BANGKOK 3 October, 2011 –The Internal Trade Department has revealed that its hotline has received more than 4,000 calls since early this year, signifying that more consumers are becoming aware of their rights.
Since January to September, the Department’s 1569 hotline had received 4,324 calls, up from the 3,200 calls it got during the same period last year. Most of the complaints are about food and beverage prices. So far, 1,372 complaints have been resolved.
In September, the Internal Trade Department got 127 calls, 118 of which are complaints. The eight other calls were made by farmers who want to learn more about the rice pledging scheme.
Despite a rise in complaints, the Internal Trade Department Director-General Watcharee Wimuktayon deems the higher number of callers as reflecting that more Thai consumers have begun to realize their rights and that the public have found the hotline dependable.
The Department also explained that complaints about consumer product prices represented the highest percentage of calls, as consumer goods are involved in people’s daily life. In addition, prolonged shortages of staples, such as vegetable oil and pork early this year have resulted in the price hike. Between February and March, the hotline was bombarded with more than 1,000 calls.
Mrs. Watcharee disclosed that prices of most consumer goods should remain stable for the time being. She explained that traders didn’t dare to raise prices for fear that the public would tighten their belt more. Although flooding has pushed vegetable prices up during the vegetarian festival, inflation is unlikely to increase because meat prices are likely to decline.
She added that the Internal Trade Department would monitor the market closely. If staple food, particularly rice, is becoming more expensive, the Department is ready to launch its Blue Flag products immediately.
