Disputes over online loans, shopping growing in Beijing court

Disputes caused by online shopping and online loans were two major elements of internet-related cases heard by a court in Beijing's high-tech business hub over the past two years.

The Haidian District People's Court said on Tuesday that it solved more than 300 internet-related civil cases from 2017 to 2018, and witnessed fast developments of e-commerce and diversity of online investments.

"Of the total, disputes brought by poor-quality online goods and loans made up most of the cases", said Li Chunmei, chief judge of the court's Shangdi Tribunal.

Zhang Hui, one of the tribunal's judges, shared a case with the media at a press conference on Tuesday, highlighting the importance of evidence collection for customers and showing how to implement duties to online shopping platforms.

In the case, a resident took an electronic bicycle seller and an online shopping service provider to court, claiming the bike he bought on the platform was different from the shopper's online description.

The customer asked the defendants to return his payment, 4,999 yuan ($744), for the bike, as well as claiming 14,997 yuan in compensation from the service provider, according to the judge.

The court finally supported the customer in his request for a refund, "as he provided sufficient evidence to prove the seller misled buyers by fake advertisements," Zhang said, but added the request for compensation from the online shopping platform was rejected.

"We found the platform had taken measures to implement its duty in the case, such as reviewing qualification materials and the business license of the seller, so it didn't need to hold the liability together with the shopper," he explained.

Besides such disputes brought by online shopping, Li said conflicts among investors, online loan service providers and lenders also have been frequently seen in the past two years.

She told China Daily several large online service platforms have realized their responsibility in keeping market order and protecting customers' rights, especially after the country's first E-commerce Law was put into effect in January.

"For example, some internet operators have made clearer and stricter rules on reviewing products or services on their platforms to prevent unnecessary disputes," she added.