Group 1 - The Guangdong Consumer Council reported that in the third quarter of 2025, it handled 248,400 consumer complaints, recovering economic losses of 104 million RMB for consumers [1] - Complaints related to goods accounted for 44.09% of the total, showing a year-on-year decrease of 5.37%, while service-related complaints made up 55.11%, with a year-on-year increase of 0.96% [1] - The main complaint issues were after-sales service, contracts, and quality, which together accounted for 87.93% of the total complaints [1] Group 2 - After-sales service complaints were primarily focused on home electronics, social services, and daily goods, with issues such as poor service attitude and inconsistent warranty policies being the main causes [1] - Contract complaints were prevalent in internet services, education training, and social services, with common problems including unfair contract terms and high penalty fees for breaches [1] - The report highlighted that as consumer demand for quality increases, complaints regarding product quality remain frequent [1] Group 3 - Issues related to automatic renewal of APP subscriptions were noted, including violations of consumer rights to information and fair trading, with difficulties in communication for refunds [2] - Major problems included lack of clear notification for automatic renewal rules and complex processes for opting out of automatic renewals [2] - Refund conditions and processes were often restrictive, leading to delays and evasions in handling complaints [2]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the need for transparency and fairness in subscription services, particularly regarding automatic renewals that often trap consumers into unwanted charges [1][2][4]. Group 1: Consumer Rights and Automatic Renewals - Consumers often face unexpected charges due to automatic renewal features in apps, which can lead to financial losses without their knowledge [2][3]. - A recent court ruling highlighted the violation of consumer rights when a technology company automatically renewed a subscription without proper notification, resulting in a refund for the affected consumer [1][2]. Group 2: Regulatory Framework and Enforcement - Current regulations, such as the "Network Transaction Supervision Management Measures," require explicit user consent for automatic renewals and mandate clear notifications prior to renewal [3][4]. - The Consumer Rights Protection Law imposes strict penalties on businesses that violate these rules, including fines and potential business license revocation [3][4]. Group 3: Recommendations for Improvement - There is a call for stricter enforcement of consumer protection laws and the implementation of a "double notification" principle to ensure consumers are adequately informed about automatic renewals [4]. - Companies are urged to improve their subscription models to avoid exploiting consumers through hidden fees and complicated cancellation processes [3][4].