SK-II manufacturer Procter & Gamble has failed
to uphold a promise to customers two weeks ago it would release a refund policy
for the under-fire skin-care range.
P&G said on September 22 it would issue a new refund plan during the
National Day Holiday after suspending its refund service because of security
concerns.
Hundreds of customers rushed to refund service centers when state authorities
announced they had discovered the heavy metals chromium and neodymium in the
SK-II range.
Customers line up for return and
refund on SK-II cosmetics. SK-II, a top Japanese cosmetic maker, took back
its products sold and refunded customers at Shanghai International Hotel
on September 20, 2006. Recently series of SK-II cosmetics were found
containing prohibited ingredients by the General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
[Xinhua] |
The metals are banned from use in
cosmetics in China.
P&G said yesterday the new refund plan was still "under discussion."
"We will issue the new plan after settling it with consumers watchdogs all
over the country," said Wang Jun, public relations manager of P&G's China
branch.
As of yesterday, three of 14 shut SK-II counters in Shanghai, which were
closed after the state authorities' announcement, have been let out to other
beauty product companies.
One customer in Shanghai said she was considering legal action over the
delayed refund policy.
Customers wait for return and refund on SK-II
cosmetics at a department store in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu
Province, September 20, 2006.
[newsphoto] |
Elaine Wang, a 28-year-old
office worker in a shipping company, is calling on other consumers to join her
fight with Procter & Gamble. She said she had already persuaded four other
SK-II buyers to take part in the suit, which has not yet been lodged.
"I will file the suit as soon as enough people are in," she said.
In Beijing, law firm Lehman Lee & Xu is collecting evidence on behalf of
four Beijing consumers who are also planning to sue P&G.
P&G said it had no comment on the legal action as it had not received an
indictment.
Wang, who says she has used SK-II cosmetics for five years, claims she
started to suffer skin rashes and nasal inflammations two years ago.
"I have spent more than 25,000 yuan (US$3,100) on SK-II cosmetics, and now I
still hold more than 8,000-yuan worth of products," said Wang.
Hao Junbo, a lawyer from Lehman, said a refund lawsuit would be easier to win
than a lawsuit over skin damage from the products.
"At present, as no consumers can prove that their skin rash is caused by
SK-II cosmetics, it is very hard to sue for damages," said Hao. "But the request
for a refund is easy to fulfill."
Hao said that according to China's Law on Consumer Rights and Interests
Protection, manufacturers were required to give refunds if authorities confirmed
the products were harmful.
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