IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所International Business Consultancy

What You Should Know About Purchasing Goods in Thailand

您應該知道的在泰國購買商品

In Thailand, it is important to understand the right of consumers when purchasing goods. Following are introduction of three acts related to consumers when there is dispute for the purchase.

在泰國，了解消費者在購買商品時的權利非常重要。以下介紹消費者購買發生糾紛時的三個法案。

The Consumer Protection Council, as the representative of consumers under the Consumer Protection Organization Establishment Act, B.E. 2562, believes that exercising rights under the Lemon Law should not be overly complicated. Therefore, it has proposed the "Draft Consumer Protection Act on Liability for Defective Goods," also known as the Consumer Council's version.

消費者保護委員會作為佛曆2562年《消費者保護組織設立法》消費者的代表，認為行使《檸檬法》的權利不應過於複雜。因此，委員會提出《關於缺陷商品責任的消費者保護法草案》，即消費者委員會版本。

This law defines that all buyers of goods will be protected, not just for automobiles but also for general products. If defects are found, consumers can exercise their rights under five options: request for repair, request for replacement, request for a price reduction, request to cancel the agreement, and request to refuse payment for installment purchases.

此法規定所有商品購買者都將受到保護，不僅是汽車，還包括一般產品。如果發現缺陷，消費者可以透過要求修理、更換、降價、要求解除合約、要求拒絕分期付款五種方式行使權利。

Under Thai Direct Sales and Direct Marketing Act, a consumer is provided with a 7 days period from the receipt of the goods to terminate the contract and deliver the purchased goods to the seller. The seller is obliged to refund the former with the full amount of money paid to him/her. This refund must be given within 15 days from the termination of the sale. If, however, the goods are lost or were damaged through fault of the consumer, the consumer shall cover the loss and be financially responsible to the seller.

根據泰國直接銷售及直接行銷法，消費者在收到貨物後有 7 天的期限終止合約並將購買的貨物交付給賣方。賣方有義務將已支付給他/她的全部款項退還給前者。此筆退款必須在銷售終止後 15 天內給付。但是，如果由於消費者的過錯導致商品遺失或損壞，消費者應承擔損失並向銷售者承擔財務責任。

In addition, starting from 3 October 2024, regulation that allows consumers to inspect products before making payment for cash-on delivery (COD) shipping services is effective by the Thai Consumer Protection Board Committee. Under the new regulation of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, customers can check their items before payment, and if the goods are damaged or not as advertised, they can reject the package and seek a full refund. Consumers can request a refund within 5 days (counted from the date of receipt of the product).

此外，2024年10月3 日起，泰國消費者保護委員會頒布一項法規，允許消費者在支付貨到付款 (COD) 貨運服務之前檢查產品，稱為“Dee-Delivery措施”。 根據消費者保護委員會辦公室的新規定，顧客可以在付款前檢查商品，如果商品損壞或與廣告不符，他們可以拒絕此包裹並尋求全額退款。消費者可在5天內(自收到產品之日起計算)要求退款。

Per the regulation, if customer receives product he/she did not order, or if the product is damaged, receives a product he/she did not order and was charged for it, with proof that the product was not ordered. If a customer inspects the product upon delivery, using photos or videos as evidence, and finds it does not match the order. If a customer cannot receive the product at the time of delivery, discovers it was not ordered, and informs the service provider, he/she can refuse to accept the product and request a refund.

根據新法規，如果顧客收到他/她未訂購的產品，或產品損壞。如果顧客收到他 /她未訂購的產品並被收取費用，並提供未訂購該產品的證明。如果顧客在交貨時以照片或影片為證檢查產品，發現產品與訂單不符。如果顧客在交貨時無法收到產品，發現此產品並非訂購產品， 並通知服務提供者，他/她可以拒絕該產品並要求退款。

For more detail about the COD regulation, you may refer to our article at https://ibcfirm999.pixnet.net/blog/post/346404679

有關COD法規更多的內容，您可參考我們的文章https://ibcfirm999.pixnet.net/blog/post/346404679

In addition, the Thai government has release an update draft Liability for Defective Goods Ac in 2024. The draft established a new liability regime for different types of goods, and is being drafted in response to concerns over inadequate protection for buyers and the current lack of clear liability regulations for defective goods.

此外，泰國政府也於2024年發布《缺陷商品責任法》更新草案。此草案針對不同類型的商品建立新的責任制度，並為了回應對買家保護不足以及目前缺乏針對缺陷商品的明確責任規定的擔憂。

Drafting a law to establish clear definitions for the roles of “Seller” and “Buyer” with the following provisions:

草案明確定義“賣方”和“買方”的角色，並作出以下規定：

1. “Seller” refers to any person or entity engaged in the sale or distribution of goods in the regular course of business.

“賣方”指在正常業務過程從事貨物銷售或分銷的任何個人或實體。

2. “Buyer” refers to any person who acquires goods or obtains rights to goods from a previous buyer (including through hire-purchase agreements).

“買方” 指從先前買方購買貨物或取得貨物權利的任何人(包括透過分期付款協議)。

Additionally, the draft bill expands protection for the buyer in cases where a third-party financial institution pays for the goods on behalf of the buyer. In such cases, the buyer shall have the right to directly claim from the seller for repairs, exchanges, price reductions, or the cancellation of the sales agreement.

