Seoul, South Korea – The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) has issued a warning about a surge in mobile phone contract-related complaints from elderly consumers. According to a report released on December 31, the KCA has received 542 complaints from elderly consumers regarding mobile phone services since 2021.

The most common complaint was a discrepancy between the terms verbally agreed upon with the salesperson and the written contract. Many elderly consumers reported being misled by salespeople into signing up for expensive plans or being denied promised discounts.

The KCA attributes these issues to the elderly consumers' limited digital literacy, making it difficult for them to understand complex contract terms and challenge providers when agreements are not honored.

"Many elderly consumers have difficulty understanding the fine print in contracts and are often pressured into signing up for services they don't fully understand," said a KCA official. "As a result, they are vulnerable to deceptive sales practices."

To protect themselves, the KCA advises elderly consumers to:

Carefully review contracts: Ensure that the written contract matches the verbal agreement.
Seek assistance: Ask family members or friends to help review contracts and understand the terms.
Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics: Avoid signing contracts under pressure and take time to consider all options.
The KCA has called on mobile carriers to provide more consumer-friendly contracts and offer tailored services for elderly customers.