By the WahLiao desk · Last updated 4 October 2026
If a shop in Singapore pressures, misleads or overcharges you, the law is on your side. Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the first point of contact for tourists’ complaints, as the consumers’ association CASE is for residents. Call STB’s Tourist Information Hotline on 1800-736 2000, or +65 6736 2000 from overseas, on weekdays from 9am to 6pm. STB can negotiate or mediate with the shop, and you can also claim up to S$20,000 at the Small Claims Tribunals.
Most shops in Singapore are honest and prices are usually marked. The rules exist for the few that are not, and they work best if you act before you fly home.
Tourist shopping rights: quick facts
| First contact for tourists | The Singapore Tourism Board |
| Hotline | 1800-736 2000 (+65 6736 2000 from overseas), weekdays 9am to 6pm |
| feedback@stb.gov.sg | |
| Small Claims Tribunals | Claims up to S$20,000, or S$30,000 if both sides agree |
| The law | The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Best defence | Know the price before you agree; walk away from pressure. |
| Keep | Receipts, any contract, and photos of price tags. |
| Act fast | Complain before you fly home. |
| Watch for | Shops that add charges after you agree a price, or push extras you did not ask for. |
| Worth knowing | Most Singapore shops are honest; the law exists for the few that are not. |
How to complain
Try the shop first, calmly, with your receipt. If that fails, contact STB by hotline or email with your receipt, the shop’s name and address, and what happened. STB and CASE can help negotiate a refund and mediate, and a shop that keeps breaking the rules can be made to sign an agreement to stop and to compensate customers. Act while you are still in Singapore: small claims hearings need you there.
What counts as unfair
The fair-trading law covers practices such as misleading you about the price or quality of goods, taking advantage of a customer who cannot understand the deal, and pressuring you into a purchase. For the tax back on what you buy, see GST refund for tourists; for scams more broadly, Is Singapore safe?
Tourist shopping rights: FAQ
What can I do if a shop in Singapore cheats me?
Contact the Singapore Tourism Board on 1800-736 2000. You can also file a claim at the Small Claims Tribunals.
Can tourists use the Small Claims Tribunals?
Yes, for claims up to S$20,000, or S$30,000 if both sides agree.
Who handles tourist complaints in Singapore?
The Singapore Tourism Board, under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.
Is the STB hotline free?
Free from landlines; airtime charges apply for mobile calls.
Read next
This page belongs to Visiting Singapore. See also money in Singapore.
Sources checked 3 October 2026: Competition and Consumer Commission, consumer protection FAQs; CCCS, seeking compensation; CASE, submitting a complaint; STB, contact us. General information, not legal advice. Last updated 4 October 2026.
