信托能否成为预付费管理“放心之选”

Core Viewpoint - The "Prepaid Treasure" project in Jinan, Shandong, aims to enhance consumer trust in prepaid consumption while addressing the rising disputes related to prepaid services [1][2]. Group 1: Prepaid Consumption and Consumer Rights - Prepaid consumption is gaining popularity in sectors like dining, education, and beauty, but it has also led to increased consumer complaints regarding disputes [1]. - Ensuring consumer rights and building trust in prepaid spending is a key focus for stakeholders involved in the project [1]. Group 2: Role of Trust Companies - Trust companies are playing a significant role in managing prepaid funds through a trust model, which isolates consumer funds from merchants, ensuring safety and risk management [2][3]. - The trust model allows consumer funds to be held in a separate account, with disbursements made only for actual consumption, protecting consumers in case of merchant insolvency [2][3]. Group 3: Industry Growth and Challenges - Over 15 trust companies have entered the prepaid fund management space, with a growing management scale noted [3]. - The trust model is recognized as a core business encouraged by regulators, with its unique advantages over traditional banking methods [4]. Group 4: Operational Challenges for Trust Companies - Trust companies face challenges such as a lack of understanding from merchants and consumers regarding the trust model compared to traditional banking [5][6]. - Technical barriers exist, requiring significant investment in information technology to manage large volumes of transactions effectively [6]. Group 5: Profitability and Regulatory Environment - The profitability of prepaid fund management through trusts is still being explored, with a need for regulatory support to standardize practices and reduce operational costs [7]. - There is a call for a unified regulatory framework to streamline the management of prepaid funds across different regions [9]. Group 6: Innovative Management Models - Various regions are experimenting with different management models for prepaid funds, including bank custodianship and insurance guarantees, alongside the trust model [8]. - The development of digital currency and smart contracts is also being explored as innovative solutions for managing prepaid funds [8].