此外，此草案還擴大在第三方金融機構代表買方支付貨款的情況下對買方的保護。在這種情況，買方有權直接向賣方要求修理、換貨、降價或取消銷售協議。

Below are key points of the Act:

以下為該法條之重點:

1. Liability provisions are specified for two categories of goods, general products and specific products. The Act extends liability to defects in component parts or equipment installed with the purchased product at the time of sale. However, it does not apply to used products and living animals.

   責任條款規定兩類商品：一般產品和特定產品。該法將責任範圍 擴大到銷售時隨所購產品安裝的零件或設備的缺陷。但是，這不 適用於二手產品和活體動物。

2. If a seller is found to be liable for defect, the Buyer shall have the right to demand repair, exchange, discount price or to terminate the sales agreement with the seller. In case of a non-material defect, the buyer must invoke the right to demand for repair first, followed by exchange, discount price or termination of the sales agreement in order.

    如果發現賣方對缺陷負有責任，買方有權要求修理、換貨、提供 折扣或終止與賣方的銷售合約。若有非實質缺陷，買方必須先行 使要求修理的權利，然後依序進行換貨、要求折扣或終止銷售協 議。

If a material defect is discovered within 7 days from delivery, the buyer shall be able to directly demand the exchange of products. If the seller fails to comply the preceding demands, the buyer may also terminate the sales contract with the seller.

      交貨後如 7天內發現重要缺陷，買家可直接要求換貨。如果賣方未能履行上述要求，買方也可以終止與賣方的銷售協議。

3. Sellers are presumed to be at fault for defects that exist at the time of delivery, with specific timelines and conditions for (1) cars and motorcycles (2) electrical appliances, electronic devices, and devices used as engine and (3) other similar products which will be designated later under the Act.

   賣方被推定產品交付時存在的缺陷有過錯，具體時間和條件適用 於 (1) 汽車和摩托車 (2) 電器、電子設備和用作發動機的設備，以及 (3) 稍後將根據該法案指定的其他類似產品。

• A seller shall be strictly responsible for defect which appears within the period or mileage of usage (whichever comes first): (i) within 1 year or 10,000 kilometers of distance from the delivery date, in case of cars or (ii) within six months or within 5,000 kilometers of distance from the delivery date, in case of motorcycles.

   賣方應對使用期限或使用里程 (以先到者為準)內出現的缺陷承擔嚴格責任：(i)汽車自交付之日起 1 年內或距離交付日期 10,000 公里以內；(ii)摩托車而言，自交付日期起 6 個月內或距離交付日期 5,000 公里以內。

• If a material defect is discovered in electronic devices within 14 days from the date of delivery, the buyer shall be entitled to demand an exchange from the seller. If the seller rejects or is unable to exchange the products, the buyer is entitled to terminate the agreement.

   自交 貨日起 14 天內如電子設備有重大瑕疵，買方有權要求賣方換貨。如果賣方拒絕或無法換貨，買方有權終止協議。

4. If any defect is discovered within 6 months from delivery, it shall be presumed that such Defect has existed since the time of the delivery. Agreements made before the discovery of a defect are deemed void if they conflict with the act or unfairly burden buyers.

   如果在 交貨後 6 個月內發現任何缺陷，應推定此缺陷自交貨之日起就已存在。如果在發現缺陷之前達成的協議與該法相衝突或給買方帶來不公平的負擔，該協議將被視為無效。

5. Prescription Period 法定期限

For the “other products” category, the prescription period is 1 year from the time that the defect is discovered or from the seller’s agreement to repair, exchange, or reduce the sale price. For the “cars and motorcycles” and “electrical appliances, electronic devices, and mechanical devices” categories, the prescription period is 2 years under similar conditions.

   對於 “其他產品”類別，時效期限為自發現瑕疵或賣方同意修理、更換或降低銷售價格之日起1年。對於“汽車、摩托車”和“電器、電子裝置、機械裝置”類別，類似條件下的時效期限為2年。

Conclusion結論

The Draft Liability for Defective Goods Act marks a significant step forward in Thailand’s consumer protection by establishing stricter liability for product defects and clear guidelines on entitlements, obligations, and liabilities for both Buyers and Sellers. However, this Draft Act must still go through several legislative steps before becoming law. Once enacted, it will come into effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Business operators should start preparing for the increased obligations and ensure compliance to mitigate potential risks under the new law.

《缺陷商品責任草案》確立更嚴格的產品缺陷責任，並就買方和賣方的權利、義務和責任制定明確的指導方針，標誌泰國消費者保護方面向前邁出重要一步。然而，該草案正式生效之前仍需經過幾個立法步驟。一旦頒布，將在皇家公報公告後180 天生效。企業經營者應開始為增加的義務做好準備，並確保合規，以減輕新法下的潛在風險。

IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所 (International Business Consultancy) 為一間位於曼谷的泰國法律金融會計事務所，由經驗豐富的律師、會計師、及財務顧問組成，可提供泰國投資、泰國稅收及泰國法律諮詢等服務。如果有什麼問題，可以隨時通過Line: @ibcfirm與我們聯繫。