Refrain from Impulsively Signing Wedding Consulting Service Contracts at Wedding Fairs

-Refusing to rescind contract or charging excessive penalty-

  Wedding fairs are increasingly becoming hotspots for soon-to-be married couples who are looking to obtain as much information as possible on wedding preparations. However, caution is advised as there are cases where a wedding consulting company offer free gifts, discounts, etc. to induce couples to sign a wedding consulting service* contract, but then later refuses to rescind the contract or charge excessive penalty.

  * Wedding consulting service is comprised of basic services (studio photo shoot + wedding dress rental + makeup) and referral services (wedding halls and wedding gift shops).

▣ 41% of consumer damages relate to wedding consulting service contracts signed at wedding fairs

  The Korea Consumer Agency (www.kca.go.kr) analyzed 229 consumer damage cases reported from January 2010 to August 2015 related to wedding consulting services, and found that 94 cases (41.0%) involved service contracts concluded at wedding fairs.

  In detail, 53 cases (56.4%) concerned "refusing to rescind contract" and 20 cases (21.3%) pertained to "refusing early termination and charging excessive penalty." Other consumer damages related to "dissatisfaction with wedding photos or refusing to deliver wedding photos" (7 cases or 7.4%) and "charging extra for changing wedding dress" (3 cases or 3.2%).

Of the 54 cases in which the contract amount was verified, service fees* (excluding cost for actual wedding ceremony photo shoots) averaged KRW 2,475,000.

  * Service fees refer to the contract amount paid to the wedding consulting service company, and exclude cost for actual wedding ceremony photo shoots.

▣ Most wedding fairs take place at wedding consulting service companies

  The KCA monitored online advertisements and conducted onsite investigations of wedding fairs organized by nine wedding consulting service companies in Seoul during August 2015. While wedding fairs were advertised as being held by participation from various wedding consulting service companies, travel agencies specializing in honeymoon packages, and wedding gift shops, five wedding fairs were found to be small-scale events held at the wedding consulting service company that placed the advertisement.

  Also, 8 out of 9 wedding fairs induced couples to sign contracts by saying that free gifts and discounts would be one-time offerings, but 5 wedding fairs were found to have been held on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Furthermore, 3 wedding fairs kept asking couples to sign on even if having refused.

  In order to prevent further damages for those going to wedding fairs, the KCA advised the following: (i) carefully check service offerings and refund policies before contract signing, and refrain from impulsively signing a contract; (ii) request that rescinding or refund provisions be included in the contract; and (iii) keep contracts, terms and conditions, receipts, etc.