The Contract Committee under Thailand Consumer Protection Board has issued new requirements and prohibitions for consumer loan agreements. The Notification of the Contract Committee Re: Stipulation of Loan Business for Consumers as a Contract-Controlled Business B.E. 2565 (2022), was published on 13 December 2022 and will be effective from 13 March 2023. Such notification increases protection to Thai consumers by extending the scope of application with strict regulation of the content of individual consumer loan agreements.
泰國消費者保護委員會底下的合約委員會對消費者貸款協議發布新的要求和禁令。合約委員會關於佛曆2565年(2022)消費貸款業務規定為合約控制業務的通知於 2022年12月13日公告，並自2023年3月13日起生效。此通知通過擴大適用範圍和嚴格規範個人消費貸款協議的內容，增加對泰國消費者的保護。
The notification provides definitions for below terms:
此通知提供以下術語的定義:
Ø “Loan business for consumers” means an operator enters into an agreement to grant a loan to individual consumers for business or to allow the consumer to borrow money from business operators, and the consumer will only spend money from his/her occupation or business to earn income. In addition, the loan can be granted by electronic channel. The notification can also apply for personal loan businesses, digital loan businesses, and peer-to-peer lending businesses regulated by the Bank of Thailand.
“消費貸款業務”指經營者與個人消費者簽訂協議，經營者給予消費者貸款，或允許消費者向經營者借款，消費者僅將錢用於自身職業或經營活動以賺取收入。此外，還可以通過電子方式發放貸款。此通知還適用於泰國銀行監管的個人貸款業務、數位貸款業務和點對點借貸業務。
Ø “Business operators” include financial institutions under Thai laws relating to financial institutes, bank established under specific laws, natural person carrying out loan business in their daily business, and juristic persons engaging in loan business, securitization business, or asset management of rights to monetary claim. Please be noted that certain types of businesses and organizations such as cooperatives are excluded from this notification.
“經營者”包括泰國有關金融機構法律規定的金融機構、根據特定法律設立的銀行、在日常業務中開展貸款業務的自然人，以及從事貸款業務、證券業務或金錢債權的資產管理的法人。請留意某些類型的企業和組織例如合作社不在此通知範圍。
Ø “Interest” means legal interest under Thai Civil and Commercial Code. It includes compensation, profits, and other benefits with the same characteristics as legal interest, regardless of name.
“利益”是指泰國民商法規定的合法利益，無論名稱，包括薪酬、利潤和其他具有與合法利益相同特徵的利益。
In addition, the notification requires that an agreement should be clear and can be understood in Thai, and it must be executed in two copies for both lender and the borrower. Also, the font size of each word should not be smaller than two millimeters, and with no more than 11 characters within one inch. Consumer loan agreement should include:
此外，此通知要求協議以清晰易懂的方式以泰文書寫，並且必須為貸款人和借款人簽署一式兩份。另外，每個字的大小不得小於兩毫米，一英寸以內不得超過11個字。消費貸款協議應包括:
In the case that the business operator is a natural person
如果經營者為自然人
Ø Interest rate and other expenses together with calculation formula;
利率及其他費用連同計算公式;
Ø Collection fees and expense details;
收款費用明細;
Ø Conditions on default: in bold, italic or underlined text, or otherwise made more clearly visible than other terms and conditions;
默認條件：以粗體、斜體或有劃線的內文，或以其他方式比其他條款和條件更清晰可見;
Ø Assignment of rights to claim repayment conditions;
要求還款條件的移轉權利;
Ø Payment in installments conditions;
分期付款條件;
Ø Notification duties and address to receive notifications by post or email;
通過郵寄或電子郵件接收通知的通知職責和地址;
Ø Data protection rules, especially when disclosing personal data to a third party;
資料保護規定，尤其是當向第三方披露個人資料;
Ø Conditions on guarantee by person.
個人擔保條件。
In case the business operator is a juristic person or financial institution
如果經營者為法人或金融機構
Ø Interest rate and other expenses together with calculation formula;
利率及其他費用連同計算公式;
Ø Collection fees and expense details; 收款費用明細;
Ø Conditions that provide the lender the right to change the interest rate, but any changes of interest rate, the lender must notify every borrower in writing;
賦予貸款人更改利率權利的條件，但貸款人必須以書面形式通知每位借款人的任何利率變化;
Ø Conditions on default: in bold, italic or underlined text, or otherwise made more visible than other terms and conditions;
默認條件：以粗體、斜體或有劃線的內文，或以其他方式比其他條款和條件更清晰可見;
Ø Conditions relating to the right to distribute Disposal or assignment of claims in the contract of borrowing money, the lender and the assignee must notify in writing to the borrower and guarantor (if any);
借款合約涉及權利分配或債權轉讓的條件，貸款人和受讓人必須書面通知借款人和擔保人 (如有);
Ø Payment in installments conditions; 分期付款條件;
Ø In the event that the law or contract requires the lender to submit request notice in writing. The lender must send a claim Notice sent by registered mail with acknowledgment to the borrower and the guarantor (if any);
在法律或合約要求貸款人以書面形式提交請求通知的情況。貸款人必須通過掛號信向借款人和擔保人(如果有)發送一份賠償通知並確認;
Ø Data protection rules, especially when disclosing personal data to third party;
數據保護規則，尤其是向第三方披露個人數據;
Ø Conditions on guarantee by person.
以人為擔保的條件。
Moreover, such notification prohibits consumer loan agreement to offer excessive benefits to lender, which includes:
另外，此通知禁止消費貸款協議提供貸方過多利益，包括
Ø The liabilities of a lender are restricted or exempted in case of default;
貸款人違約時限制或免除責任;
Ø Lender is allowed to claim for outstanding debt or call for repayment before the due date of the repayment period when a borrower is not in default;
在借款人未違約的情況下，允許貸款人在還款到期日之前追討未償債務或要求還款;
Ø Lender is allowed to terminate the agreement without written notice;
貸款人可以在沒有書面通知的情況終止協議;
Ø Lender is allowed to adjust the interest rate, fees, or expenses unless otherwise permitted under this notification;
除非此通知另行允許，否則貸款人可以調整利率、費用或開銷;
Ø Borrower is being required to apply for insurance, except for a housing loan or loan with collateral;
借款人需要申請保險，住房貸款或抵押貸款除外;
Ø Lender is being given the right to charge a penalty or fees before the due date for receiving payment has passed in which with the period specified in the agreement, except in certain conditions prescribed in this notification.
本通知規定的某些條件除外，貸款人在協議規定的期限內有權在收款截止日之前收取罰款或費用。
As the new notification enlarges protection for individual consumers, business operators should prepare for these requirements and prohibitions, and review company loan agreement draft to ensure it is in compliant.
隨著新通知擴大對個人消費者的保護，經營者應為這些要求和禁令做好準備，並審查公司貸款協議草案以確保合規。
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