Prepaid card overdue deduction for management fee?

Starbucks is not very authentic

　　■ Observer

　　This deduction is a trivial matter.

　　I believe that many people have bought Starbucks gift cards, but few people know that prepaid cards have a "shelf life", and money will be deducted if they expire.

According to the report of "1818 Golden Eye", Xiao Zhou in Hangzhou had a Starbucks gift card. Some time ago, I wanted to buy coffee. It turned out that the balance inside was deducted. Consumption records show that this card will be deducted 2 yuan every month. The deferred management fee until the deduction is complete.

　　The basis for the deduction is the use of Starbucks prepaid cards: the Starbucks Gift Card is valid for three years from the day of activation or the day of the last recharge (if applicable).

There is a balance in the expired card, and the management fee is charged at 1% of the balance in the card in the second month after the expiration, the minimum is 2 yuan, until the balance in the card is 0.

This can't help but make people suspicious.

　　It should be noted that as the consumption model of prepaid cards becomes accustomed to consumers, there are many pits buried in this consumption model.

Consumers are faced with many risks such as loss of interest, restrictions on the scope of choice, encountering unequal format clauses, and closing of operators halfway.

It is not uncommon for businesses to "disappear" and it is not uncommon for consumers to defend their rights.

　　Xiao Zhou encountered the "pit" of the prepaid card this time, but this "store" is big.

Intriguingly, Starbucks customer service stated that the charge standard after the card expires is available on the official website, while the Starbucks clerk interviewed by the reporter is not sure whether the charge will be charged after the expiration date.

In addition, the instructions for use on the back of the Star Gift Card only show the validity period of three years, and there is no explanation on how to do so after the validity period.

　　The front-line staff who have direct contact with consumers are vague in answering the question of whether to charge a fee after the card expires, let alone the consumer who purchases the card.

Not only the clerk's answer is vague, but the "delay deduction clause" is also hidden deeply in the App interface at the time of purchase.

　　You should know that prepaid card consumption means that consumers pay first and then enjoy services. It is a kind of financing behavior in disguise that merchants use credit as the guarantee.

Merchants hide the terms so deeply, these behaviors have reason to doubt whether the company has the motive to try to encroach on the cardholder’s property rights, not to mention that the prepaid card operators themselves have long-term interest-free possession of the cardholder’s funds and then deduct them.” "Deferred management fees" can't be justified in reason.

　　Some places have already regulated single-purpose commercial prepaid cards.

The "Zhejiang Province Implementing the "Consumer Rights Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" implemented in 2017 clearly stipulates that the card face expires and the operator cannot charge additional fees on the grounds of extension.

In 2020, the Ministry of Commerce issued a document requiring the establishment of a risk monitoring mechanism for the prepaid card issuing industry and enterprises, so as to keep abreast of the business dynamics of card issuing enterprises within its jurisdiction.

　　In addition, the "Consumer Rights Protection Law" also stipulates that when business operators provide goods or services to consumers, they should abide by social ethics, operate in good faith, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; they must not set unfair or unreasonable trading conditions, and must not Mandatory transactions.

From this point of view, Starbucks' charging methods are suspected of "overlord clauses". If they are not clearly notified in advance, they have violated consumers' right to know and fair choice.

This is also a reminder to other businesses.

　　In short, this deduction is a trivial matter.

Companies can't just try to get through by fooling around, and they can't just rely on "lucky not to be discovered."

Companies with such thoughts may cause greater damage to the brand.

　　□Ding Hui, commentator of Beijing News