Recently, a high-ranking telecommunications official ran into trouble getting a refund when returning a pre-paid SIM card with a balance to AIS. He knew he was legally entitled to this refund. Now, he’s bringing attention to mobile phone companies and clients, making sure that companies are giving customers the money they are owed.
Thanongsak Sukhanin, a director of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), accidentally did some investigating in his off-hours.
He purchased a pre-paid SIM card at AIS, used it, and tried to return it later to get a refund on his balance. This refunded balance is money that he is entitled to by law.
His refund was rejected by an official working at the mobile service provider’s shop at Emquartier shopping mall, reported Thai PBS.
Thanongsak tweeted his account of what happened and it was widely shared online.
“I cancelled my pre-paid number at AIS and asked for a refund. But I was asked [by an AIS official] at Emquartier what law stated that the mobile provider had to refund customers,” Thanongsak wrote.
Thanongsak asked to talk to the manager of the shop and, after a long wait and discussion, he was given the money the company owed him. However, had he not been so familiar with the laws, he surely would have walked out of the shop without his money.
It makes you wonder, how many hapless customers have mobile service providers been ripping off because they aren’t familiar with this law?
ขอปิดบริการเบอร์เติมเงินลงทะเบียนซิมที่AISและขอเงินคงเหลือคืน เบื้องต้นถูกถามว่ากฏหมายๆหนให้คืนเงิน เอ็มควอเทียร์ pic.twitter.com/X3s6qInBa4
— Thanongsak S. (@tube_nbtc) 20 สิงหาคม 2559
Due to this event, the NBTC is reminding all mobile service providers to be sure to refund customers who return pre-paid SIMs with a balance, said Takorn Tanthasit, the secretary-general of the NBTC, on Tuesday.
Takorn also reminded pre-paid SIM users that they can reclaim their balances when they return a pre-paid SIM.
Users who are denied their refund can call 1200 to file a complaint.
