By The AsiaOne Techbot

A French tourist was charged $120 more for a phone, and when she disputed the 'extra charges' was given a sendoff by the shop staff, one that was laden with expletives.

Retelling an incident that happened to her friend, STOMP reader AshWednesday said that her French friend visited EZ Advance Trading at Lucky Plaza and purchased a phone.

The phone had cost $300, but the price reflected on the customer's invoice was $420 instead.

Queried about the difference, staffers at the shop said that the extra $120 was an 'unlocking fee'.

Said AshWednesday of the extra charges, "It wasn't even certain if the phone needed unlocking to begin with."

When the customer started to dispute the charges, the shop staff reduced the 'unlocking fee' to $50, but added a 4 per cent credit card charge.

It was not mentioned in AshWednesday's account whether her friend purchased the phone in the end.

The STOMP reader also alleged that when her friend left, the shop staff had bade her farewell using expletives.

Said AshWednesday of her friend's unpleasant experience:

"The shop's name is very inappropriate because their customer service is anything but advanced.

"I somehow wish it happened to me instead. I could have come up with better comebacks and taken more unflattering pictures."

More bad tech buys at Lucky Plaza

Charged $70 for batteries
Netizen says that the $900 Wii he purchased from Lucky Plaza shop included $70 rechargable batteries. A blogger as quoted $160 for an iPhone 'adapter'.

Store charged $380 for installation of free software
Reader said that his friend purchased a BlackBerry phone from a Lucky Plaza store, and was charged an additional $380 for the installation of firmware, which should be free. The phone also did not carry a Singapore warranty.

Salesman 'withheld' customer's passport
When he declined to pay $570 for a mobile phone that costs only $190, a Lucky Plaza store salesman refused to return his passport.

She bought a PSP for $2,600
A girl went shopping with her mother for a PSP, and they found themselves paying $2,600 for the gaming device at a Lucky Plaza shop.