The local industrial and commercial bureau in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) has pledged to better protect consumer rights in dispute cases.

The 12315 Service Center for Consumer Complaints under the bureau held an open day on March 14, one day before the World Consumer Rights Day, inviting both local residents and merchants to visit its office and inspect work.

12315 is also the hotline number for local customers to file complaints.

Instead of using telephones to reach out to customers, the center has adopted a more advanced and efficient way of video chatting.

A total of 257 sites assisting consumer petitions have been set up across Pingtan, according to work staff.

Whenever a customer submits a complaint to any site, he will be connected to the employees at the center who will guide the customer on how to appropriately handle his case, said a worker at the center.

Boards with information on China’s revised Consumer Protection Act are on display at the center as well to help consumers understand the new rules.

Many visitors inquired on the clause of seven-day return of goods purchased online. The center replied that products bought through the Internet, telephone, television or mail are supposed to conform unconditionally to the return clause. But some customized products, fresh goods, downloaded documents, digital products, opened audio-visual products, newspapers and magazines are excluded, explained a worker at the center.

The open day is an interesting and practical experience and will definitely help people distinguish bogus products more easily, said Ms Lin.

Wang Mingqiang, another consumer participating in the event, said the illustration by workers from the center have helped him understand more about the new consumer protection act, and he hoped more such activities will be hosted in the future.