<!-- ~RENDER PAGE MARKER~ -->
TAIPEI - Taipei is considering imposing a fine of at least
NT$300,000 (S$12810) on Web search giant Google for its failure to
set up a refund mechanism for returned app downloads.
The move by the Taipei City Government came after many smart
phone users complained that they could not have their money
returned when they found the downloaded apps they had paid for
unsatisfactory.
The Law and Regulation Commission (LRC) under the Taipei City
Government has informed Google Taiwan, as well as Apple Asia, of
the complaints in a written warning, demanding an explanation and
improvements by a June 23 deadline
While Apple Asia responded before the deadline, saying it will
comply with Taiwan's laws by extending from 15 minutes to seven
days the trial period for online purchases of smart phone apps, no
word has been heard from Google.
No refund disputes have arisen in connection with Google, but it
has to make improvements and set up the refund mechanism all the
same, according to the Taipei LRC, which considered the penalty in
a meeting yesterday without announcing a final decision.
Both Apple App Store and Google's Android Market try to restrict
the exercising of the right to return purchases by consumers
through standard contracts for online transactions, according to
Taipei LRC Chairman Yeh Ching-yuan, who added that the practice
violates the country's consumer protection laws.
According to another Taipei official, roadblocks encountered by
consumers when they return their purchases include complicated
complaint systems and language barriers.
The apps vendors actually need not worry that consumers may
cheat by continuing to use the apps even after they are refunded,
because they have communication software to detect whether the
returned apps remain uninstalled in customers' devices, Yeh
said.
Finally, irresponsible vendors of smart phone apps are also to
blame for selling flawed apps on the online retail platforms, Yeh
added.