Condo Applicants Not Getting Admission Fee Refunds

Customers are not able to receive their admission fees back from condominium companies, even after their memberships have expired, according to a watchdog agency report.

After analyzing 830 complaints from customers from 2004 to June 2007, the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said yesterday that 69% (573 cases) were about delays in admissions fee refunds by condominium companies.

This was followed by rejected withdrawal request (11.7%, 97 cases), rejected subscription cancellations due to credit delinquency, disability, or death (4.5%, 37 cases), and other inconveniences related to the use of condominiums (3.9%, 32 cases).

The KCA said, “The tourism promotion act that applies to condominiums does not have clauses or provisions that guarantee the return of admission fees.” The KCA is planning to ask the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to establish measures to change the practices of condominium companies.

savoring@donga.com