Property tops consumer complaints in Thailand

The property sector is responsible for almost half of all complaints received by Thailand’s Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB).

During the nine months from October 2009 more than 48 per cent of a total of 6,000 complaints related to property companies, all of which involved failures to honour contracts.

Speaking to The Nation, Niroth Charoenprakob, OCPB’s Secretary General, said some complaints involved failure to deliver residences, construction issues and a failure to develop infrastructures that were included in advertising.

A total of 80 per cent of complaints have been resolved by negotiations, with the remaining 20 per cent proceeding to court.

The OCPB has introduced a ‘Star Property Firm’ rating system that will award stars based on financial structure, previous experience, design and construction standards, social and community responsibility and customer’ applications.

The ten firms awarded star rankings this year are Pruksa Real Estate, Supalai, LPN Development, NC Housing, Charoen Nakorn Co, Home Place Development, Green Asset Co, Kanda Décor, Success Property and Big 3 Asset.