Post recall, over 500 ex-Note 7 South Korean users claim damages from Samsung

Compensation is being sought for causing psychological trauma to customers because of a hazardous product

Hundreds of South Korean Galaxy Note 7 smartphone owners were preparing on Monday to file a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics over the fire-prone device.

Attorney Peter Young-Yeel Ko, head of the Harvest Law Firm, said as many as 527 consumers want Samsung to compensate for the costs borne by them while visiting shops for replacement of Note 7 phones. Damage claims are being sought, citing prolonged hours of wait during the exchange process and psychological trauma caused due to a hazardous product.

Clients caliming damages include a consumer who alleges he lost thousands of pictures from a family vacation and another who drove an eight-hour round trip to return the phone.

Samsung recalled the Galaxy Note 7 phone because it tends to overheat. It recalled replacement Note 7s as well after finding they were also prone to catch fire, following which the company stopped making or selling them.

The company did not immediately respond to for comments.

Ko, a longtime Samsung phone user, said he had to visit a mobile shop three times after buying the Note 7 in August. 

Responding to criticisms over its handling of the recalls, Samsung on Monday announced that Note 7 owners, who switch to Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge smartphones, can get a 50 percent discount if they decide to upgrade to Galaxy S8 or Note 8 next year.

Samsung earlier offered 30,000 won (USD 26) worth of coupons for all Note 7 users. Those switching to other Samsung phones were offered coupons worth 70,000 won (USD 62).

Kim Chae Yong, who joined the lawsuit, said he spent nearly USD 100 on gas and highway fees to return a Note 7 phone after the first recall.

Kim drove about 300 kilometers from home to Busan, where he had bought the Note 7. "I feel betrayed," the 26-year-old plant engineer said, adding he was angry and did not want to use the debvce again.