暴力催收？海尔消金遭万人投诉，回应称“行业共性”

Core Viewpoint - Haier Consumer Finance has been fined 2.05 million yuan for exaggerated marketing, improper collection practices, and misappropriation of credit funds, marking the largest penalty in the consumer finance industry in the past three years [1][9]. Summary by Sections Regulatory Actions - The Qingdao Regulatory Bureau of the National Financial Supervision Administration imposed a fine of 2.05 million yuan on Haier Consumer Finance for various violations, including misleading marketing and improper collection practices [1][9]. - The company’s former general manager, Huang Yinghua, was fined and banned from holding office for two years due to these violations [1][9]. Company Response and Rectification - Haier Consumer Finance stated that the penalties were based on issues identified before 2021, and the company has taken corrective actions [2]. - Despite four years of rectification, numerous borrowers continue to complain about aggressive collection tactics and exaggerated marketing claims [2][4]. Customer Complaints - There are over 16,166 complaints on the Black Cat Complaints platform, primarily concerning "violent collection" and "threats" [3][6]. - Many borrowers report being harassed shortly after missing payments, with some receiving incessant calls and messages [5][6]. Legal Issues - As of now, Haier Consumer Finance has accumulated 100,400 lawsuits, with 98.93% of these cases being initiated by the company as plaintiffs, primarily related to financial loan contract disputes [19]. - Since the penalties were imposed in 2021, the company has faced over 55,500 lawsuits, many of which are self-initiated [19]. Industry Context - The issues faced by Haier Consumer Finance reflect broader problems within the consumer finance industry, particularly regarding collection practices [4]. - Legal experts emphasize the distinction between legal and illegal collection practices, noting that aggressive tactics are not permitted by regulators [8]. Financial Performance - Despite the legal challenges, Haier Consumer Finance has shown significant financial growth, with total assets increasing from 211.25 billion yuan in 2022 to 293.48 billion yuan in 2024, and net profits rising from 2.74 billion yuan to 4.45 billion yuan during the same period [18][19].