Increase in Requests Following Attention on Trauma Single Mothers
Sales and Consumer Spending Capacity Decline Amid Economic Recession
On April 30th, a post by a snack bar owner who sent food after receiving a credit request through a delivery application saying, "I am a pregnant single mother. I am very hungry but have no money right now, so I am shamelessly asking for help," went viral on an online community. The owner later received the payment and offered the single mother a part-time job at the snack bar they run.
After the owner’s good deed became known, several posts appeared on internet communities reporting credit requests made by people in desperate situations. There have also been numerous complaints about food not being paid for after accepting such 'contactless requests.'
An order form requesting credit, disclosed by a self-employed individual on the 5th of last month. [Photo by Online Community]
On the 5th of last month, a post titled "Credit Delivery" was uploaded to an online community. The author, Mr. A, revealed, "Our store received three credit delivery requests over ten days," and shared the order slips.
The first order slip read, "Boss, I need to feed my child. Can I get this on credit? I will pay you tomorrow. Please, if possible, leave out the vegetables." The second said, "Boss, I will send you 30,000 won on the 20th. Can I get this on credit? I am very hungry." The last one stated, "Boss, I need to feed my child, so can I get this on credit? Since yesterday, I haven’t been able to feed them and only gave leftover snacks at home."
Mr. A noted that the addresses for these orders were the same, indicating they were from the same person, and said, "Delivery fees in that area are 8,500 won, but they say they have no money today and might have money tomorrow to order then. This is beyond my common sense, so I refused all of them."
There was also a post from someone who sent food after accepting a contactless request but did not receive payment. Mr. B wrote on April 9th, "I think many have experienced this. Our staff sent out a delivery order, but the money never came into the account," and shared the order slip. The slip read, "I am a student and very hungry. If you write your account number, I will transfer the money."
Small business owners have been complaining that despite poor sales recently, such requests never stop. This phenomenon is said to exacerbate the difficulties faced by small business owners struggling due to the economic downturn.
Lee Sung-won, Secretary General of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business Owners, told Hankook Ilbo, "Consumers with reduced spending power are making credit requests more easily through contactless methods than before, increasing the burden on small business owners," adding, "This starkly reveals the economic crisis faced by consumers whose spending power has sharply declined due to rising prices and increased public utility fees."
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