Consumer Council: complaints over parking charges hit 3-year high with hair transplant-related sales issues
發佈日期: 2026-02-16 20:04
TVB News
The Consumer Council received 120 complaints related to parking services last year, the highest in three years.
Also risen in complaints are hair transplant services.
Parking problems -- are not just about finding a parking space on the busy streets these days.
The woes now extend to confusion in fees and pricing.
The Consumer Council received 120 related complaints last year, which hit a three-year high.
More than half involved fee disputes.
One complainant, Ms. To, saw an ad at a residential estate car park promoting "24-hour parking" for 145 dollars.
She parked for 22 hours but was charged 1,210 dollars upon exit.
Staff explained the discount only applied to designated inner parking areas, while her parking space was charged at 55 dollars per hour.
Ms. To says the ad did not clearly specify the designated area and only stated that terms and conditions applied.
She adds that the "inner area" required entry through another gate.
The car park operator initially refused her request for a refund.
Following mediation by the consumer watchdog which noted that drivers would find it difficult to stop and read lengthy, small-print terms at the gate, the operator refunded 1,065 dollars.
The Consumer Council urged operators to make terms clearer and easier to understand before drivers enter car parks.
Separately, the Consumer Council received 67 complaints over the past three years related to hair transplant and restoration services.
In one case, a complainant purchased a 170,000-dollar treatment package involving the implantation of 2,000 artificial hair strands, claiming results would last six to eight years.
After receiving 1,200 implanted strands in stages, nearly all fell out within a year.
The complainant also experienced redness, inflammation and sores on the scalp.
The watchdog cited Department of Health advice that consumers should consult their doctors before undergoing medical procedures to understand potential risks, and should not rely solely on ads or sales pitches from non-professionals.
