Half of Thailand's Debt Relief Applicants Fail to Meet Criteria

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Amidst Thailand's mounting household debt crisis, the freshly launched 'You Fight, We Help' debt relief programme is witnessing an unexpected hiccup. Despite a rush of applications, many hopeful borrowers are ineligible for support.

 

Introduced by the Bank of Thailand, this scheme allows eligible borrowers to pause interest payments for three years and adopt a more manageable debt repayment plan. Yet, merely a month post-launch, it appears clarity surrounding the programme's criteria has become a significant hurdle.

 

Kris Chantanotoke, CEO of Siam Commercial Bank, revealed that several applicants do not fulfil the basic eligibility requirements, sparking a review of the bank's communication strategies. Mr Chantanotoke emphasised the bank's commitment to genuine support while acknowledging the steep learning curve during the programme's nascent stage.

 

Statistics from the central bank show that out of 461,029 applications, only half gained approval. This disparity highlights a widespread misunderstanding in the applicant pool concerning eligibility, specifically regarding debt default periods.

 

 

The debt initiative offers temporary relief to those with various loans, aiming to curb Thailand's soaring household debt-to-GDP ratio, which approached 90% last year. Loans considered under the scheme include mortgages, car loans, and small business loans, provided borrowers defaulted on repayments for fewer than 356 days.

 

Financial leaders like Sakchai Peechapat of Tisco Financial Group report high rejection rates, as only 30% of their applicants qualify. Meanwhile, Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group's CEO, Aphinant Klewpatinond, mentions that half of their applicants faced eligibility issues, primarily due to misunderstandings of the scheme's terms.

 

The banks are now making efforts to clarify the conditions and plan to maintain standard debt collection proceedings for non-qualifying applicants. How this corrective approach will affect future applications remains to be seen, but the programme's success hinges on clear communication and defined processes.

 

-- 2025-01-20