Mobile mileage is provided to customers in proportion to how much they pay for their mobile rate plan, and can be used to pay for mobile fees or converted into membership points. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Mobile carriers that fail to inform their customers about ‘mobile mileage’ will now be fined.
The South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT announced that new legislation will soon take effect that will hold carriers accountable for any actions in which they fail to inform their customers about ‘mobile mileage’ by fining them 3.5 million won (US$3,100).
Mobile mileage is provided to customers in proportion to how much they pay for their mobile rate plan, and can be used to pay for mobile fees or converted into membership points.
Mobile mileage that is left unused for seven years expires automatically.
Many customers in South Korea are not aware of mobile mileage. In fact, mobile mileage worth more than 190 billion won (US$168 million) expired during the period between 2013 and 2018.
As such, the ministry obliged mobile carriers to duly inform customers about mobile mileage, its use, expiration date, and other essential information.
News related to mobile mileage will be posted on the official websites of mobile carriers, and mileage status will be included on monthly bills.
Also, text messages will be sent to customers who haven’t used their mileage for more than a year.
Mobile carriers failing to carry out the new obligations will be fined 3.5 million won, which will only increase if the carriers commit violations over multiple occasions.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
