It appeared to be just a one-time "trial," but it was actually a contract to purchase goods continuously. Problems like these never cease. Regulations on illicit sales practices must be strengthened.
Last year, about 44,000 inquiries regarding such sales methods were received at consumer affairs centers nationwide. The figure has risen more than 10 fold over four years. Many of these inquiries were about health foods and cosmetics. Online shopping accounted for more than 90%.
With such sales methods, advertising phrases like "free for the first time" or "500 yen for trial" are emphasized online, while such conditions as "four purchases are required" are carried in small fonts. In some cases, conditions like these can only be viewed after moving to a different screen multiple times.
These are heinous methods of misleading consumers and forcing them to form contracts against their will.
Many companies refuse to accept cancellations, on the grounds of the contracts, after receiving complaints, or charge high cancellation fees even if they do accept cancellations. In some cases, the companies cannot be reached by phone even though they posted a notice that they "only accept cancellations by telephone."
A panel of experts at the Consumer Affairs Agency has compiled a report calling for stricter regulations on sales practices like these. The agency plans to revise the Specified Commercial Transactions Law to ensure proper transactions.
The agency is said to be considering imposing penalties on those who fail to clearly state that contracts are meant for continuous purchases, as well as including a ban on acts that unfairly prevent cancellations. These intentions must result in the compilation of effective regulations.
It is also important to strengthen the monitoring of problematic shopping sites. The agency should make particularly egregious cases public and provide consumers with information to prevent them from being victimized, such as what elements to be wary of.
The use of online shopping has been increasing in recent years. Under the current circumstances in which people are refraining from going out due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, this trend is strengthening further. It is urgent to improve the reliability of transactions.
Consumers should also be careful when concluding contracts. Online shopping is not covered by the cooling-off system, which allows customers to cancel contracts within a certain period. It is necessary to make a purchase after thoroughly checking the terms of a contract and understanding the conditions for cancellations and returns.
On the internet, one can make a purchase just by clicking an icon. Many people apparently lack the awareness that they are concluding contracts.
Because young people frequently use smartphones, there are concerns the number of victims will increase.
The age of majority will be lowered to 18 years old in 2022, and such young people will be able to conclude contracts without parental consent. It is important to improve consumer education at schools and other places.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Aug. 24, 2020
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
