Membership Terms Restrict Consumer Rights: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Consumer Associations Jointly Meet With InterContinental Hotels

People’s Finance Network, April 8—In response to international hotel group “InterContinental Hotels” setting, in its member program “InterContinental Privilege Terms and Conditions of Membership” (hereinafter referred to as the “Membership Terms”), multiple clauses that appear to infringe on consumers’ lawful rights and interests—such as excluding Chinese legal jurisdiction, forcing Chinese consumers to seek arbitration overseas, restricting consumers’ collective rights to seek redress, allowing the contract terms to be changed at will, and disclaiming responsibility for any losses caused by the use of goods—on April 8, consumer associations in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei jointly conducted a formal discussion based on Article 40 of the “Implementation Regulations of the Consumer Rights Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China,” which states that “consumer associations may conduct investigations into acts that harm consumers’ lawful rights and interests arising from consumer complaints, verify the situation with relevant business operators, and invite the relevant business operators to appear and present facts and their views and provide evidence materials, etc.” In accordance with the China Consumers Association’s “Intervention and Discussion Measures for Consumer Organizations to Protect Consumer Rights and Interests Against Business Operators (Trial),” the group held a joint meeting with InterContinental Hotels Group’s domestic operator—Sixzhou Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.—and issued clear rectification requirements. (CCTV News)