Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the issue of "ghost deductions" associated with Zhongjin Payment, highlighting consumer complaints about unauthorized recurring charges and the company's response to these issues [5][6][25]. Group 1: Incident Overview - Users have reported unexpected deductions of fixed amounts (29.9 yuan or 39.9 yuan) from their bank accounts, attributed to Zhongjin Payment, without clear explanations for the charges [6][10]. - Many consumers discovered these deductions only after checking their bank statements, raising concerns about the transparency of the payment process [9][12]. - The customer service responses varied, initially denying refunds until users threatened to escalate complaints, indicating a lack of proactive communication from the company [12][13]. Group 2: Mechanism of "Ghost Deductions" - The phenomenon of "ghost deductions" is linked to users unknowingly signing "deduction agreements," allowing merchants to withdraw funds without further user confirmation [16]. - Unlike one-time payments that require user action, these agreements enable merchants to initiate deductions automatically, which can lead to unauthorized charges [17]. - The China Consumers Association has pointed out that some businesses exploit loopholes in small payment systems to facilitate these unauthorized deductions [18]. Group 3: Company Background - Zhongjin Payment, established in 2010, is a licensed internet payment institution that primarily facilitates corporate payments and does not directly initiate deductions [20][22]. - The company has seen significant growth, with transaction volumes exceeding 400 billion yuan in 2013 and reaching a trillion yuan by 2016, ranking fifth in the industry [23]. - In 2023, the company was acquired by Guangdian Yuntong, which now holds 90.01% of its shares, indicating a shift in ownership and potential strategic direction [23][24]. Group 4: Regulatory Changes - New regulations were introduced in December 2025, requiring platforms to notify users of upcoming deductions clearly, which aims to eliminate unauthorized charges in the future [18].

Core Viewpoint - The recent "ghost deduction" incident involving Zhongjin Payment has gained significant attention on social media, where users discovered unauthorized recurring charges of 29.9 yuan or 39.9 yuan without clear explanations on their bank statements [1][16]. Group 1: Incident Details - Users reported unexpected deductions from their bank accounts, with one individual discovering a 29.9 yuan charge on January 7, which was later attributed to a "video membership fee" by customer service [2][17]. - Many users experienced similar issues, with some reporting multiple deductions over several months, often without realizing it until prompted by others [17][19]. - Customer service responses varied, initially refusing to refund past charges until users threatened to escalate complaints, after which refunds were processed quickly [4][5][19]. Group 2: Mechanism of "Ghost Deductions" - The phenomenon of "ghost deductions" is attributed to users unknowingly signing "deduction agreements," allowing merchants to charge users periodically without further confirmation [7][22]. - There is a distinction between "one-time authorization" for small payments and "long-term authorization" for recurring charges, with the latter being exploited in this case [22][23]. - The lack of verification for small amounts (like 29.9 yuan) means that deductions can occur without user consent or notification, as they fall below common thresholds for requiring password entry or SMS verification [23][24]. Group 3: Regulatory Context and Company Background - Zhongjin Payment, established in 2010, is a licensed internet payment institution that primarily facilitates corporate payments and does not directly initiate deductions [10][26]. - The company has seen significant growth, with transaction volumes exceeding 1 trillion yuan by 2016, ranking fifth in the industry [26]. - Recent regulatory changes require platforms to notify users of upcoming deductions, which aims to eliminate unauthorized charges, with new rules effective from April 2023 [9][24].