It seemed like consumers in Malaysia ia always at the other end of the bargain table. Just take a look at The Star Paper today.

Hotlink make an announcement to the general public informing them not to purchase the Hotlink Top Up tickets with Serial Numbers so and so...because the said tickets are stolen and Hotlink has already deactivated it.

To show their seriousness, they even cited the Penal Code which says that it is an offence to receive, retain, conceal or dispose of stolen property.

By putting up this Notice, Hotlink is assuming that whoever has in possesion the tickets with that particular SN is a thief or at best a party to a crime.

Question is, is it fair to prejudge the consumer this way?

While under the law, they may have fulfill their legal obligations to disqualified the stolen cards thus they have the right to deny the unknowing consumers from activating it or requesting for a replacement - however, by doing so, they will antagonise the genuine users who is unaware of this announcement for whatever reason.

If they really have the consumer in mind, they should've make an announcement about the lost of the cards plus an appeal for users who has unwittingly bought it to return it and be replace with a new one.

To ensure that the users are genuine their name and I/C number should be taken down upon return of the ticket and issuance of a new one. This way Hotlink can track the geographical distribution of the cards as well as ensuring that they do not put the genuine users to a disadvantage.

Now then, this is good Corporate Service Responsibility.