A prepaid card that will expire, bringing extra revenue to the electricity dealer.

With the popularity of online shopping, the prepaid card of the electric dealer also becomes the prepaid card product that the consumer often uses. What many consumers do not know is that most of the prepaid cards of these electric dealers have been set up with a "lifespan". For expired prepaid cards, if the rules set by the electrical contractor, such as the expiration of a certain period of time, can apply for "extension", if the expiration of the same time, the electrical business requirements of the extension of the application period, it is completely ineffective.

Why does the electric dealer have to set the expiration date for the prepaid card? Is this rule legitimate? Consumers with expired prepaid cards, the money can only be wasted? What about damaged consumers?

When Mr. Wang tidied up the house, he found a Dangdang (16.76, 0.53, 3.27%) 300 yuan prepaid card, do not remember how long, he happened to have a few books to buy, so login Dangdang for card activation and binding. It turned out that the card had expired.

See the prepaid card using the rules written in "to be used within the validity period, expiration will expire." Mr. Wang was rather disappointed. When the prepaid card is valid for three years.

"It is understandable that food needs to be valid for the duration of a prepaid card." He said he could not understand, "the money to buy prepaid cards has been spent, is not the equivalent of saving the money in the card?" But now there is no way to use it. ”

Prepaid card that will expire

Dangdang "Prepaid Card Expired" situation is not an example. The reporter saw other electric Dealer website all is selling similar prepaid card, to use the period also to have different request.

For example, shop 1th prepaid card and Dangdang different, 1th store refers to the "validity period" (three years) refers to the card amount to recharge into the account time limit, and prepaid card recharge into the account, there is no validity, can be used arbitrarily.

This rule is more "humane" than Dangdang. However, if there is a careless user, or may leave the card elsewhere, resulting in missed validity period.

Is the so-called "expiration date" of the electric dealer's shopping card really necessary?

Baidu search for "prepaid card Expired" keyword, will find that many users have similar experience, the "Electric dealer prepaid card expiration is frozen how to do", "prepaid card expiration can be postponed" and other doubts thrown to the network solution.

In this respect, Dangdang Purchase Sales department's reply is: When the prepaid card expires three months, may apply for the extension, after the extension is one months valid. Each prepaid card is provided with only one deferred service and cannot be operated when the prepaid card expires again. Furthermore, if the prepaid card expires for more than three months and cannot be postponed, only the equivalent amount of the voucher (restricted to purchase of the proprietary commodity) can be applied for a period of 1-2 months.

Dangdang Mining Sales Department customer service personnel said that the validity period of three years is the electronic commerce industry rules, but also the company's policy requirements. The same is true of other electrical dealers. Customer service personnel also said that when the prepaid card is valid for only one year, is later postponed to three years. The reporter also dials 1th shop customer service personnel telephone, asks why to set three years of use time, the other side's answer is also "the company stipulation".

"Expired" brings additional revenue

Why do electric dealers like to sell prepaid cards? Insiders of a vertical electric trader told The Beijing News correspondent that the dealers were willing to sell prepaid cards because they could boost sales ahead of time. "is equal to say in advance payment, the user has not picked up, the funds have already reached the account, for the company is of course a good thing." ”

It is true that some users will take the prepaid card off the stage and not know that it can be postponed, the person said, and the electric business enterprise has received this part of the "extra revenue" for the prepaid card sale.

Asked why the prepaid card was set to expire, the person said: "It's not just the electricity dealer, it's the retailer." "A certain amount is prepaid and then required to be spent within the validity period, in many industries." In the communications industry, every month mobile Internet traffic packets whether or not you spend, the cost of the end of the month is still deducted?

The expiration of the electric business latent rules

In the domestic, group buying industry in 2010, 2011 because of "overdue" has been criticized. Some consumers buy coupons for a variety of reasons too late to spend money on the white water drift, and become a number of group buy the source of profit.

In March 2011, the United States Group Network pioneered a "expired return" program, users such as overdue consumption will receive a refund service. The group has also returned more than 10 million of its purchases to users over the past year. Since then other group buying sites have followed, buy the unspoken rules are broken.

are in advance to purchase the value of the store, why can not the electrical business site to follow the group buying industry "expired"?

An industry personage told the Beijing News reporter, the electricity merchant prepaid card is a kind of marketing method which the electric dealer website often takes, the establishment validity period is in order to allow the consumer to consume in the time limit, achieves the promotion and the promotion sales goal. "After the expiration of the funds are not returned to consumers is the electric business of the unspoken rules, but the Electronic business site has the obligation to send a prepaid card before the expiration of the letter or SMS to inform consumers, such as the phenomenon of overdue return, consumers should consult the business sector to safeguard their own interests." ”

As to why the electronic business site can not follow the "expired", the above people believe that this depends on the network of self-regulation and the relevant government departments to introduce relevant laws and regulations to protect consumer rights and interests.

List of "Expired" regulations for prepaid cards of electric dealers

When the prepaid card is valid for 36 months. Customer service personnel said that the one-month extension can be carried out.

The Beijing-East prepaid card is valid for 36 months. Customer service personnel said that the one-month extension can be carried out.

Suning Tesco Prepaid Card is valid for 36 months. Customer service personnel said that the cause of the non-company (Su Ning) is not postponed, if the reasons for the company can be postponed for 24 hours.

Xun Prepaid Card is valid for 36 months. Customer service personnel said that users can apply for extension of the website self-help, postponed to one months, the need to deduct 1 yuan fees.

No. 1th Store prepaid card use is not valid (but need to recharge the account within 36 months).

Lawyer says

The expiration card should be provided with activation, card replacement and other services

Eminent It legal experts Zhao occupation, said that the electronic Business enterprise prepaid card "expired" practice is compliance, you can refer to the Ministry of Commerce "single use commercial prepaid card management measures" provisions.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China promulgated the "Single use commercial prepaid card management method (Trial)" shows that the secret card shall not be valid for a period of less than 3 years. Card-issuing enterprises or card-selling enterprises for more than the validity of the remaining capital balance of bearer card should provide activation, card replacement and other ancillary services.

"In the past few years received a lot of similar complaints, especially group buying more, in recent years, group buying can expire after, it becomes very few." Zhao Occupation said, but the majority of consumers choose complaints, few people will be prosecuted.

If the law is resorted to, the consumer may not prevail

Beijing Sheng Law firm Zhang Xiuqui Lawyer also said that the situation of shopping cards from the legal analysis, has formed a contractual relationship with customers. If the law is resorted to, consumers may well not prevail.

He said that due to the prior customer purchase card, function, the use of time and so are informed. If in a separate contract, shopping cards on the back and other places to mark the relevant details, to fulfill the obligation to inform, it can not be called "overlord clause."

Zhang Xiuqui said that a consumer had been sued for the expiry of a shopping card, but was dismissed by the court. "The merchant has endorsed the terms of the contract and in some cases can be exclusions." ”

"' Expiration ' may cause waste of social resources, improper enrichment of businessmen and other effects, it is unfair to consumers." However, it involves legal theory and concrete analysis. Zhang Xiuqui said that if the consumer encounters some force majeure, is not the subjective reason does not carry on the exchange and other processing, the merchant still should make the cooperation behavior, for instance extension time.

This edition/Beijing News reporter Liu Xia

Thematic co-ordination/HS