Govt to amend consumer protection law

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government has ordered the country’s Scotland Yard, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), to review consumer protection laws in other countries in order to help provide a guideline for possible amendments to Thailand’s law.

The current consumer protection law is weak and cannot guarantee that local consumers are treated fairly and prevent them from being taken advantage of by entrepreneurs, the Permanent Secretary for Justice, Somchai Wongsawati, told TNA.

The government move is in response to a recent incident of a Thai woman who smashed her Honda CRV sedan with a sledge hammer because she was severely disappointed with the quality of the car.

The incident has been widely covered by both the local and foreign media.

Japan’s laws protecting automobile consumers might be used as a guideline to prevent a re-occurrence of this particular problem.

The automobile, real estate, retail and service sectors will be studied closely before amendments are suggested, he said.

The DSI's office of consumer and environment protection will oversee the survey and later draft the amendments to law.

Mr. Somchai said that Thais who are treated unfairly in all issues could lodge their complaints to the ministry's Rights and Liberties Protection Department, which will liaise with agencies concerned to help address their problems.

--TNA 2005-02-01

...The current consumer protection law is weak ....

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Didn't know there was any. Another vote catching promise?