Zhou Xiao bought a discount coat of an internationally renowned brand in a well-known department store, but when he visited the brand's specialty store in other places, he was told by the clerk that the coat was a fake, and the brand had never designed this style of coat. In a rage, Zhou Xiao asked the department store to return the goods, but both the salesperson and the relevant person in charge of the department store refused to return the goods. Zhou Xiao's friend suggested that the Zhou Xiao Consumers Association complain, but Zhou Xiao never understood how the Consumer Association did it. What function do they have?
The lawyer replied.
Consumers' association is a social organization established according to law to supervise goods and services and protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests. China Consumers Association and local consumer associations at all levels have been established in China. Consumers' associations protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests through social supervision of goods and services. This task is embodied by its function. According to the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law, consumer associations have the following functions:
(1) Provide consumers with consumption information and consulting services, improve their ability to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and guide civilized, healthy, resource-saving and environment-friendly consumption patterns; (two) to participate in the formulation of laws, regulations, rules and mandatory standards related to the rights and interests of consumers; (three) to participate in the supervision and inspection of goods and services by the relevant administrative departments; (four) to reflect, inquire and make suggestions to the relevant departments on issues related to the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; (five) to accept consumer complaints, and to investigate and mediate the complaints; (6) If the complaint involves the quality of goods and services, a qualified appraiser may be entrusted for appraisal, and the appraiser shall inform the appraisal opinion; (seven) to support the injured consumers to bring a lawsuit against acts that harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers or to bring a lawsuit in accordance with this law; (eight) through the mass media to expose and criticize acts that harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
Consumer association is a social organization with organizational advantages. They can organize governing units (relevant administrative departments and industry leaders) to carry out activities and investigate cases through them. They can rely on social forces to play a role in protecting consumers' rights and interests through mediation, supervision and social supervision.
Legal link
Law of the People's Republic of China on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests
Article 36 Consumer associations and other consumer organizations are social organizations established according to law to supervise goods and services and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
Article 37 A consumer association shall perform the following public welfare duties:
(a) to provide consumers with consumption information and consulting services, improve consumers' ability to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and guide civilized, healthy, resource-saving and environment-friendly consumption patterns; (two) to participate in the formulation of laws, regulations, rules and mandatory standards related to the rights and interests of consumers; (three) to participate in the supervision and inspection of goods and services by the relevant administrative departments; (four) to reflect, inquire and make suggestions to the relevant departments on issues related to the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; (five) to accept consumer complaints, and to investigate and mediate the complaints; (six) complaints involving the quality of goods and services, you can entrust a qualified appraiser to identify, the appraiser shall inform the expert opinion; (seven) to support the injured consumers to bring a lawsuit against acts that harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers or to bring a lawsuit in accordance with this law; (eight) through the mass media to expose and criticize acts that harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
People's governments at all levels shall provide necessary funds and other support for consumer associations to perform their duties.
Consumers' associations should conscientiously perform their duties of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, listen to their opinions and suggestions, and accept social supervision.
Other consumer organizations established according to law shall carry out activities to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and their articles of association.
Thirty-eighth consumer organizations shall not engage in commodity business and profit-making services, and shall not recommend commodities and services to consumers by charging fees or other means to seek benefits.