As each year passes, the number of damage reports from consumers is increasing. There are cases of damage in various fields, including travel products, food, clothing, electronics, and performance tickets.
Despite the Consumer Protection Act’s refund regulations, the cases and scale of damage, such as rejection of transaction cancellation requests or non-refundability, are more serious than expected, and in particular, it is said that damage is greater online than offline.
From now on, we will learn how to report damage to the Consumer Complaint Center. Please read carefully until the end.
Consumer Complaint Center website
According to the ‘Basic Consumer Act’, which protects consumers, consumers have the right to be protected from ‘disputes’ and ‘harm’ that occur. You also have the right to receive compensation promptly and appropriately for damages incurred while purchasing and using goods, etc., in accordance with fair procedures.
However, business operators display information that may be disadvantageous to consumers in a place that is not easily visible or in very small letters that are not conspicuous, so consumers miss it. In the end, there are cases where it causes significant damage.
If any damage or dispute that applies to the rights of the Consumer Protection Act occurs, or if your request for a refund is rejected, please do not ignore it and seek consultation through the Consumer Complaint Center to resolve the issue.
■ Access the Consumer Complaint Center
The method I will introduce from now on is to access the Consumer Complaint Center website and post a message.
You can access the Consumer Complaint Center website through the link below.
▼ Access the Consumer Complaint Center website
Go to Consumer Complaint Center
■ Data room
When a dispute arises with a business owner, you must write to the Consumer Complaint Center. Before writing a post, please first check the ‘Data Room’ menu on the Consumer Complaint Center website.
In the data room on the Consumer Complaint Center website,
You can check detailed laws related to damage, such as the Fair Trade Commission Notice, the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, etc., the Act on Door-to-door Sales, etc., and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc.
Before writing a post on the consumer complaint bulletin board, please check the relevant information here first, as it will be of great help in writing the post.
How to write a report to the Consumer Complaint Center
If you have checked the various consumer protection laws in the data room, write a report.
If you select ‘Consumer Complaint’ from the menu at the top of the Consumer Complaint Center homepage, the report bulletin board will appear.
① Find cases similar to my situation
Before writing a report on the bulletin board, first look for cases similar to yours. There are so many damage cases that if you search, you will be able to find similar cases. If you look for a case, you will also find a response from the person in charge of providing damage relief, so you can compare it with your own case and refer to it.
It would be nice if you could get an answer through reference cases from other victims, but if not, write a report on the bulletin board.
② Write a report
To write a post, click ‘Write/Submit Photo/Video’ located near the top right of the screen.
■ When to write?
For quick processing, the category and company name must be clearly classified. You must enter accurate personal information in the contact and address fields, but please avoid writing personal information in the body of the post.
You can receive an accurate answer by attaching materials such as product photos or videos containing damage or disputes, captures of conversations with the business owner, and contracts. If you do not feel comfortable sharing the contents with others, you can check the ‘private post’ and then register a report.
Consumer Complaint Center Korea Consumer Agency Receiving Damage Relief
In addition to the Consumer Complaint Center, there are service organizations such as the ‘Korea Consumer Federation’ and ‘1372 Consumer Counseling Center’ where consumers can report or receive consultation to relieve damage. However, if you want to go beyond reporting and consultation and proceed with damage relief procedures and resolve the problem, we recommend that you use the Korea Consumer Agency.
‘Korea Consumer Agency’ does not have jurisdiction or enforceability like a court decision. If you proceed with a civil lawsuit to receive a judgment from the judiciary, it will take a long time and be burdensome due to costs, procedures, etc. However, if you utilize the damage relief system through the Korea Consumer Agency, you will receive help from expert advice and other relevant laws to resolve difficulties with business owners. We can reach an agreement.
■ Apply for damage relief from Korea Consumer Agency
If damage occurs to a product or a dispute arises with the business owner, you can apply for damage relief from the Korea Consumer Agency to resolve the problem.
Before applying, we recommend that you first receive consultation at the Consumer Counseling Center. The phone number for the Consumer Counseling Center is ☏ 1372 without area code.
If the problem is not resolved after consultation at the Consumer Counseling Center, you can apply for damage relief on the Korea Consumer Agency website.
Access the Korea Consumer Agency website
▼ After accessing the Korea Consumer Agency website, select ‘Application for Damage Relief’.
▼ There is an application form for each damage relief area, so you can download it and fill it out.
When filling out an application for damage relief, it is very helpful to prepare materials such as transaction statements, receipts, and captures that can prove conversations with the business in the event of damage or dispute.
■ How to apply to the Korea Consumer Agency
There are four ways to apply to the Korea Consumer Agency. The method described above is an online application, and you can also apply in person, by registered mail, or by fax.
○ Apply online
Go to the Korea Consumer Agency website and attach the damage relief application and supporting documents.
○ Application for visit
Download the application form from the Korea Consumer Agency website, fill it out, and visit in person with supporting documents.
-Head office: Visiting counseling room, 1st floor, Korea Consumer Agency, 54 Yongdu-ro, Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do
-Seoul Branch: Korea Consumer Agency Seoul Branch, 167 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul (15th floor, Building A, Munjeong Terra Tower)
○ Registered mail application
An application for damage relief and supporting documents are enclosed. The address is different for each field, so please check and send it correctly.
-Textile: Korea Consumer Agency Seoul Branch, 167 Songpa-daero, Songpa-gu, Seoul (15th floor, Building A, Munjeong Tera Tower) (Zip code 05855)
-Shoes: Korea Consumer Agency Busan Branch, 10th floor, 24 Hwangnyeong-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan (Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry) (Zip code 47354)
-Others: Consumer Counseling Center, 6th floor, Korea Consumer Agency, 54 Yongdu-ro, Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-guk, Chungcheongnam-do (Zip code 27738)
○ Fax application
We will send you a fax along with the damage relief application and supporting documents.
-Fax number: 043)877-6767
So far, we have learned about damage counseling, reporting methods, and receiving relief through the Consumer Complaint Center and the Korea Consumer Agency. There should be as little damage as possible, but even if it does occur, various procedures must be utilized to ensure that there are no disadvantages.