OPINION

Smart reading

A long time ago, I found a great book about mai pen pai, "No problem" at Asiabooks, and now I can't find it any more. And I would like to buy it and give it to friends to spread the news about its meaning. Please, where can I find it? It's a great present for foreigners.

Insurance madness

Re: "Industrial sentiment advances in November", (Business, Dec 19) & "BKI trims premium target for 2024", (Business, Nov 28).

Yesterday, having owned a Toyota Fortuner for the last 12 years, I had to take it to the dealer garage to repair the back of the car, after it was dented badly by someone unknown while in a car park.

We have comprehensive insurance, so I was expecting it to be fixed free of charge. I have taken great care of the car over the years, and it is still in showroom condition.

I have also always agreed with the wise words of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, who advocated sustainability and being content with what one has -- for the sake of one's wallet, if not the planet. My car will run well for at least another 12 years.

I discovered that my car is indeed 100% covered, but as it is more than a mere five years old, it must now be repaired by a local garage or mechanic.

If I ask my local dealership to repair it, I have to pay an unknown amount towards the cost, according to an insurance company office in Ubon, where the person dealing with car insurance was extremely indifferent and discourteous to my wife.

My wife has read all kinds of plausible stories about local garages using the cars for their own use and replacing good parts with inferior parts while it is in their possession, waiting for repair.

This foolishness is one good reason why most people, who can afford to, buy a new car every five years. It is also why one sees so many second-hand car businesses, and default on paying car loan instalments, I assume.

Whose interests is this policy madness serving: the car producers, the local repairers over whom one has no quality control, or the insurance company's profitability, as they know that local dealers charge a higher price for a quality-assured service to the customer?

It is certainly a classic example of muddled, stupid and corrupt thinking, but it is certainly not in the customer's best interests, nor the planet's! This is not how car insurance is more intelligently structured in the developed world. "Amazing Thailand" indeed!

End monopoly abuse

Re: "Thaksin eyes raising GDP to 5%", (BP, Dec 22).

I heartily support Thaksin and his daughter in freeing consumers from monopoly profits. Our Trade Competition Commission has never blocked a merger in its seven years of life.

So, we have near-monopolies in many industries, including telecom, energy, banking, retail (especially convenience stores), and healthcare.

These duopolies/monopolies have severely harmed consumers. For instance, the Thailand Consumers Council estimated the then-proposed True-DTAC merger would raise average revenue per user by as much as 244% if players fixed prices -- yet the merger proceeded.

PM Paetongtarn, last week, you promised us prosperity. Back your welcome words with prompt, decisive action against the monopolies.

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