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[54] 2011.05.06
Cell phone-related complaints up 1.7 fold over last year

 




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TEL +82-02-774-4050, FAX +82-02-774-4090

 

Press Release

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effecitive Date   : May 6, 2011
Dept. in Charge   : Team leader Jo June-ha
 

  : Assistant Administrator       Ryu Soo-yang

Tel   : +82-02-770-4050
 
 
 

D

Cell phone-related complaints up 1.7 fold over last year

- Most of them are quality and after-sales service-related complaints

According to the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations (Chairperson Kim Jae-ok), consumers' cell phone-related complaints in March 2011 increased 1.7-fold year-on-year. The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations tabulated the figures based on complaints submitted to a total of 194 consumer centers nationwide.

 

As for the types of complaints, quality and after-sales service-related complaints (1,305 cases against 600 in the same period of last year) topped the list, followed by invoice amount (498 v. 457), subscription withdrawal (479 v. 281), and dishonesty involved in subscription (116 v. 118). It is noteworthy that quality and after-sales service-related complaints increased more than twofold over last year.

 

Smart phone-related complaints increase more than fourfold

 

It appears that smart phone-related complaints, in particular, increased considerably. Amid the popularization of smart phone starting in 2010, complaints submitted to consumer centers about smart phone increased more than fourfold, i.e., from127 cases in March 2010 to 530 cases in March 2011. With regard to the types of complaints, quality and after-sales service-related complaints took the lion’s share, i.e.,77 cases (or 12.8%), concerning smart phones out of the 600 cases of quality and after-sales service-related complaints in March 2010 v. 292 cases (or 22.4%) out of the 1,305 cases in March 2011.

 

 

Consumers need to use insurance when purchasing a smart phone after checking coverage extent /period.

 

You have to consider a situation in which you may lose your high-priced smart phone or it getting broken. In connection to one of these scenarios occurring, smart phone service providers offer insurance (i.e., PhoneSave by SK Telecom; ShowPhoneCare by KT; and PhoneCarePlus by LGU+).

 

The three mobile telecom providers do not accept smart phone insurance subscription after a month from the purchase of a smart phone. It appears that smart phone purchasers are exposed to loss as in many cases the telecom providers fail to advise the purchasers of the need to be insured.

 

Smart phone purchaser need to be cautious when buying an insurance product. Once purchased, you cannot cancel it or switch to another insurance product. If you have purchased an insurance product whose coverage is low, you may suffer loss. Thus, you have to check the details regarding things like coverage extent/period carefully when buying an insurance product.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

< Group Members >

Consumers Korea, Korea Federation of Housewives Clubs, National Council of Homemakers' Classes, Korea Women's Association, Korea Consumer Affairs Institute, Korea Consumers Education Center, Consumers Union of Korea, YMCA Korea, National YWCA of Korea, Green Consumers Network in Korea

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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