Council names companies complained about

Shanghai Consumer Council has revealed details of some cases that drew large numbers of complaints in 2019 ahead of this year’s World Consumer Rights Day on March 15.

Pujiang Xintiandi Swimming Pool in Minhang District closed suddenly in October last year, leaving around 340 members who had prepaid in the lurch, the council said.

Members lost contact with the operator and were unable to get a refund, the council said.

Deppon Express drew 338 complaints last year, according to the council.

The company refused to consider complaints about damaged, polluted or lost parcels or make compensation, the council said.

The council said it had been ignored when it asked the Shanghai company to properly handle complaints and sort out its after-sales services.

About 250 complaints were not properly or timely handled, the council said.

There were 72 complaints about Shanghai Jiuming Pet Co last year, with most of these about pets developing diseases or even dying shortly after purchase, the council said.

A customer surnamed Hu paid 1,200 yuan (US$171) for a cat which was then diagnosed with distemper and died several days later.

The company had no explanation but asked Hu to pay more for a replacement. The second cat was also not in good health, the council said. 

The council also received 656 complaints regarding Webi English after it suddenly closed branches in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou in October.

The amount involved in about 470 cases was around 6 million yuan, the council said.