When the word CONtractor means CON Man

"Dear Hweene, here is your horoscope for Saturday, September 13: You're feeling pretty frustrated with the way things are being handled, but that doesn't mean it's time to give up -- far from it! You may need to marshal your resources for a while, but go back fighting!"

Anticipating 'issues' during a renovation process is always normal but facing it is never easy. We were blessed for the fact that our HDB branch office allows us to change all our defect tiles at no additional cost. The assigned HDB Contractor whom we met also agreed that we could upgrade our tiles by paying cash for the price differences. With his recommendation on Hafary Tiles, SN and I made our selection and gave him the code of those tiles we hand-picked. Note: HDB will pay for our basic tiles, cement, wet work and haulage. So basically, there should be no other hidden cost for us.

Hold-and-behold, Contractor Ah Ho gave us a quotation that was beyond our expectation. It was clear he is all out to make a cut from HDB and us. Well, if the amount is reasonable, we will gladly let it pass. But...
The Hafary consultant who did the calculation for us felt that this contractor also kinda over do it. Even if it is quite expected for contractor to get a bit of 'bonus' from any additional job, his margin was way too atrocious.

When we asked for his break down, he could not produced and went on to say that's the correct price for the tiles difference. When presented with our list as attached, he said it was not possible to do it as he expects to get a cut from it. What's the rational? Can he even do that? A cut from both HDB and us? At our expense of $1250, excluding the price we are paying for the tiles???

SN hardly shows his frustration but I could sense he was nearing to strangling Contractor Ah Ho when he admits he want a cut from our tile upgrade, without giving us justifiable reasons. We told him to go back and consider and re-propose what he is expecting. If he still expects a big cut, we may jolly well make that complain to our HDB Branch Officer. You reckon justice will be given to us? Sigh... and it's only the beginning...