The Korea Consumer Agency noted on the 30th that consumer complaints are rising due to unexpected expenses incurred when terminating water purifier rental services.

According to the Consumer Agency, the number of damage relief applications related to water purifier rentals received since 2022 until March of this year totaled 1,462. By year, there were 401 applications in 2022, 382 in 2023, and 536 last year. This year, 143 applications were received by March.

Reasons for the contract-related damage relief applications received in the last 3 years. /Courtesy of Korea Consumer Agency

Among the reasons for applications, complaints related to contracts accounted for the highest number at 823 (56.3%). Within this, contract termination and penalties made up 503 cases (61.1%), while contract breaches, including failures to manage and inspect, followed with 277 cases (33.7%).

The Consumer Agency analyzed 159 cases with confirmed rental and mandatory use periods and found that complaints related to termination expenses after the mandatory use period accounted for 35.8% (57 cases), over three times greater than those during the mandatory use period (10.1%, 16 cases).

In response, the Consumer Agency explained, "Consumers expect that there will be no expenses related to penalties when terminating after the mandatory use period. However, this is because, in reality, only the penalty is excluded, while rental fees that were discounted, registration fees, and demolition fees are charged."

The Consumer Agency advised that consumers should carefully examine the total rental period and the mandatory use period when entering into a water purifier rental contract, and they should verify the expenses to be incurred if they decide to terminate the contract early.

A spokesperson for the Consumer Agency said, "It is essential to check the rental period, mandatory use period, rental fees, and the timing of the transfer of ownership," and added, "If the contract is terminated early, expenses such as installation fees that were not paid during product installation may be charged in addition to penalties, so it is advisable to confirm the conditions for applying expenses and penalties."