在旅游业日益繁荣的背景下，民宿预订退订规则的差异性引发了众多消费者的关注与争议。近期，浙江省舟山市中级人民法院出台了一项试行规定，旨在为民宿行业提供统一的退订规则标准，以解决因不可抗力因素导致的退订纠纷问题。这一举措体现了司法部门对消费者权益保护的重视，同时也为民宿行业的健康发展提供了法律支撑。
#### 统一标准，解决退订争议
据了解，当前民宿行业的退订规则多样，不同平台和经营者设定的规则存在显著差异。有的平台允许消费者在入住当天18:00前免费取消，而有的则限定了订单确认后的30分钟或两小时内可免费取消，最严格的情况是取消订单将全额收取房费。这种规则的多样性不仅增加了消费者的困惑，也为实际操作中处理退订纠纷带来了挑战。
针对上述问题，舟山市中级人民法院联合当地消费者权益保护委员会，对民宿消费纠纷处置标准进行了统一。这一规定不仅明确了消费者在遇到不可抗力因素时，如台风、大雾等自然灾害影响其入住时，有权申请全额退款；同时，还规定了在下单后30分钟内退订的消费者应得到全额退款。通过这一统一标准，旨在为消费者提供明确、可预期的权益保护，同时也为民宿经营者提供清晰的操作指南，有助于减少纠纷，提升行业整体服务水平。
#### 法律视角下的预付款处理
在法律层面，预付款与定金有着本质区别。定金是一种为了确保合同履行而预先支付的款项，具有一定的惩罚性质，而预付款则属于合同中约定的支付义务一部分，其目的更多是保障交易的进行。舟山法院的规定明确区分了预付款与定金的概念，强调了预付款在特定条件下的退款权利，有助于消费者在遇到不可预见情况时能够得到合理的退款处理，同时避免了不必要的法律纠纷。
#### 推动民宿行业标准化发展
上海精诚申衡(杭州)律师事务所律师赵志业对舟山法院的这一探索给予了积极评价。他指出，这一规定对于全国其他地区而言，具有重要的借鉴意义，有助于推动民宿行业向更加标准化、规范化方向发展。通过明确的规则指引，民宿行业不仅能提升服务质量和管理水平，还能增强消费者信心，促进旅游业的可持续发展。
#### 结语
舟山市中级人民法院的这一举措，是司法部门与地方政府共同应对旅游行业特定问题的创新尝试。通过明确的退订规则，不仅解决了消费者在遇到不可抗力因素时的退订纠纷，也为民宿经营者提供了明确的操作指南，有助于提升行业整体服务水平，推动民宿行业健康发展。这一探索不仅体现了对消费者权益的保护，也为全国其他地区提供了宝贵的经验和参考。
英语如下：
### Standardized Refund Rules for BnB Cancellations: A New Approach from Zhejiang Courts
In the backdrop of booming tourism, the variability in cancellation policies for bed-and-breakfast (BnB) accommodations has sparked considerable public attention and controversy. Recently, the Intermediate People’s Court of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang, has introduced a pilot regulation aimed at standardizing the rules for cancellations in the BnB industry. This initiative seeks to address disputes arising from cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters, thereby reflecting the judiciary’s commitment to consumer protection and providing legal support for the healthy development of the BnB industry.
#### Unifying the Rules, Resolving Disputes
It is noted that the current cancellation rules in the BnB industry vary widely, with different platforms and operators setting distinct policies. Some platforms permit free cancellation until the day of arrival at 18:00, while others allow for free cancellations within 30 minutes or two hours after booking, with the most stringent condition being a full charge for cancellations. This diversity complicates consumer understanding and presents challenges in practical dispute resolution.
To tackle these issues, the Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court, in collaboration with the local Consumer Rights Protection Committee, has harmonized the standards for handling BnB consumer disputes. This regulation stipulates that consumers have the right to full refunds if they are unable to check in due to unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters. It also states that consumers are entitled to a full refund if they cancel within 30 minutes of making a booking. By establishing this unified standard, the court aims to provide consumers with clear, predictable rights, while also offering operators a clear guide for operations, facilitating the reduction of disputes and enhancing the industry’s overall service quality.
#### Legal Perspective on Pre-payment Handling
Legally, a pre-payment differs fundamentally from a deposit. A deposit is intended to secure the fulfillment of a contract, often with punitive implications, whereas a pre-payment is part of the contractual payment obligation aimed at facilitating the transaction. The court’s regulations clarify the distinction between pre-payments and deposits, emphasizing the rights of consumers to refunds under specific conditions, thus enabling reasonable handling of refunds when unforeseen situations occur, while minimizing unnecessary legal disputes.
#### Promoting Standardization in the BnB Industry
Attorney Zhao Zhijie from Shanghai Jingcheng Shenhe (Hangzhou) Law Firm praised the court’s initiative. He noted that this regulation, with its potential for national applicability, serves as a significant model for advancing the BnB industry towards greater standardization and regulation. By providing clear guidelines, the industry not only improves service quality and management, but also boosts consumer confidence, fostering the sustainable development of tourism.
#### Conclusion
The Zhoushan Intermediate People’s Court’s initiative represents an innovative attempt by judicial authorities and local governments to address specific issues in the tourism industry. By setting clear cancellation rules, the court not only resolves disputes for consumers affected by unforeseen circumstances but also provides operators with clear operational guidelines, enhancing the industry’s overall service quality and promoting its healthy development. This exploration underscores the protection of consumer rights while offering valuable experience and reference for other regions across the country.
【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2024/07-22/10255381.shtml
Views: 2