The OP now has justification to request a chargeback by their bank/credit card company. Singapore Consulate requested additional information from another applicant. This they neglected to do from the OP and simply rejected their application instead. Complete lack of customer service.
Agree. There are plenty of other countries especially if you have no ties. It’s still possible to find somewhere where you can border bounce using free visa exempt entries ad infinitum or simply stay put and pay a low fixed rate fine whenever you may decide to exit. My wife has several serious health problems and relies on Thai National Health Service for which we are both very grateful. Otherwise, we might be looking at alternatives ourselves.
Application fee is to provide a product/service. With that fee goes reasonable expectations of customer service. Fortunately, neither you nor the consulate get to decide what is reasonable.
We were told a six months course was sufficient. There have been cases of applicants being issued with a six months multi entry visa instead (embassy keeps the difference in fees).
Anonymous participant 678 An applicant might get lucky and hit the required criteria. If they don’t, they will be rejected, sometimes without any reason stated. Nobody should have to risk their application plus course fees on that basis.