New Consumer Protection Center Launched in Thailand

[webfact]

    
BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has announced the establishment of a special operations center by the Consumer Protection Board, focusing on monitoring goods and services during the New Year festival’s high spending period.

 

This initiative, led by Prime Minister’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad, aims to tackle issues in online shopping, ticket bookings, and car leasing.

 

The decision follows a review of around 3,200 consumer complaints reported from May to October, indicating many grievances related to online transactions.

 

The new center will coordinate with various agencies, including the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Royal Thai Police, and the Food and Drug Administration, to enhance consumer fraud protection.

 

The Consumer Protection Board also plans to restructure to allow more regional and local involvement, ensuring faster resolution of consumer issues, particularly during peak shopping seasons.

 

Consumers are advised to be vigilant and carefully verify sensitive information before purchasing. Any unfair treatment can be reported to the Consumer Protection Board hotline at 1166.

 

by Krajangwit Johjit

 

Full story: NNT 2023-11-30

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[bob smith]

will they be as attentive and responsive as 'support' on aseannow? 

Edited November 30, 2023 by bob smith

[Tropicalevo]

Off topic - deleted

Edited November 30, 2023 by Tropicalevo

[Will B Good]

Step 1: Get rid of the monopolies and price cartels

Step 2: Job done.

[Peterphuket]

5 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Step 1: Get rid of the monopolies and price cartels

Step 2: Job done.

It makes no diiferent, Will.

"during the New Year festival’s high spending period. "

So it is only for a very short time.

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by Peterphuket

[spidermike007]

I would not expect much from any government agency here. Some time ago when I was living on Samui I had an issue with an air conditioner that I had just bought from Homepro. I went into Homepro asking for service and got no satisfaction at all. I asked for the manager which is something that I usually do, when I am not getting anywhere, and she had a terrible attitude and was very unhelpful.

I had got her name, went home, looked up the head office in Bangkok, sent them a quick email explaining the situation calling her out by name and within an hour I got a phone call from a vice president telling me that everything would be addressed, and he said that I should go back into the store the following morning. When I did I got a deep bow from the manager, I'm so sorry I misunderstood yesterday. What can I do to make you happy? It was the exact response I wanted the first time around but that I got after she had been scolded by the VP, and likely her job had been threatened if her attitude didn't improve. Sometimes we just have to escalate things to a more senior employer or manager in order to get things done here, sometimes the fools on the floor just don't know what service looks like.

My Thai wife was shocked when I first started doing this, as she tried to explain to me that they do not have customer service in Thailand. I explained to her that they sure do! Now she realizes that service does exist, can exist, and will exist if the right amount of will, force and action is brought to the table.

Well it happened. Fact. All I can go on. I did not reach out to a VP. I simply sent an articulate note to the email contact on the website. And unlike your supposition that they do not get read, it was responded too quickly. Might have helped that I added that I was averaging 100,000 to 200,000 baht a year in Home Pro expenditures with my hilltop villa, at the time. A VP took it upon himself, called me that day, speaking perfect English, and asked me if I would be kind enough to visit the store again tomorrow.

I suppose with any service anywhere, it comes down to the approach one uses, negotiating skill and fortitude. I do not let these things go. You can lay down and die, like a submissive sheep in this life, or you can defend your dignity and put up a fight.

I usually choose the latter. Don't consider myself to be a dog or a doormat, and prefer not to let others that I do business with treat me like either. My Thai wife has been astonished a dozen times when things like this have come up, and she has seen me wage battle. She just shakes her head and says great job. I had no idea!