"Keep Your Shipping Invoice Safe" Consumer Damage Advisory Issued Before the Holiday

Check Refund Policies Carefully for Airline Tickets and Gift Certificates
Accurately Declare the Value of Shipments When Sending by Courier

As consumer damage cases have recently surged, including instances where consumers fail to receive proper compensation due to claims that "refund policies do not cover same-day flight cancellations," the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency have issued a "Consumer Damage Advisory."

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On the 18th, the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency warned that damages related to airline tickets, parcel delivery, and gift certificates are expected to increase ahead of Chuseok.

According to the Consumer Agency, over the past three years, a total of 1,823 damage relief cases were reported during September and October, which include the Chuseok holiday period. Among these, 1,126 cases were related to airline tickets, accounting for 15.4% of the annual reports. Parcel delivery-related cases numbered 320 (19.1% of annual reports), and gift certificate-related cases were 377 (13.3%).

The main types of damage included ▲insufficient compensation for flight delays or cancellations ▲damage or loss of parcel items ▲refusal to refund remaining balances on gift certificates. Consumers experiencing such damages can apply for damage relief and dispute mediation, but the process often takes a long time. Therefore, the Fair Trade Commission and the Consumer Agency have suggested the following preventive measures.

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First, before purchasing airline tickets, consumers should carefully read the refund policies (including cancellation fees) and frequently check whether flight schedules have changed before the departure date. Also, keep baggage tags safely, and if baggage is lost or damaged, immediately request the airline to issue a damage confirmation certificate.

When sending parcels, it is advisable to accurately record the price, type, and quantity of the items on the shipping invoice and keep it until delivery is completed. In case of damage during transportation, the declared value of the items serves as the basis for calculating compensation. For items prone to damage, use cushioning materials for packaging, mark the package with "Fragile," and notify the delivery person in advance.

For gift certificates, check the issue date, validity period, refund policies, and usage conditions before purchase. In particular, mobile gift certificates usually have shorter validity periods than paper-based ones, so caution is needed. The Fair Trade Commission and the Consumer Agency advised, "It is best to avoid purchasing from places that advertise large discounts for bulk purchases or cash payments of gift certificates."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.