Consumer Protection: Not Lost In Bangkok’s Probably Biggest Building
No kidding. That building is huge. The new home of Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board OCPB at Chaengwattana’s new Government Administrative Center up north. Kind of post-Soviet modernism. Massively impressive with its unending atrium.
The Election Commission‘s in the same absolutely monstrous, still unfinished überbuilding. But my trade of the day was the Office of Consumer Protection, as I got screwed by a local farang insurance company. They play me. All I ask for is what I have in cold print.
The investigator there, a cute studentish lady with lovely John Lennon glasses, spoke very well English and the complaint was done within no time. If my case will be followed up is another story. Thailand & consumer protection a contradiction? I trust the bureau’s Labeling & Product Branch.
Thing is, there is an authority in Bangkok with Complaint Forms even printed in clear, English language. Feel screwed by a company? Off you have to go Chaengwattana. Maybe you pay taxes here. It’s your right to use government resources once in your life here.
And if in the area, have lunch here. Thinking of it I never bothered about the place’s name. It’s just there at the small lake. You can’t miss it. Enjoy Bangkok’s probably best tom yam kung (I love the milky variety) with lots of herbs, mushrooms and fresh soft pieces of fish and fish balls and all variations of pad thai …
See? You can easily sweeten complaining with the better side of life.
Had to giggle. Complaining and food your main act and hobby! ;O)
Any chance you can divulge the name of the evil insurance company? Or rather, the evil insurance company in question? Kind of a given with insurance companies …
That building is huge … maybe they are hoping people will get lost or just intimidated and forget about complaining.
So, is it sensible to have such a monstrous building?
Are the tax payers happy to fund such?
Who initiated the building?
Was there any public discussion and display of plans?
All things that happen in “normal” democracies!
@andy: How I try to stay more positive, but just the words “seabed” and “container” and all related issues destroy much needed positive momentum.
@Greg: Would love to name them, but that’s a step too far at the moment.
@Talen: Anyone gets lost in there! The topic’s title “Not Lost:” is rather figuratively. Couldn’t see a single sign in this whole huge complex. You’re walking and walking and guessing and guessing … If you want to take your family for a Sunday afternoon stroll, there you go.
@Dave: Nobody is seriously suggesting that Thailand ranks among the “normal” democracies. But funny you mention this, as empty Don Mueang – a supposed future government center – is just around the corner.
Immediate neighbors of the huge center are other thundering state agencies, such as the ever surprising DSI (whose divers didn’t find a container …), the world’s probably most inefficient state agency TOT and archrival CAT.
But pleeeaze, let’s promote some positive thinking around here. Go eat that tom yam.
BangkokDan
A positive update: The Consumer Protection Board handed me a clear win.
Called this week to get an update regarding my car insurance company trying to screw me. Most politely they explained that they got so many insurance complains … it will take time.
Guess what, this Thursday, while being somewhere in the Thai-Burmese border jungle, I missed five calls. All from my insurance company.
They obviously got the official complain issued by the Consumer Protection Board.
And were eager to settle the case, all in my favor. I mean, confirming what I thought was always confirmed …
If, for good reason, you’re pissed with some company or service, I warmly recommend to visit the Consumer Protection Board. Seriously.
BangkokDan