PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS SCISSOR & COMB
CCCS’ investigations found that the three salons had previously operated under the business name Scissor & Comb.
CASE had received similar complaints against Scissor & Comb from 2018 to 2022, with consumers allegedly billed for unwanted treatments or packages without their explicit consent.
On Wednesday afternoon, CCCS, acting under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, obtained information and documents at the salons. It also issued a notice to the director of HairFun’s operator to produce information and documents.
“CCCS will continue with its investigations and consider the evidence gathered to determine whether to take enforcement action against the respective HairFun salons,” it said.
“If CCCS finds that any of the HairFun salons have engaged, or are engaging, in unfair trade practices, it may seek court orders against them to, amongst other things, stop the unfair trade practices.”
CASE president Melvin Yong added: “Business owners and company directors cannot be allowed to perpetuate unfair trade practices by changing business names.
“CASE will continue to identify such cases and will work closely with CCCS to take enforcement action against these errant retailers.”
The HairFun salons have been placed on CASE’s company alert list, which is a list of companies against which it has received consumer complaints.
Consumers are advised to check the list before entering into any transactions, said CCCS and CASE.
Members of the public who want to report cases of unfair trade practices by the HairFun salons or Scissor & Comb salons can also contact CASE.
In response to a parliamentary question by Member of Parliament (MP) Liang Eng Hwa, who had asked about a previous CCCS warning on unfair practices among hair salons, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said in a written reply on May 7 that the consumer watchdog “investigates all claims of unfair practices and does not hesitate to take firm enforcement action when necessary”.
This includes seeking court injunctions to restrain errant businesses from engaging in unfair practices, he added.
Mr Gan noted that since the media release was issued in November 2023, CASE had received fewer complaints concerning hair salons.
“Between December 2023 and April 2024, CASE received 128 such complaints, compared to 154 in the prior five-month period,” he added.
“The government will continue to work closely with CASE to monitor industry practices. We will also study whether more deterrent measures are needed to deal with egregious conduct.”