The Ministry of Interior has today kicked off the government’s ambitious plan to tackle the chronic informal debt problem affecting countless Thai people, especially low income-earners, by accepting applications for help from debtors.
Provincial halls and district offices througout the country are now open from 6am until 11pm to enable informal debtors to register in person and will remain so until February 29t. Debtors can also register online, by logging into https://debt.dopa.go.th to download the ThaID application to their smartphones, to enable them to scan the QR code to confirm their identity, and then providing the required information.
In case debtors are unable to register through the online channel or in person, they can contact the hotline number 1567.
Sub-district and village heads, as well as defence volunteers, are stationed at their respective district offices to look out for suspicious people, such as informal creditors or their underlings, who may pose a threat to the debtors or attempt to discourage them from registering for help.
After registration comes the mediation process, involving local officials and the police, who will invite the debtors and their creditors for talks about settle the debts in a manner which is fair to both parties.
In case refinancing is needed, the Ministry of Finance will step in to help, via the services of the Government Savings Bank and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
Addressing informal debt has been added to the national agenda.
