China News Service, March 9th. On the 9th, the China Consumers Association released the "2021 Consumer Rights Protection Report in the Field of Off-campus Education and Training".
The "Report" believes that since the Ministry of Education, the State Administration for Market Regulation and other relevant departments have successively introduced relevant regulatory measures and carried out market rectification actions in accordance with the "Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden of Students' Homework and Off-campus Training in Compulsory Education", the protection of consumer rights and interests has The overall level has been significantly improved.
However, due to the lag of relevant laws and policies, the lack of sound supervision and management mechanism, the impact of the epidemic and industry policies, and the lack of rational consumption awareness among consumers, the phenomenon of frequent consumption infringements in the field of off-campus education and training and the difficulty of consumer rights protection still exist.
The "Report" pointed out that there are still many problems in the current off-campus education and training industry: First, there are many contract disputes.
When training institutions formulate standard contracts, there are many unfair terms for consumers.
Some training institutions take advantage of the lack of awareness of consumers' contracts, and do not even sign formal contracts with consumers, or sales staff sign contracts on behalf of consumers.
Second, after-sales problems are difficult to solve.
After-sales service channels are not smooth, some training institutions, especially online training institutions, do not pay attention to after-sales service, and "lost contact" after consumers pay; some training institutions close their doors and run away due to poor management, refuse or delay refunds, and set harsh refunds Conditions, etc;
Third, there are many false propaganda methods.
Fake training cases, teachers and training effects, and fabricate consumer evaluation data; exaggerate the strength of training institutions, and the actual teaching quality is far from the quality of experience courses and trial courses; some training institutions sell courses and deliberately conceal some vocational qualification certificates The registration conditions are restricted, consumers are induced to pay fees, and even after consumers raise doubts, they promise to help them forge their academic qualifications or work experience.
Fourth, the risk of prepaid consumption is high.
Some training institutions use discounts to induce a large amount of prepaid fees, but it is difficult to recover the prepaid fees due to poor management, broken capital chain, bankruptcy or running away; , buy 3 months for 3-month courses, pay by shifts, etc., to increase the cost of a single course and the total training in disguise; some prepaid fees are induced to apply for "consumption loans", and the institution is unable to attend classes after closing but still needs to Repay the loan on time.
The "Report" believes that the current off-campus training, as an important supplement to the education and training system, still has strong consumer demand. With the gradual implementation of relevant policies, the consumption risks associated with industry adjustment will be released one after another. Strengthening the protection of consumer rights and interests in off-campus education and training will cause highly valued.
The "Report" puts forward six suggestions from the perspective of strengthening the protection of consumers' rights and interests: First, improve relevant legislation, and define the nature of training institutions, establishment approval, education and teaching, use of teaching materials, fee supervision, service contracts, practitioners, employees, etc. in the existing policies. Legal responsibilities, etc., explore to improve and solidify by formulating the "Social Education Promotion Law", and promote its development to be standardized and ruled by law; the second is to strengthen collaborative governance to ensure that various policies and measures for the implementation of the "Double Reduction" Opinion are complete and effective. The third is to further clarify the main body of supervision and its responsibilities, strengthen the communication and coordination inside and outside the supervision system, enrich the grass-roots law enforcement forces, and improve the legal literacy of law enforcement personnel; the fourth is to establish a daily supervision and law enforcement mechanism, and in addition to the staged special rectification actions, strengthen Research on the law of industry development, and establish a long-term mechanism for risk monitoring, research and judgment, early warning, and disposal; fifth, strengthen the investigation and punishment of illegal acts by training institutions to ensure the safety of consumers' prepaid funds; Standardize services, give full play to the role of consumer associations in participating in legislation, social supervision, dispute mediation, public interest litigation, warning education, etc., and play the supervisory role of news media to jointly create a good consumption environment.