Good evening everyone,

I’d like to share my experience with an interior design project that’s left my family and me incredibly frustrated — and hopefully get some advice.

After completing the basic renovation of our double-storey corner lot (piping, electrical, etc.), we hired a professional interior design firm to handle the furnishing and finishing. The idea was to have a “team leader” who could oversee the project efficiently.

Unfortunately, we were very wrong.

What was supposed to be a 4-month project has dragged on for 10 months — and it’s still far from done. Worse, their built-in furniture has blocked essential power points, making the installation of large appliances nearly impossible. When we raised this, they demanded extra payment to fix their own mistakes — along with the final payment (around 15%), which I’m currently refusing.

Why? Because the work is not complete, and many of the materials used are substandard — with panels already sagging or warped before use.

Mind you, the costs were not cheap - I'll just say it was around RM150k to RM200k, just for interior design — and this company is supposedly reputable, registered with both MIID (Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers) and CIDB. Sadly, those affiliations seem to mean little in terms of quality or accountability.

Before I hire a new team to take over, does anyone know where or how I can lodge a formal complaint?

At this point, I can't just let these people off for delivering such poor standard of work. I guess it's more a matter of principle.

Thank you.

There was another thread few days back about CCP stealing renovation jobs away from locals. So many people kecam. I have nothing useful to add, just wanted to point out that sometimes, competition is good for the market when these kind of cases are so common.

*Edit*

How did you engage the ID in the first place?

This post has been edited by knwong: Jun 5 2025, 09:46 PM

Please share the company name or pm. Planning for reno also.

Got to know from a friend of a friend.
Which they then intro another friend. Initially everything seemed good, attentive, quick to respond, no issues with meeting and mood board drawing.
But when money goes into their pocket d....a 180 shift in attitude. Didn't pick up calls, slow to respond, etc...

But oh well, what's done is done. All I can do now is fight back with what rights I have.

As much as I would like to. I'll hold onto it till I decide what step I would like to take next.
But all I can advise is this. Run away far far if during discussion, EVERYTHING also they say CAN CAN CAN.

When installing time, you'll see all become CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT

Agree with you man.
It's like the state of the car market now.

China came in and force the rest into action.

We Malaysians are too forgiving,
Relatives have been telling me to
"Aiya, contractor like that one. Let them go only. No point drag long long. Hire new people. Expensive lesson."

To which I say, "And allow them to continue cheating others?".

Get a lawyer to sue, once they see u are soft, they are eat u more

Not sure if tribunal court can o not

Seriously considering this.
My mistake I guess. I've been too kind to them and took their word for it.
Not once I've rushed them to complete the project.

All I said is, I want a job well done. That's it. And I've been taken for a ride. Sad man when your trust is betrayed like that.

I just wanted to provide a comfy place for my parents to enjoy their retirement, no need headache so much, so I was willing to pay for ID for convenience sake.
But aish, now ended up with more issues.

Should've just bought loose furniture and moved in into an empty home. Less headache.

can complain to tribunal for consumer claims (TTPM) or national consumer complaints centre (NCCC)

Yeah. I should look into it. I know consumer tribunal is for disputes less than 50k.
My total cost exceeded that, but current dispute is on remaining payment, which is less than that.
So I suppose it holds? Haha

I had minor issues with my ID also
Same case, when discussing everything is do able
Once start, everything throw to their new hires
Screw up here and there

Wrong stuff, need me to tell them back
But mine just delayed 1-2 mths, and dispute involving 1-2k stuff..

Get all the black and whites, proof, WhatsApp etc
And see if got friends or relatives lawyers for advise first
Then only u know, what are ur odds of winning the case

Most of the 'defenders' of local businesses from the evil illegal CCP are business owners themselves trying to protect their overpriced and low quality goods and services.

Agreed with you 😌

u dun dispute just on that 15%, go for the 6 months delay LAD. additional rental from loss of use, financing cost of loans, etc

many of these IDs and contractors really brainless

For example, i've seen many places where those power plugs are positioned right at the floor area where you have to bend the wire just to plug in. I think these designers design it just for the sake of design and lost touch with reality

sorry that you have experienced the worst.
from my experience, most house building and renovation services are just terrible. they continue to survive because too many people are buying and renovating houses. it's quantity over quality.

My question is did you leave it to ID or did you tell them upfront how you want things to be? Was there a technical diagram that you signed off on?

I can tell you, electrical and wiring is a common rookie mistake that is almost always overlooked. Most homeowners renovating don’t really have a vision where they want light switches or plug point to be positioned and tell the ID upfront. And once the concept and technical drawing is out, most homeowner don’t bother validating and think upfront whether it fits the fancy coffee machine, etc.

Most ID / contractors in my experience are kayu in general. Meaning if you don’t tell or ask upfront, they just assume as-is or don’t even bother repositioning plug points just to save the effort and cost involved in hacking the wall or running wire through ceiling.

Therefore always have a vision upfront, communicate early, and validate their technical drawing before work starts.

Hope it works well for you.

This post has been edited by WaterBuffalo: Jun 6 2025, 09:44 AM

you paid in full ka? not like 20% to begin and staggered payment with the biggest only settle after completition?

with time line and delay penalties included?

Just buy readymake furniture n fittings lah. I just hate renovation n the mess that comes with it.

Sorry to hear that you experience shitty ID. You can definitely proceed with Tribunal court.

sorry for all the ID, I normally cut them off. I would normally go directly to the carpenter and get it done. Normally, those carpenter already knows all of it and how to do it. Whatever design you can think of, the carpenter knows about it. So just go directly to the source.