Home owner's complaint

Home owner's complaint

From Republika

In November 2002, I decided to mortgage a unit in Persada
Depok housing complex as offered by its developer, PT Harapan
Inti Persada Indah, through the Kuningan branch of BTN (state
savings bank).

After signing a purchasing agreement with the BTN Loan
Service, I made a down payment of two monthly installments worth
Rp 18,400,000. Despite the bank's credit approval, I had
difficulty in securing the house, and was suggested that I settle
the matter with the Depok branch of BTN.

I had just contacted BTN-Depok when the developer informed me
that the housing credit I had applied for could not be fulfilled.
The case was pending from February to May this year, so I
requested that the installments be suspended, which was granted.

It seems that during this time, the developer transferred the
purchase of the house to another buyer without notifying me. I
finally canceled the purchase and had the money I had already
paid, reimbursed.

According to the purchasing agreement, a cancellation is
subject to a handling cost of five percent, but I was required to
pay value-added tax and administration fees totaling Rp
4,480,000, which is more than five percent.

In short, PT Harapan Inti Persada Indah had swindled the sum
out of me.

I wish to warn prospective home owners that they should be
very cautious and on their guard against such deceptive practices
in the real estate industry.

ANNA SRI SETIAWATI
Depok, West Java

***