Society

CCTV tackles consumer rights issues

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-16 08:58

BEIJING - "Therapeutic" beds that cure a range of illnesses and a medley of violations of China's consumer rights regulations were on show on the state broadcaster's annual consumer gala night Monday.

Hewlett-Packard was again in the dock as dissatisfied customers were paraded on China Central Television's (CCTV) "315 Evening Gala," so called because it is broadcast every March 15, international consumer rights day.

The program aims to reveal business misconduct and help consumers fight for their rights.

This year's 315 Evening Gala, broadcast live by CCTV, is the 20th since it began in 1991.

Chinese companies, such as Li Ke, Zhao Yang, and Kang Fu Bao, were accused of swindling the public, especially the elderly, with back or neck problems.

They provided free trials of their therapeutic vibrating beds and held lectures proclaiming their products were a must-have to cure their pains.

But those who bought the beds, priced at about 15,000 yuan ($2,197) each, only found their pains had become worse.

The program showed at least 10 consumers complaining about repeated Hewlett-Packard computer screen display problems and inadequate after-sales service from the company.

It revealed HP had failed to respect Chinese regulations regarding consumer's rights, including a compulsory replacement if problems continue after repairs are carried out twice.

The rule comes from China's "Three-Guarantees" Regulation, namely guarantee of refund, guarantee of product replacement, and guarantee of repair.

"The company (HP) finally agreed to replace my faulty laptop with a new one, but they have made me sign an agreement not to reveal this information to third parties concerning qualities of the product," said a Chinese consumer surnamed Gao in northeast China.

"The quality issues with HP laptops concern the interests of many consumers. The China Consumers' Association (CCA) will protect consumers' rights and interests according to the law," said CCA secretary general Yang Hongcan.

He said the CCA would respond to every consumer complaint, and would report problems to the authorities.

Television manufacturers, including LG and Sony, were accused of offering a two-year warrantee period for their products in violation of Chinese regulations stipulating a mandatory three-year period.

China's industry and commerce departments received and dealt with 726,626 consumer complaints last year, down 7.3 percent year-on-year, according to a report published by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce Monday.

It was the first drop in five years, the report said, while attributing it to stricter inspections by local quality supervisors and law-enforcement bodies against illegal business practices.