高额退订费成消费“隐形陷阱”

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the challenges consumers face regarding refund policies in the online service industry, particularly in travel, entertainment, and hospitality sectors, where strict no-refund policies and high penalties for cancellations are prevalent [1] Group 1: Consumer Experiences - A consumer named Chen faced a non-refundable policy for a tour package, despite the cancellation not affecting the travel agency's ability to regroup [1] - Another consumer, Guo, encountered difficulties in obtaining a refund for movie tickets, with the platform initially refusing to process the request based on its own rules, which were later contradicted by the cinema [1] - Wang, who had to cancel a hotel reservation due to a medical emergency, was initially denied a full refund by the platform but succeeded after directly contacting the hotel [1] Group 2: Legal and Regulatory Insights - A court case in Haidian District ruled against a strict no-refund policy, emphasizing that businesses should not impose excessive penalties when consumers cannot fulfill their contracts due to unforeseen circumstances [1] - Legal experts argue that consumer protection laws prohibit unfair terms that limit consumer rights, suggesting that clauses stating "no cancellations under any circumstances" are invalid [1] - Recommendations include the establishment of tiered refund policies by industry associations or regulatory bodies to balance consumer rights and business costs, promoting fair practices in the industry [1]