Taipei City's Law and Regulation Commission yesterday issued a warning to consumers about an English learning materials publisher after receiving complaints about its sales tricks. The Commission also urged consumers to be aware of their rights and interests.
A total of 44 complaints have been filed against Bwo Ke Lai Co, Ltd, a company which sells English learning materials, children’s books and English courses. The complaints relate to the sale of courses and textbooks to customers and refusals to refund money when customers wanted to quit the courses.
Commissioner Yeh Ching-yuan (葉慶元) said the company also tricked customers into signing promissory notes along with the purchase sheet and later filed lawsuits against those who were not satisfied with the courses and requested a refund.
A promissory note is a form of contract that makes an unconditional promise of payment. The payee can request a court order and collect the money from the person who signed the note if he or she refuses to pay.
“The company further evaded regulations by registering as a cultural corporation, rather than a cram school. Before we can find the appropriate regulations to fine the company, we need to remind the public of its deceitful tricks,” Yeh said yesterday at Taipei City Hall.
Customers who filed complaints against the company purchased courses and textbooks for around NT$60,000 to NT$70,000. Most of them signed a promissory note without knowing what it was and later received court orders asking them to pay the full amount.
Taipei City’s consumer ombudsman Chong Ruei-hsian (鍾瑞祥) said the city government was unable to fine the company using regulations on city cram schools but has instructed the company to revise its purchase sheets and inform customers about the promissory note before they sign the contract.
The company promised to improve the purchase sheet and accept refund requests within seven days from customers. Chong said the commission will fine the company according to the Consumer Law (消費者保護法) if it is found to have abused consumer rights.
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