Ms. Zhang, who lives in a high-end residential area in the city center, recently went to early education institutions to pull banners with other parents every day. It turned out that a two-story children's education institution was opened in the community this summer. The salesperson claimed that this children's education institution is a listed company registered abroad and has abundant funds.
The company focuses on advanced children's education. The teachers recruited are all children's education experts with professional qualifications, and foreign teachers are invited to teach authentic American English to children all the year round.
Ms. Zhang and other parents were very tempted after listening to it, and they gave their children nearly 30,000 "black gold early education classes" membership cards. After several classes, Ms. Zhang did get to know several black "foreign teachers" and felt that this institution was "very powerful".
Ms. Zhang took her children to the fourth class and found that the door of this institution was closed. Looking through the glass, the whole business was long gone, and everyone realized that they had been cheated. A search on the Internet revealed that this company is a "black organization" without any qualification, and its membership card with tens of thousands of dollars has been sent to Shui Piao.
There are not a few parents who have been cheated by children's institutions like Ms. Zhang. This prepaid card processing method requires parents to recharge in advance. Some merchants are not qualified, register with fake identities, and run away after successfully withdrawing money. No relevant information can be found after the alarm, and it is difficult to recover the money lost by the victim.
Usually, this card-handling mode will be accompanied by many "overlord clauses", because this prepaid mode has a big blind spot in supervision at present, and unscrupulous merchants take advantage of these legal loopholes, and the lack of relevant legal support makes it difficult for parents to protect their rights.
1) When there is no balance in the prepaid card, you can no longer enjoy the membership discount.
Some merchants didn't tell their parents when they applied for the card, only told them that if the deposit in the card was used up and there was no balance, they could not enjoy the membership price and needed to continue to recharge. When parents ask questions, the merchants will refute them on the grounds that the membership card merchants have full interpretation rights.
2) After the institution is transferred to others, the balance will not be refunded and the card cannot be used.
Some businesses transfer educational institutions to others without informing their parents. The new recipient does not recognize the membership card service of the former boss, and the balance will not be refunded. If they want to continue their classes, they need to reapply for card recharge.
3) Unused membership cards are rejected when they are returned, which increases the obstacles.
When parents can't continue to complete the course for some special reasons, they want to return the card but are rejected by the merchant. They argue that parents have already enjoyed the package discount and can't refund or add some obstacles, such as only returning part of the balance.
In view of this chaotic situation in educational institutions, the state has issued relevant notices:
The state is speeding up the supervision of prepaid cards. China Consumers Association reminds parents to carefully choose early education classes for their children, and think twice about handling cards.
1) Understand the qualification and operation of the enterprise.
Before issuing cards to children, parents need to know whether the educational institutions have professional qualifications, have a comprehensive understanding of the company's operation, and try to choose some educational institutions with good brand reputation.
2) Choose short-term service for card application.
In order to reduce the risk, parents can choose some services with low fees and short cycle, and consume them as soon as possible after getting the card.
3) Seriously ask about the terms of service.
Parents should ask about the terms of service of the membership card before handling the card, such as whether the card can be returned, whether it can be transferred to others, and the specific rules of use, so as to avoid disputes afterwards.
4) Sign a guarantee agreement.
When handling prepaid cards, parents should ask the merchants for specific contracts or agreements. Don't trust verbal promises, you need a formal invoice after you pay.