Anne Tiang Pte. Ltd. review: Dishonest and no integrity as a doctor. 3

I just arrived from Hong Kong this February and I was introduced to Anne Tiang Pte. Ltd by my husband’s colleague. He mentioned that the clinic charges are from $80-$120 for acupuncture and they are good because they treat Mr. Lee Kuan Yew too.

Initially I wanted to make an appointment to book Dr. Joseph Yap, which was the Professor I was introduced to consult. However, the clinic receptionist mentioned that he went away to continue with his studies and will only be back in October. Then mentioned that Dr. Sharon Xia is good too. I do not want to wait till October to see a doctor, and so I booked to see her. (Finding out later that Dr.Joseph Yap’s license was actually suspended for 4 months by the TCM Board in Singapore)

On my 1st visit, Dr. Sharon seemed like a very nice lady. She put on smiles on her face. She told me that I would need to pay $209 for acupuncture. Then I asked her why is it so expensive. She replied that the needles they use and the method of acupuncture is different from the classic acupuncturist. Therefore, price is more premium. She added that I needed 12 treatments for my lower back condition. Then she rushed me to go to a room with a Tui Na therapist (Mr. Tommy) without explaining further.

Inside the room, Mr. Tommy did Tui Na and cupping. After that, Dr. Sharon came in and did acupuncture for me. After the treatment was completed, I was directed to the cashier to make payment.

At the cashier, I was told to pay $401. I was shocked! I said that I thought it was $209 + Medicine fees?

I said that the only charge that was mentioned by Dr. Sharon was the acupuncture fee of $209 per visit, which I thought it included Tui Na (Chinese TCM massage) and consultation. I only knew that Chinese medicine was the only fee excluded. An extra fee of $150 for Tui Na and cupping was unreasonable cause I was not made aware of the total costs before. Then the cashier lady said that they only collect money and according to their printed price list, it is correct for what I had done today. I had nothing to say.

Then she said if I bought package, then it will be much cheaper. I was very confused and called my husband and discussed. My husband told me that health is important and told me to try a few times. Then I bought the least available package.

The next day, I regretted buying the package when I felt that my body felt worse after the therapy. I could not sleep on the night after that therapy and went back to get a refund together with my husband. Then Dr.Sharon said that it's normal that some patients experience this and ask me to wait around 3 more days and I will feel much better. When we asked her why is her acupuncture fee so expensive, she answered that she uses special needles that is equivalent to 60 times the strength of normal acupuncture needles. She added that she will welcome the refund of the unused package if treatment was not suitable. Then we trusted her and went back home.

After 3 days, I still did not feel better than when I 1st visited the clinic. Then I went back to request for a refund again. I was in directed to her office and she pulled my arm and felt my pulse and told me to try a few more times cause my case is more serious and needed more time to feel the outcome. Ok and I trusted her again because she seems nice.

On my 3rd treatment, I did only Tui Na and cupping (cause it was already too painful). On that day, she asked her Assistant Ms. Adeline to sell me their medical cushion and Chinese vitamin. I was trapped again and bought it. I took the vitamin on that very night. After taking the vitamin, I was so active and couldn't sleep well at night. Felt very heaty and became sick. So, this time round I was persistent on getting the refund.

I went there again with my husband to request a refund. Then her assistant Adeline mentioned that if I refund, I will have to pay the original prices for the therapy and also administrative charges, bank charges, and $80 for don't know what charge to them for breaching the package contract. Then I said that I didn't even know there's such piece of paper with such charges! Then Adeline mentioned that she was on leave that day during my visit and there's no one else available to give me information on the charges.

Then I said that if that's the case, they should not charge me those extra charges cause I was not made aware of it and I did not sign or agree to any of this when I sign up!

We were directed to Dr. Sharon's room twice and she insisted that we needed to pay the fines and also the original price per treatment for the refund. Then when we said that we want to bring this case to CASE, then she turned devilish! Very angry face and scolded us and said that we should have told her that we got no money in the first place and shouldn't have come. And also added that we have to pay what we have received! She became a totally a different person! The way she scolded us was so scary. And she shoo us away saying that she has 35 other patients waiting for her and that she is very busy. We should have made a recording of this shocking situation.

Her assistant Adeline also tried to assist us by persuading Dr. Sharon but it was in vain...

To sum up, Dr. Sharon Xia Rong Rong is a dishonest and unethical lady acupuncturist whom originally came from Mainland China. She did not perform her duty as an ethical doctor. Not only I felt that the clinic charges is unclear and expensive, the consultation I got each time from her was also not in synch. It's like she's replying everything based on what I said. For example, I said that I am feeling better. Then she will say...”yes of course”. When I said that I am not feeling any better, she will say… “your condition is more serious that’s why”.

I am very stressed and my lower back is still not well. I hope that CASE could help resolve and made them at least do a refund for my unused treatments without paying the fines or paying the used treatments in the original full price.

Lastly, I hope that the TCM board could investigate this clinic for their integrity and methods of business issues.