A class-action support application has started for victims of payment issues related to TMON and WEMAKEPRICE (Timaep).
On the 17th, the Korea Consumer Agency's Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee informed consumers participating in the group dispute mediation related to Timaep travel products through individual text messages that they would accept applications for class-action support from that day until the 18th of next month.
The mediation committee made a list of 73 companies, including 62 travel agencies and sales companies that did not accept the mediation plan, along with 11 electronic payment agencies (PG), which victims can verify.
Earlier, 8,054 consumers who purchased travel and accommodation products from Timaep and were unable to receive 13.5 billion won due to a large-scale uncalculated situation participated in the group dispute mediation.
The mediation committee decided in December last year that sales companies should refund up to 90%, while PGs should refund up to 30%. However, only about 40 companies, including some payment service providers and those with low refund amounts, accepted the decision, while the rest refused.
Companies refusing refunds include major travel agencies such as Hanatour, Modetour Network, Lotte Tour Development, Yellow Balloon Tour, Interpark Triple, Very Good Tour, Online Tour, Hanjin Logistics, and accommodation providers like Hotel Lotte and Kumho Resort, as well as PGs including Danal, Toss Payments, and Korea Information & Communication.
As a result, only 1,745 individuals received about 1.6 billion won through mediation. The remaining victims will need to proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the travel agencies and other sales companies to recover their losses.
The mediation committee plans to accept applications for victims' class-action support until the 18th of next month and intends to file a civil suit through attorneys in the first half of the year. The committee will only accept lawsuit support applications from victims who participated in the group dispute mediation, while those who did not participate will need to proceed with separate civil lawsuits.
A Consumer Agency official noted, "Victims participating in the class action will only need to pay the stamp duty and will bear the success fee upon winning the case," adding that "the Consumer Agency will support expenses such as attorney fees."