Complaints about housing, cars on rise

Consumer complaints about real estate, automobiles, computers and telecommunications products and services are on the rise, consumer protection advocates have said.

　　Consumer complaints about real estate, automobiles, computers and telecommunications products and services are on the rise, consumer protection advocates have said.

　　"Though the number of consumer complaints has declined in the first six months year on year, the number of complaints about houses and automobiles are rising, and they are getting more complicated," Wu Gaohan, deputy secretary-general of All China Association of Consumers, said.

　　Brokers for real estate projects have been known to over exaggerate the products on offer, leaving purchasers angry and disappointed when they discover the house they have bought is of low construction quality.

　　Other complaints include poor property management services, contract violations and instances where the release of property ownership certificates have been postponed.

　　Moreover, instances of extreme hyperbole and fraud in television advertisements have been uncovered, some involving high-profile celebrities who have acted as the product's spokespersons.

　　In March, crosstalk performer Guo Degang was involved in a scandal when a weight-loss tea he promoted was found to be ineffective.

　　Wu made the remarks yesterday during the official launch of "Good Faith Prospering Commerce Publicity Month", a national campaign involving 15 ministerial-level departments.

　　Events promoting "good faith commerce" will be held starting from next week, including a high-level forum in Shanghai on Tuesday, and a press conference on September 13 on the progress made in credit system construction among different industries.

　　To further strike at commercial swindle and defend customer rights, the ministries, headed by the Ministry of Commerce, have established an anti-commercial fraud website: www.antifraud.gov.cn.

　　"All consumers who feel cheated can submit their complaints on the website, and we will transfer the information to the relevant government departments, or provide necessary legal suggestions," an official with the commerce ministry, said.

　　Departments involved must respond to complaints within 10 days.

　　(China Daily)

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