Checkpoints for Consumers Amid Surging Inquiries on AI Service Failures and Refund Denials

Verified Facts and Reports

According to an analytical report by six consumer organizations participating in the Consumer Trust and AI Innovation Forum, 2,556 artificial intelligence consultations were received by the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center. An analysis of 2,025 consultations, excluding 531 duplicate cases and simple inquiries, tallied the proportion of each consultation category. Failure to deliver services or dissatisfaction with usage accounted for 589 cases, or 29.1 percent. Consultations regarding contract cancellation and refund requests totaled 555 cases, while dissatisfaction with AI chatbot customer responses accounted for 553 cases, or 27.3 percent.

Payment and refund disputes involving overseas AI subscription services accounted for 210 cases, representing 10.4 percent, whereas damages related to automatic billing and renewals for domestic AI services totaled 118 cases, or 5.8 percent. A comparison of the remedy settlement rate between the two types showed that overseas subscription services stood at only 9.5 percent, whereas domestic services reached 23.7 percent. The report highlighted systemic issues in which service providers evade responsibility by blaming artificial intelligence or by restricting contact paths to human customer representatives.

Donpoong Perspective

When paying for AI-based software or educational packages, consumers must inspect the identity of the provider and post-purchase customer support structures prior to considering technical convenience. Overseas platforms process payments immediately, yet their inquiry desks are often confined to email or automated chatbots, causing dispute settlement rates to drop below half the domestic level. Therefore, before using free trials or promotional discounts, users must verify the recurring billing cycle and locate the exact cancellation path in advance.

Consumers should also scrutinize contract terms for high-return AI courses and secondary income consulting promoted across social media. Providers are prone to disclaiming responsibility without fulfilling commitments, claiming that artificial intelligence generated the output. Registering an auto-renewing credit card on unverified platforms frequently leads to unexpected and recurring financial charges.

Practical Application and Checkpoints

To prevent financial loss, consumers should follow structured verification steps before and after payment. First, check the registration page to ensure transparency regarding the paid transition schedule and see how the total billed amount compares to the monthly equivalent. Next, check within application or website settings to ensure that the user-initiated cancellation button operates properly.

Furthermore, when paying for overseas services, verify whether a domestic agent is designated and confirm whether dispute resolution is supported through credit card chargeback mechanisms. Finally, if a dispute arises, capture all AI prompt notifications and customer service exchanges as documentary evidence, and initiate relief procedures through consumer protection institutions such as the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center.

Sources and Reference Date

• Reference Date: 2026-10-23
• Source: Ilgan NTN, Published on 2026-10-22, https://www.intn.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2054253