A sandwich vendor filed a complaint with police yesterday, seeking help regarding a Bt10,000- loan she claims to have borrowed from an informal lender 12 years ago and for which she claims to have repaid a total of Bt2.6 million, while still owing him Bt280,000.
The 52-year-old, “Tassanee”, sought help from the Sai Mai Tong Rod, a help organization, representatives of which accompanied her to the police to file the formal complaint.
She told the media that she has been struggling for the past several years because almost all the income from her sale of sandwiches each day is being used to settle the seemingly endless debt.
For the past three years, she has had to pay her creditor Bt1,000 every day in interest, as the amount owed has soared from Bt10,000 to Bt280,000 because, if she misses an interest payment, the amount is added to the principal owed.
Somyot Pholsuwan, assistant chief of Thanyaburi district, said that he will invite the creditor and the debtor for talks at the Damrongtham centre about settling the remaining debt.
He said that Tassanee registered at the Damrongtham centre for help, but she did not show up, despite being invited to the centre to follow up on her case.
About 400 cases of informal debt have been lodged with the Damrongtham centre and 17 cases have been resolved, said Somyot.
It is reported that Tassanee’s creditor, who has not been identified, has agreed to write off the Bt280,000 outstanding debt.
