Protection for financial consumers

"We need to have the systematic financial consumer protection to help solve financially related problems, protect financial consumers and deepen their knowledge to help immunise them," BOT Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.

Last year, there were approximately 2,600 complaints filed with the central bank, he said. Most concerned financial institutions' services, call-centre scam gangs and debt restructuring.

It will take 15 working days for those who make complaints to get a response from the FCC.

The FCC will handle a complaint if it is within its capability or pass it on to other central bank units, including banknote management and financial institutions, to solve it if it is complicated, Prasarn said.

(...) Financial consumers can file complaints to the FCC through its hotline at 1213 or FCC@bot.or.th or postal mails to the FCC headquarter.

The FCC headquarters, which is currently situated at the Bank of Thailand's Building 3, fifth floor, will be moved to its Surawongse office in 2013.