[SINGAPORE] The amount may be relatively small, but a dispute between a car rental company and a customer has turned acrimonious enough for the client to turn to the small claims court while the firm accuses him of potential defamation.

Singaporean Jayden Neo, 26, who is self-employed, said he rented a Honda Civic from Charlotte Vehicle beginning May 2024.

He put down a higher-than-normal deposit of S$14,400 because of a relatively low rental rate of about S$1,200 a month, but the deal required pre-payment of the rental fees.

In January 2026, the company asked him to pay S$3,888 for another 112 days of rental, or face an increase in the monthly rent by around S$1,700. He chose not to continue with the lease.

He said that after returning the car on Feb 5, the company told him that his remaining balance of S$13,764 would be repaid in full by Mar 2. Instead, it paid him in smaller amounts totalling about S$2,700 until Mar 6. A sum of S$11,000 remains.

Neo then gave the company until Mar 9 to fully repay the amount. Charlotte Vehicle did not meet the deadline.

The next day, Mar 10, he lodged a complaint with the Small Claims Tribunal seeking an “unpaid balance” of S$11,000. It will be heard on Apr 2.

Neo posted the details on social media channels, including Facebook and Reddit.