"I rented a shared power bank from Suluv more than two years ago. Unexpectedly, it kept automatically renewing on the grounds of membership fees, and I was deducted more than 700 yuan in fees."
Recently, many consumers reported to the media that renting Shared power bank encounters the problem of unreasonable deduction of membership fees. A reporter's investigation found that this type of issue has become a hotspot for complaints, with thousands of complaints related to this on the Internet platform. The targets of the complaints involve multiple sharing platforms such as Xiaodian, Dianxiaotong, Sugreen Charging, Xiodian, Soudian, Street Dian, etc. Power bank brand (according to China Consumer Network on January 7).
Scan the QR code with your mobile phone - pay the deposit - rent the power bank - return the deposit after use. This is a rental process that everyone is accustomed to, but some merchants have played a new trick: I thought I just paid a refundable deposit, but in fact Once you pay the non-refundable membership fee, it will automatically renew year after year. The reason why consumers are frequently deceived is largely because merchants use format terms when launching their businesses. In real life, consumers rent power banks out of convenience. Few people are willing to spend energy to read the boring and complicated format terms and conditions, so they accidentally fall into the consumption routine carefully set by the merchants.
Regarding format clauses, my country’s Consumer Rights Protection Law stipulates that if operators use format clauses in business activities, they should draw consumers’ attention to content that has a significant interest in consumers in a conspicuous manner; the E-commerce Law also stipulates that e-commerce Operators tying goods or services should draw consumers' attention in a conspicuous manner. The legal provisions are so clear, but some merchants still blatantly violate the law, set up format clauses but fail to fulfill the legal obligation to provide notices, leading consumers into the trap, and making a lot of money from it. In this regard, if a shared power bank operator falsely informs or conceals the truth, causing consumers to misunderstand and mistakenly purchase, this may constitute consumer fraud, and consumers can safeguard their rights according to law.
However, to fundamentally combat the chaos in the shared power bank industry, it is far from enough for individual consumers to protect their rights. The rights protection of individuals and cases is not only costly in time, but also has the limitations of “point-to-point”. In contrast, if the relevant departments effectively strengthen supervision and ensure that illegal business behaviors and trading rules are punished and corrected in a timely manner, the effect will be more direct and widespread.
In fact, the chaos in the shared power bank industry has long become a chronic disease in the market. Previously, a deputy to the National People's Congress pointed out five problems existing in varying degrees among shared power bank merchants, including non-refundable deposits, deduction of membership fees without permission, billing after return, difficulty in borrowing but not in return, and poor after-sales service, and suggested the introduction of Industry standards for shared power banks specify charging standards, refund deadlines, etc. However, despite the attention of National People's Congress representatives and frequent media reports, related chaos still persists. This reminds relevant regulatory authorities that they must pay fundamental attention to such problems, crack down hard, govern them, and give the shared power bank industry a thorough overhaul. "General cleaning" not only purifies the market ecology, but also responds to consumer expectations.
The sharing economy was originally created to facilitate life, but some businesses have turned it into a deceptive business, ignoring the rights and interests of consumers. How far can this kind of sharing economy go? This is not only a question that merchants need to reflect on, but also a topic that market economy managers need to pay attention to for a long time. Countless practices have proven that in order to truly retain consumers who "vote with their feet", what is needed is honesty and credibility, rather than black-hearted calculations and deception.
(Source: Procuratorate Daily·Rule of Law News Edition Author: Lu Qing)
