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"I already paid 1.5 million won for the move. Do I have to cover the workers' lunch, too?"
A customer who paid in full for a packing-and-moving service says the crew then asked for meal money for four workers, and the account has stirred debate. Some see it as consideration for hard physical labor, while others argue that demanding costs not written into the contract is unfair. Attention has also turned to the Fair Trade Commission's standard contract terms, which address the issue directly.
What the FTC's standard terms say: no extra charges for "gratuities"
Under Article 8 of the Fair Trade Commission's standard terms for household moving services, cited on the 20th, moving companies may not in principle charge more than the fee stated in the contract. Paragraph 3 of that article specifically bars companies from billing any separate amount under any pretext, including gratuities.
For contracts covered by those standard terms, then, asking for workers' meal money, drinks or tips without prior agreement may constitute a violation.
Exceptions can apply when the volume of belongings increases or the scope of work changes because of the customer. Even then, the company must notify the customer of the additional cost in advance.
The difficulty is that consumers find it hard to refuse when asked for extra money on moving day. Some pay charges they do not want, worried that work could stop midway through the move.
Moving experts advise settling in the contract stage whether meal money and gratuities are the customer's responsibility, and putting whatever is agreed in writing.
"I even bought them coffee, and now lunch": the 1.5 million won dispute
A post asking whether movers' requests for meal money are appropriate appeared on social media on the 18th.
The writer, identified only as A, said they recently paid a company 1.5 million won for a packing-and-moving service. A said they provided coffee to the crew on moving day, but when lunchtime came, the driver asked them to cover meals for the four workers.
A questioned whether a separate meal was expected on top of a bill that was already substantial.
Others who saw the post shared similar experiences. One user complained that movers "kept asking me to buy water and coffee," adding, "They were paid in full, so I don't understand why they keep asking for more."
Another user said a worker had asked mid-move for a tip to be sent to a personal bank account.
One account claimed items went missing even after meals and snacks were provided. "I paid for lunch and prepared snacks and coffee, and then the expensive kitchenware and silverware my mother gave me as a wedding gift disappeared," the user wrote. "It seems they took advantage of a situation where the family couldn't properly check the belongings."
The user added that a box of sauces was damaged during the move, but "the workers said they wouldn't take the meal money, so we let it go."
Others said covering a meal was reasonable given the physical demands of the job. One user said the 1.5 million won "goes to the company, and if you can afford it, you can give a few tens of thousands of won to the people actually carrying the heavy load."
Some noted that the practice of providing meals or separate tips during a move is a holdover from the past.
Still, others said voluntary goodwill should be distinguished from demands made as if by right. One user who said they had moved four times noted, "I was never asked for lunch money. If anything, when I kept bringing snacks, the workers told me I didn't need to."
Minimizing disputes over extra charges and damage: how to pick a company
Consumer problems in moving go beyond requests for meal money. Some companies quote a low price and then demand extra charges on site, and furniture and appliances are sometimes damaged in transit.
The Korea Consumer Agency recommends drawing up a written contract before a move to prevent such disputes.
The contract should specify the total cost, the number of workers, the volume of goods to be transported, whether a ladder truck will be used, and the conditions under which additional charges apply.
Customers should also confirm who bears responsibility if items are damaged or lost, and how they can be compensated if the company fails to perform the contract.
When choosing a company, it is worth checking whether it is licensed as a freight transport brokerage and whether it carries relevant insurance, such as cargo liability coverage.
The terms attached to the contract should be read closely as well, since penalties for cancellation and standards for damages can differ from company to company.
If asked on site for an amount not in the contract, consumers should ask for the basis of the additional charge and keep records such as text messages or receipts, which can help resolve a dispute.
