Woodlands resident can't use handphone unless she sticks head out of window

Woodlands resident can't use handphone unless she sticks head out of window

She has to do this to get phone signal

January 03, 2009

IF YOU are living near Blk 520 at Woodlands Drive 14, don't be surprised if you see a woman sticking her head out of the window, talking on her mobile phone.


TNP PICTURE: FRANCIS LEE

This is because she can't find any network coverage with her service provider in her house.

Madam Chiang May Fun, 36, a technical manager, moved into her new four-room flat in Woodlands on 21 Dec.

She soon discovered that she could not use her phone inside her house.

Can't move her head

Madam Chiang, who lives on the second storey, told The New Paper in Mandarin: 'I have to put my head out of the living room window to talk on my mobile phone. Even if I move my head slightly from that position, the reception will be lost.'

Her relatives who hold StarHub connections experienced the same problem when they visited her flat, she claimed.

She said: 'What if there is an emergency and someone has to reach me on my mobile when I am at home?

'Some of my colleagues have already asked me why my phone is always off when I am at home. The truth is there is no network coverage.'

She lives with her husband and two children, a son and a daughter. Her husband does not use StarHub. But her daughter, 14, who also uses StarHub, has encountered network problems, Madam Chiang claimed.

She has a StarHub land line, but she said she prefers to use her mobile phone. Initially, Madam Chiang did not realise that the reception was the problem and thought that her phone was faulty.

But after using her SIM card in another phone, the problem persisted.

It appears that she isn't the only one in the block who's experiencing network problems.

The New Paper interviewed 20 people in the block, but only two others have StarHub connections.

Another neighbour on the same floor, also a StarHub customer, claimed she is also facing similar problems.

Said Madam Sabariah Aboo, 39, a material specialist : 'I have to put my mobile phone near the window to send a text message. If not, I will not get reception.'

But it doesn't bother her as she has a land line.

When The New Paper visited Madam Chiang's flat on Wednesday, we also experienced problems receiving signals, although it was another service provider.

The mobile phone reception of the reporter dropped from five bars to one immediately upon entering the flat.

Neighbour no problems

However, a neighbour who lives on the floor above Madam Chiang, said she has had no problems.

Ms Siti Roisah, 32, a maid, said that her StarHub connection is working 'perfectly fine'.

That is little comfort to Madam Chiang, who intends to terminate the StarHub contract.

She will have to pay a termination fee - the fee all mobile service operators, including StarHub, charge customers here when there is early termination of a contract.

But Madam Chiang, who still has more than a year left in the contract, is unwilling to pay. . She claims she has been a loyal customer of StarHub for about six years.

She explained: 'The contract was signed with StarHub even before I moved into my new flat at Woodlands.

'Hence, I was not aware that there will be no network coverage here. I hope they (StarHub) will understand my situation.'

She added: 'I just want to terminate the contract with StarHub and sign a contract with another operator that will allow me to use my mobile phone in my house again.'

When contacted, StarHub's corporate communications manager Cassie Fong said that they are eager to help Madam Chiang resolve the issue of network coverage.

Ms Fong said: 'We have received Ms Chiang's feedback and are in the process of contacting her for a detailed coverage investigation at her home as soon as possible.'

Source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,188577,00.html?