Ratchaburi vendors shun co-pay scheme over scam fears
Several vendors in Ratchaburi, central Thailand, are refusing to join the government’s co-payment scheme, citing registration issues and scam concerns as key reasons for opting out.
At Wat Tha Luang Phon in Photharam district, many small business owners are opting out of the government’s co-payment initiative, citing confusing registration procedures and concerns over fraudulent transactions.
Running from October 29 to December 31, the scheme, also known as Khon La Khrueng Plus, aimed to support both shoppers and sellers by subsidising daily purchases. But in this corner of Ratchaburi, vendors say the effort is causing more stress than relief.
Sompong Topara, who sells soy milk and Thai doughnuts, said she was put off by the complicated registration process. She admitted her lack of social media skills made things worse.
“I’ve only ever used my phone to make calls. I want to join, but the process is too confusing. I’d need my children to help me.”
Sompong, who has run her morning stall for four years, sells soy milk for just 5 baht a bag and doughnuts at eight for 10 baht. She works from 5am to 8am and usually clears around 300 baht profit per day.
Nearby, 53 year old meatball vendor Namoay Suanthanu also refused to join the scheme. She said she struggles with mobile payment apps and is wary of scams. She recalled a recent incident where a customer claimed to have transferred nearly 200 baht but never did.
“I couldn’t do anything about it. I know who it was, but I was afraid to say anything.”
Now, she uses loud alerts for mobile transactions to avoid being tricked again. Despite that, Namoay says she is not interested in joining a second round of the scheme unless there are stronger safeguards for vendors, reported KhaoSod.
Other shop owners echoed these concerns, highlighting the limited time given for registration and the difficulty of using mobile apps. Many feel that without clearer instructions, hands-on help, or fraud protection, the programme simply isn’t worth the risk.
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