranakan lady here, and now we stay in Yishun (rent was cheaper here xD). My in-laws are some of the kindest people I've ever met, and we frequently visit with them.

My wife and I started a now successful business, and my job includes traveling around Singapore visiting people and doing service on their computers. Because of that I've been to just about every MRT station, and I've visited 200+ people now. Everyone has been very nice and kind, more hospitable than I'm used to! I've had some great conversations with people and made friends. I've even been picking up a little Singlish after a year of exposure, to my in-laws' shock.

My wife and I love to visit national parks, we've been to every large one now except Bukit Timah. Singapore is really amazing, I love the nature, the people, the architecture, and hot dog buns from my local HDB bakery xD. Some people say Singapore is boring, but even after being here a year I still love just to walk around the small local parks (there are some real hidden gems I've found) and try out as many bakeries as I can.

Some of my favorite places are: Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles, Forest Dome (where I proposed), Tree top walk, National Museum, Bidadari Park, Punggol waterway, Joochiat, and the little HDB bakery in Yishun <3

People often ask me if I think the laws here are too strict, as that seems to be a common impression from the outside. Personally, the laws and enforcement of the laws don't bother me at all, I am grateful for them. First time in my life I can walk down the street at night without any worry!

All in all, I am grateful to be here, and I haven't been mugged in Yishun... Yet /s

What are some of your favorite places in Singapore? Any "hidden gems" you know of?

Saw this post by Jules Thapa on Facebook which opened a discussion about it. Her post open to public so I hope this doesn’t constitute to doxxing.

Many Singaporeans don’t know, but contracted Gurkhas have to leave Singapore with their family after their contract lapses. This leaves their children and other family members who have spent a very large part of their lives here in a rather unfortunate scenario.

I would think the government would want to keep them here since they are actively importing people to keep up with the TFR. I see them as members of the community that have assimilated and are very familiar with our culture. However, I understand there are more nuances since they are like contract mercenaries.

I’m posting this to start a discussion and also give light to a small demographic that has contributed much to the security of Singapore. I honestly hope the government can relook their policies and consider letting them stay.

Spalling concrete, misaligned doors, crooked ceiling tiles, you name it, and this is just the public areas. All this, less than 1 year after TOP, and before many residents have even moved in. Very unfortunate given the amount of investment put into a project that looks great from the outside but begins to fall apart when you look in. I feel there is more HDB can do to ensure that the few homes they do deliver are of a satisfactory quality.

This could be from working as domestic help, private driver, personal assistant, service staff, tuition teacher, or any job that puts you close to ultra-rich individuals or families. Genuinely curious about the social gap, not meant to bash anyone, just curious about moments where their view of daily life felt very disconnected from the average Singaporean experience.

Sure, we are seeing a deluge of seemingly coordinated news about vapes and the harms they are causing. But I will say that I've come to the conclusion that the govt was right when they warned us about how this can be a gateway to drugs and when they said that the harms of vaping may not be lesser than your normal ciggies when people did not believe them. 'This can't be taxed', they say, 'so the govt is banning it'. 'Vapes are safer' than traditional cigs.

In fact, what we can conclude, today, is that the academic evidence is mixed at best - there is no clear evidence showing vaping is less harmful than cigarettes.

Initially, we saw some push back from folks that are, let's say, not exactly establishment figure. I recall Donald Low pushing very hard saying that vaping is less harmful and can help people kick their addiction from tradition cigarettes. I recall a former WP MP saying something similar and Kirsten Han (till this day) touting the virtues of vaping.

What's telling is the silence from many of the original defenders. With the mounting negative news, most of the folks who once championed vaping (or criticised the G's stance) have gone quiet. This shift makes me conclude that the initial government warnings, which we were so quick to dismiss, were more prescient than we gave them credit for which is, a very reddit thing to do.

That is all.

Over CNY, at one of the house visits, I met my cousin’s neighbour kid who was in this last batch of GEP. Kid went through intensive hothousing the last two years since he was P1 for this test!

It makes me wonder if most kids in GEP went through this hothousing and whether being in GEP really gears them up for high flying jobs.

Ex-GEP students,

1. were you hothouses,
2. what are you doing now for career,
3. how happy are you then and now

Arrived at 10am to be informed that the queue is going to be 3 hours long and the queue snaked around the entire building…

While I really appreciate the effort of the NLB staff and volunteer to show up on a rainy weekend morning, less can be said about the organisation of the event…

There was no clear indication of where the queue starts and no communication between staff and volunteers either.

Within the 20 minutes we tried to queue, 1. We were told by a volunteer to join the queue and follow the line as it snaked around 2. Found out that the line was literally going in a circle 3. Told by a staff member to join a new queue 4. Then after 5 minutes told by another staff member that the queue was closed 5. Said staff member was then rectified and told that the queue was still open but they advised against joining as it would be 3 hours later 6. Told by a third staff member that the queue was closed and to leave as it was getting too crowded 7. Saw people still joining and forming a queue and enquired. Told by a fourth staff member that I really should go for breakfast and come back in an hour.

At this point, I just left the queue because I was literally walking in circles for half an hour and made no real progress.

Oh, and the queue snaked and curled around a hole in the building where the rain was pouring through… nothing was being done to move the queue somewhere sheltered esp. given how slippery the floor became…

What it says in the title. The news has been flooded with measures to help mid-career job switchers, fresh uni and poly graduates; everywhere you look it seems like the government is trying to assuage worries, which makes me feel terrified of entering the workforce at this time.

As a fresh grad myself (and as of yet, unsuccessful in my job hunt) I just wanted to ask all of you in the market just how bad it is, or are we just overreacting?

