HE joined the club to get cheaper rates at overseas hotels, but Mr Jasman Amat claims it made unauthorised deductions of $2,700 from his credit card instead.

In late July 2006, Mr Jasman, 42, an aerospace technician, got a telephone call from someone representing The Monty Club.

According to its website (www.themonty.com.sg), members get discounts at top restaurants, retailers and spas, and other services too.

Mr Jasman said: 'At first, I was not interested as many services the club offered did not suit me, but I finally signed up as it offered a concierge service that would help me book hotel rooms when I travelled overseas with my family.'

Mr Jasman said he was told that he needed to pay only a one-time membership fee of $328 to join the club.

He said: 'I gave my United Overseas Bank (UOB) credit card details over the telephone and I was told that no other deductions would be made after that. I received a receipt in the mail and the amount deducted was shown in my credit card statement in August 2006.'

When Mr Jasman saw his credit card statement in January last year, he saw that more than $400 had been deducted to The Monty Club that month and in December 2006.

He said: 'When I called the bank, I was told I had to call the club and tell them to stop the deductions. When I called the club, they said the error came from a problem in their payment system and would be resolved soon and the money would be refunded to me.'

When Mr Jasman saw more unauthorised deductions in his credit card statement a month later, he called the club again, who told him to be patient and assured him that his money would be refunded soon.

The New Paper's efforts to contact the club have not been successful.

Mr Jasman said the club sent him an undated and unsigned letter last April, explaining it had made an error in deducting the money and assuring him that they were looking into the matter.

Mr Jasman said: 'More deductions were also reflected in subsequent credit card statements. Each time I called the club, I was asked to be patient and was told that they were looking into the problem.'

He said $2,722 was deducted through his credit card account last year, excluding his membership fee. He changed his credit card in December and the unauthorised deductions stopped.

Mr Jasman made a police report on 21 Feb. On Friday, he said UOB told him the club's processing bank would make arrangements to refund his money.

NOT ALONE

Mr Jasman is not the only one with such a complaint. IT executive Mohd Jumadi, 34, also got a call from a Monty Club representative in November 2006.

He said: 'I was told that I only had to pay a one-time membership fee of under $100. I gave my DBS credit card details over the telephone to complete the transaction and the deduction went through.

'In January and February 2007, I noticed in my credit card statement that unauthorised deductions worth about $2,500 had been made to The Monty Club. The bank advised me to get legal advice and deal directly with the club.'

When he called the club, Mr Mohd Jumadi was told there had been a computer error and the club would refund the money as soon as possible.

He said: 'Later, the club told me that the refund would be obtained from the operator who called me in 2006, but then I was told the operator had left the club.'

Mr Mohd Jumadi approached the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), and was advised to approach the Small Claims Tribunal.

Case said it had received 17 complaints about the club last year.

GAVE MORE DETAILS

Mr Mohd Jumadi said that in the middle of last year, the club informed him it could transfer his refund to another bank account.

'I gave them the details of my Citibank account, but instead of making refunds, they made more unauthorised deductions,' he said.

Mr Mohd Jumadi said that about $3,200 was deducted from his Citibank credit card within a month, but he asked the bank for help and eventually got that money back.

He said: 'I asked a lawyer for help to get back my $2,500 but he said his legal fees and costs would exceed my refund, so I didn't proceed further. But I plan to try again later to get my money back.'

Company records showed the club was known as The Monty Private Limited, and shared an address with Inter-Media Singapore Private Limited, and the same people were behind both companies.

Many attempts were made to contact staff of both companies by phone, but our calls were unanswered or not returned.

On 22 Feb, The New Paper visited Inter-Media's office at Shenton House and met a staff member named Max. He claimed the firm had no connection to The Monty Club and his manager declined to comment on any matters linked to the club.

Nonetheless, Max took this reporter's card and said he would give it to the person in charge of The Monty Club's account and ask him to contact me, but he declined to give me the person's contact details.

The New Paper also sent an e-mail on 3 Mar, and again on Friday, but has got no reply.

Mr Jasman said: 'I never even got to try out the club's services. Now, I just hope I can get back my money.'