Foreign Dad Refused Refund, Kicked Out—Police Step In

Source: OT-Team(G)，口岸治安派出所

  A foreign dad in China sought police help over a failed refund.  

A heated dispute between a foreign man and a local vendor erupted at a downtown shopping plaza in Suifenhe, Heilongjiang province, drawing police intervention and sparking discussion about consumer rights.

According to local authorities, the foreign national—identified as Valery(pseudonym)—approached patrolling officers at Central Plaza in a state of visible frustration. He reported that he had purchased a children's learning device for 2,000 yuan (approx. USD 275) from a booth at a shopping center. The vendor, he claimed, had verbally promised that the device could be refunded at any time.

However, when Valery returned to the same booth with his daughter around 1 p.m. that afternoon to request a refund, the situation took an ugly turn. "The vendor suddenly changed his attitude," Valery told officers. "He refused to honor his promise, tried to drive us away, and began packing up to leave."

Left feeling helpless and stonewalled in a foreign country where he faced language barriers and cultural differences, Valery had no choice but to seek help from the local police.

Officers from the police substation responded swiftly, heading directly to the vendor's stall in the shopping center. After reviewing security footage to verify Valery's account, they contacted the mall management and escorted the shop owner to the police station for a formal mediation.

Inside the station, officers listened carefully to both parties. After confirming the merchant's failure to uphold his refund commitment, the police issued a stern warning to the vendor and reminded him of the stipulations outlined in China's Consumer Rights Protection Law, emphasizing that trust and honesty are the foundation of any business.

Following a prolonged and patient mediation, the vendor ultimately acknowledged his wrongdoing and processed a full refund for Valery.

The following day, Valery's wife visited the police station to express her gratitude. Holding back tears, she presented a red silk banner—a traditional Chinese token of appreciation—emblazoned with words of thanks. "When something like this happens in a foreign country, you feel powerless," she said. "But the professionalism and compassion shown by the Chinese police gave us hope. It made us feel protected and welcomed, even far from home."