Core Insights - The article highlights the issue of prepaid card fraud, where consumers face difficulties in obtaining refunds after businesses close unexpectedly, leading to significant consumer complaints [1][2] Group 1: Consumer Complaints - A consumer in Dezhou, Shandong Province, reported that after purchasing an 800 yuan car wash card, the business closed shortly after, resulting in a loss of funds [1] - Complaints regarding prepaid cards have become a significant public concern, with issues such as "businesses running away" and "difficulty in obtaining refunds" being prevalent across various industries including dining, beauty, and fitness [1] Group 2: Regulatory Actions - The Dezhou Procuratorate utilized a national big data legal supervision model to identify 34 high-risk merchants that had not registered or implemented fund supervision, including the car wash business in question [2] - Following the identification of these high-risk merchants, the Procuratorate initiated special supervision in the prepaid card sector, leading to 28 merchants completing their business registration and 6 remaining under rectification [2] Group 3: Consumer Protection Efforts - The Dezhou Procuratorate facilitated the refund process for consumers, resulting in 157 prepaid cards being refunded during the special supervision initiative [2] - The Procuratorate also conducted legal education sessions covering over 130 businesses to strengthen consumer protection and prevent future issues related to prepaid cards [2]

Group 1 - The Supreme People's Court has implemented a judicial interpretation regarding prepaid consumption, providing consumers with new rights to protect themselves against businesses that close suddenly or refuse refunds [1] - Consumers are advised to gather essential information about businesses, such as their name, address, and contact details, to facilitate future claims [2][7] - If a business closes and consumers cannot locate them, they can seek compensation from the venue owner if the venue failed to verify the business's qualifications [3] Group 2 - Consumers have the right to request refunds under specific conditions, including when businesses fail to provide agreed-upon services or relocate without consent [4] - Refund calculations differ based on the reason for the refund; if the business is at fault, consumers may receive a higher refund amount compared to refunds requested for personal reasons [5] - Businesses cannot impose excessive fees for refunds, and consumers can refuse such charges while seeking assistance from consumer protection organizations [6] Group 3 - Consumers should retain evidence such as contracts, payment receipts, and business licenses to support their claims [7] - Alternative dispute resolution methods, such as filing complaints with consumer associations or market regulatory bodies, are available for consumers who wish to avoid litigation [8] - The new judicial interpretation applies only to contracts signed after May 1, 2023, while contracts signed before this date are governed by existing laws [9]