Workflow
消费者陷APP“自动续费”陷阱,商家被判全额返还扣款
Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-06-04 08:28

Core Viewpoint - The court ruled that online operators must obtain explicit consent from consumers before providing automatic renewal services, and cannot use hidden methods to present automatic renewal as a default option [1][6]. Group 1: Case Background - A consumer, Tang, was charged 29.9 yuan for automatic renewal without prior notification after initially paying 0.3 yuan for a 24-hour trial membership [2]. - Tang discovered the automatic charges only after seven months and sought a refund, claiming the company had hidden the automatic renewal terms [2][3]. - The company used small gray font to indicate automatic renewal, which was deemed insufficient for consumer awareness [3]. Group 2: Court Ruling - The court found that the company violated Tang's right to know and his right to choose by not providing clear and prominent notifications about the automatic renewal [3][4]. - The ruling mandated the company to refund the total amount of 239.2 yuan to Tang [4]. Group 3: Legal Implications - The new Consumer Rights Protection Law, effective July 1, 2024, requires operators to prominently inform consumers about automatic renewals before service acceptance and prior to renewal dates [5]. - The court emphasized that "significant notice" must be clear enough to attract consumer attention, and the current notification method used by the company was inadequate [6]. Group 4: Recommendations and Industry Impact - The court issued judicial suggestions to the involved platform, recommending explicit consent for automatic renewals and strict adherence to notification obligations [7]. - Experts noted that subscription models must prioritize consumer rights to ensure transparency and fairness, which can enhance long-term business success and consumer trust [8].