Retailers under ‘Let’s go Halves’ scheme warned against jacking up prices

[webfact]

Retailers under ‘Let’s go Halves’ scheme warned against jacking up prices

By The Nation

 

 

The Finance Ministry is calling on retailers participating in the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) subsidy scheme to stop jacking up their prices and taking advantage of shoppers.

 

Pornchai Triraveja, fiscal policy adviser for the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) and the ministry’s spokesperson, said increasing prices also goes against the scheme’s aim to reduce people’s cost of living in the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

He said complaints about retailers who violate the scheme’s rules can be emailed to [email protected], by calling FPO at (02) 273 9020 extensions 3697, 3527, 3548 and 3509 or by calling Krungthai Bank at (02) 111 1144.

 

“The ministry is cooperating with related authorities to investigate this issue. We will suspend the use of Tung Ngern smartphone application and take legal action against retailers found to be violating the rules,” he said.

 

As of November 30, more than 870,000 shops and over 9 million citizens have joined the scheme. So far, total spending stands at Bt31.77 billion, of which Bt16.22 billion has been spent by the public and Bt15.55 million by the government.

 

The top five provinces with the highest spending were Bangkok, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Chonburi.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398897

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-01

 

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[Tyler Visan]

What is this scheme, how do I/wife join, and which shops are participating please?

[ThailandRyan]

How many times must they be warned.  Has this not been covered already with them. If guilty then their license for operating a business should be suspended, as well as any participation in future programs.  The downside is they are just trying to be a little corrupt unlike the big officials.

[bluesofa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Finance Ministry is calling on retailers participating in the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) subsidy scheme to stop jacking up their prices and taking advantage of shoppers

As the photo is a fruit seller, I'm guessing jack-fruit might be susceptible to this? 

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

If guilty then their license for operating a business should be suspended

What gives you the idea that the have a license? 

[sammieuk1]

It's the government's job to do the to take advantage of shoppers through the cartel system of no competition????

[ChipButty]

3 hours ago, Tyler Visan said:

What is this scheme, how do I/wife join, and which shops are participating please?

It's great Half Half they call it, It has to be your wife, at the moment you cannot join it, it's full wait until the next phase which I think will be January, as a vendor you can still join if you have a restaurant the shops that are participating will advertise it you download the app, upto 300 Baht per day, so you pay half they pay half

[ThailandRyan]

29 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

What gives you the idea that the have a license? 

To be part of the Scheme they need to be registered with the Government and so I would have expected a license was purchased.  GF had to purchase a license and register her hair salon she had.  I know there are many non conforming carts and storefronts, but then can they get money from the Government, as I am sure they will be monitored and taxed on the extra earnings.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

How many times must they be warned.  Has this not been covered already with them. If guilty then their license for operating a business should be suspended, as well as any participation in future programs.  The downside is they are just trying to be a little corrupt unlike the big officials.

Licence.... what licence.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

20 hours ago, Tyler Visan said:

What is this scheme, how do I/wife join, and which shops are participating please?

Your wife registers at Krung Thai bank. They install an e-wallet app on her phone. To qualify she must produce "poor people" papers, which I don't know much about.

 

Be prepared for long queues as you'll likely see many still trying to do this, who certainly look very poor, particularly at branches around shopping centers. You'll have better luck at more remote branches away from the crowds.

 

Maximum you can then deposit into the e-wallet is then 1500 baht, which I did for my wife, giving her 3000 to spend. Look for the 50/50 logo, two puzzle pieces with a heart, at many mom and pop restaurants (not corp chains), mom and pop 7-11 knockoffs (not actual 7-11s), and certain fresh markets. Your wife then pays the vendors as they scan each other's phones.

 

There is a daily maximum spend, I believe only 150 baht. We've been using it quite well. And no, I'm not some cashed up pensioner, but a lowly English teacher, so we need it.

[digger70]

20 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

How many times must they be warned.  Has this not been covered already with them. If guilty then their license for operating a business should be suspended, as well as any participation in future programs.  The downside is they are just trying to be a little corrupt unlike the big officials.

It doesn't matter how many times they warn the Retailers This is Los ,they don't care they do what they want to rip off people.

[kensawadee]

My Thai wife in Korat presently advises me that she got some of the 50/50 stuff and the store manager nearby offered to give her 70% percent profit in cash..... without buying anything.... thereby him earning a 30% profit off her 'credits''   

I am quite sure it was a merchant in Pemai....   ALWAYS some business people trying to 'skim' a bit on all schemes to help the poor........

[Jai Dee]

A couple of insulting troll posts as well as replies have been removed.