Starbucks Korea vowed to explain the issue of its prepaid card system not returning the remaining credit after the five-year expiration date.
According to a Starbucks Korea official, they have endeavored to explain the issue in all its coffee shops but there has been confusion at some of its branches.
Customers have been urging the American coffeehouse chain to change its terms.
An office worker surnamed Seo complained that it is not right for Starbucks to take their money placed in their cards, adding that none of the banks or financial services or department stores do this.
Starbucks stipulates the prepaid charging service will cause unused funds to disappear or eventually go to the company after five-year expiration date. It pointed out that they compensate the balance on new cards issued when customers request a refund.
The initial deposits of 2.1 billion won when the prepaid card system was first introduced back in 2009 has soared 90 times in 10 years. The launch of the "silent order" service in 2014, which let customers order drinks online with money deposited in their cards, was instrumental in dramatically increasing the amount of "forgotten money."
With about 5 to 6 percent deposited in prepaid cards left unused every year and local customers having deposited over 200 billion won this year, Starbucks' windfall is expected to surge to 12 billion won in the next five years.


Elon Musk Wins Reinstatement of Historic Tesla Pay Package After Delaware Supreme Court Ruling
U.S. Lawmakers Urge Pentagon to Blacklist More Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Ties
Bridgewater Associates Plans Major Employee Ownership Expansion in Milestone Year
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution
EU Approves €90 Billion Ukraine Aid as Frozen Russian Asset Plan Stalls
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025
U.S. Stock Futures Slip After CPI-Fueled Rally as Markets Weigh Economic Uncertainty
Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement
6 simple questions to tell if a ‘finfluencer’ is more flash than cash
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review
Parents abused by their children often suffer in silence – specialist therapy is helping them find a voice
Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think
FedEx Beats Q2 Earnings Expectations, Raises Full-Year Outlook Despite Stock Dip
Oracle Stock Surges After Hours on TikTok Deal Optimism and OpenAI Fundraising Buzz
Oracle Stock Slides After Blue Owl Exit Report, Company Says Michigan Data Center Talks Remain on Track 



