Lack of awareness about rights means many buyers are cheated

BEIJING - Amid a growing number of complaints, consumer rights in China are being challenged by buyers' lack of awareness and a complicated compensation procedure.

Huang Jianhua, deputy chief of the consumer protection bureau under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, said the bureau dealt with 5.2 million inquiries and 750,000 complaints in 2010.

He said the bureau also retrieved 980 million yuan ($149 million) for buyers who were cheated, a 45-percent rise year-on-year.