Complaints related to pre-paid consumption, long-term apartment rentals and false advertising were widely seen among consumers, according to a report on consumer complaints in the third quarter released by Shenzhen Consumer Council.
The council received a total of 51,085 complaints in the third quarter, down 28.27 percent compared to the same period last year.
Complaints on pre-paid consumption made up 17.42 percent of the total complaints. Among them, half are related to education training services.
Pre-paid gasoline cards showed a new risk as many consumers complained that companies selling gasoline pre-paid cards suddenly disappeared without returning their money.
A total of 4,529 complaints gathered by the council were made in reference to education training institutions in the third quarter.
Many consumers bought lesson packages from education training institutions via credit financing. However, some of them cannot get the refunds promised by education training operators, according to the report.
At the same time, Shenzhen Consumer Council has received many complaints about the Shenzhen Fukelai apartment management company since Sept. 16.
Many consumers said that they were forced to move out from apartments by the property owners as the company who collected rent from them failed to pay the money to the property owners.
They also failed to get their pre-paid rent back from the company.
The council advised consumers to choose trusted brands with good reputations to avoid related risks.