Government Cracks Down on Price Hikes in Co-Payment Scheme
The government is taking decisive legal action against shops that raised prices after joining the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme, following numerous complaints about widespread abuse of the programme.
Key Takeaways
- 66 complaints received nationwide between Oct 29 and Tuesday
- 29 cases involved shops inflating prices after joining the scheme
- Government vows strict penalties for violators
- Over 19 million users have spent 35+ billion baht through the scheme
Complaint Breakdown
Minister Santi Piyatat revealed that price increases were the most common issue reported through the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB). Of the 66 complaints received:
- 29 cases involved shops inflating prices immediately after joining
- 6 cases of shops charging VAT on discounted goods
- 5 cases of merchants posting misleading QR codes
- 5 cases of unauthorized service fees
- 4 cases involving sale of banned items like alcohol and tobacco
“These price hikes betray the spirit of the government’s support measures and erode public confidence,” said Mr Santi.
Government Response
The OCPB has coordinated with the Fiscal Policy Office, Department of Internal Trade, and provincial commerce offices to pursue legal action against violators and strengthen monitoring. The government is determined to ensure fairness and transparency by holding dishonest retailers accountable.
“All relevant agencies must act quickly to protect consumers and prevent shops from exploiting the system,” Mr Santi emphasized, adding that the OCPB would continue educating both shoppers and vendors on legal compliance and consumer rights.
Scheme Performance
According to the Fiscal Policy Office, more than 19 million users have successfully made payments under the scheme, with total spending exceeding 35 billion baht as of Thursday. The programme, which runs until Dec 31, includes 922,491 registered shops. Citizens can use up to 200 baht daily through the Paotang app between 6am and 11pm.
Food Delivery Impact
The Finance Ministry confirmed that food delivery spending under the scheme reached 419.42 million baht, with LINE MAN accounting for 249.74 million baht – the highest among delivery platforms. LINE MAN reported over two million orders within five days by more than one million users nationwide, with 40,000 restaurants generating nearly 300 million baht in transactions.
Meanwhile, Grab reported over one million orders and a threefold sales increase for participating restaurants, led by popular dishes like somtam (spicy papaya salad), noodle dishes, fried chicken, and Thai tea.