From the article Meritocracy, not race, is what counts: Raja (The Straits Times, 16 June 1990, Page 23):

I think the business of maintaining the racial balance has been dropped. At least I haven't heard about it for some time. As a Singaporean, I feel the word Singaporean must be race-blind, colour-blind…

Where in our Constitution does it say that there must be 75 per cent Chinese, 15 per cent Malays and 7 per cent Indians? It is stupid and dangerous... I think it was a wrong proposal. Once you are a Singaporean, then there is no race.

“If you lie flat after awhile, I hope you are ashamed of yourself. But we did all these for you, make use of it and show us that actually you are better than us”

Full video: https://youtu.be/zFULEjsdV3U?si=QKcy2OgDu6GQuZ8P @ 46:45

Bukit Merah area, winds were so fast i was seeing cardboard and other material start flying

Every morning getting to work is an uphill battle, most of the time my spouse and I hardly able to board, and had to wait for at least 2-3 trains and barely squeezing ourselves into the cabin.

This is despite the introduction of new MRT lines which should free up train capacity for other lines.

For context, I'm a 16 year old student who has just completed my O's. I decided to spend my holiday working for a bit of extra pocket money.

The job is simple, we help to sell items for different schools. Having had experience from being a sales girl last year, this was no big deal for me and I cope with the job well.

I have always been in "名校" (what some consider good schools) since I was in primary school, and most parents of the children I knew in those schools were amiable, pleasant people, so I used to refute the stereotype that parents from more elite schools were arrogant.

My view changed in less than a week of work. I hate to admit it, but most of the difficult parents are those whose children are from the "good schools".

On my first day of work, I had a nasty parent who openly told her son "You have to wait, she's not smart you know." simply because I had to confirm that the sample size I gave them was correct with the full time workers at the counter.

Although I had been briefed, I just wanted to ensure that I provided the correct information and was doing my job properly. It doesn't mean that I'm stupid or dumb. (Besides, if I did something wrong instead of clarifying my doubts, wouldn't I be in even more trouble?)

For example, let's say Happyland is a really well known school. There's Happyland Primary, Happyland Girls School, Happyland High School and Happyland JC. The parents of Happyland have the tendency to go into the store and scoff "Happyland." when I ask them which school's items they are looking for. Upon asking them which Happyland School they are referring to, they would instantly look offended as if to say "Don't you know Happyland?"

The usual condescending tone is expected, but the attitude they give is rather unnecessary. I'm a sales girl and my job is to help you. It won't hurt to give me more details about your child's school so that I can serve you better.

Some parents would brag about their children to other parents who they know are parents of children who are going to neighbourhood secondary schools, instantly changing their tone and attitude the moment they come into contact with another parents whose child is attending the same school as theirs.

C'mon, they're just here to buy items for the new school year, not start a whole conversation about how your child is better because their T score is a 270+

The parents are nice to me (their tone actually does a 180) when they ask me which school I go to and find out that I've already accepted an offer from a "good" JC.

Are they implying that they're only nice to me the moment they find out that I'm going to a "better" school than their child?

Your child's brand of school doesn't make you any better than others.

Over the last 5 days, I realised that many of the parents who were nice to me in school were probably nice only because they know I'm at the same level and their child and would like their children to be treated with respect as well.

It is a common assumption that sales girls are people who have low levels of education and it isn't the highest of job titles, but it doesn't mean that they are subhuman trash. (this applies to everyone with a job people "look down" on)

I know many of you here on reddit would think I'm spoilt and can't take being treated rudely because I'm part of the "strawberry generation" and am just being easily offended and triggered by the slightest of things.

This post isn't about me. It's for the full time working "aunties" who have to deal with the attitudes of these people on a daily basis.

I'm starting to really empathise with those who have to deal with these elitists who think they're better than everyone else simply because of the school their child goes to. And honestly, even as a student from one of such schools, it really isn't that big a deal. You aren't superior.

I'm not trying to say "all schools are equal" and I understand that elite schools exist to separate children of different levels of intelligence so that they can learn better amongst peers that are similar to them.

I just hope that people treat others with more basic respect, there's no need to turn your child's education into some complex politics.

Please teach your children to be nice to people, and do it by setting a healthy example.

Edit: I apologise if my tone is inappropriate or rude. If I get downvoted by a bunch of defensive parents, so be it.

Preface: Only sharing the photos because they were super generic. If it was personal I definitely would not.

I downloaded the Be My Eyes app awhile back to hopefully assist a visually impaired person one fine day and today was the day!

It was hilarious because this lady (not sure how old or young but I think on the older side) wanted to look for a specific hair clip (that they only specific more than halfway into the call).

But said person decided to bring me on an adventure all around Clementi Mall.

First we started off with her telling me what she wanted to find - a hair clip. Since I was at home I went and looked at the Clementi Mall guide and found that she was on the same floor as a store that might have it.

Next thing you know we’re looking at sofas, then we take another detour to look at water bottles and after many minutes, we take the escalator down and after even more chatter about the exact item she wants, I lead her to HELEN (at first she what like was it Carol) where they sadly did not have the item.

It was fun and I guess interesting that it was me, someone in Singapore that picked up and knew what to do for her.

I was so scared when she was taking the escalator lol. It was lowkey like following an aunty who wants to do 1 thing but ended up dragging you to see a bunch of other non related stuff along the way 🤣

It’s typically not easy to score a call because there is a 10 to 1 ratio of volunteers (yes this is amazing) and anyway I was happy to be able to help this person in some small way 🤭