After receiving intimidation and threats from 14 different loan providers, a Pattaya bar owner reported a violent debt collection gang to the local police.
Due to her financial struggles, the 31-year-old woman was compelled to borrow money from many lenders, racking up debts totaling almost 800,000 baht (US$23,100) with a daily interest payment of 30,000 baht (US$870).
The proprietor of the tavern, Daranee (last name withheld), talked about her problems and her aversion to shady moneylenders. She was initially persuaded to borrow money from posters put at the entrance to her business. But as time went on, she discovered that she was unable to make the interest payments and had to turn to borrow money from other people in order to survive.
When she was unable to obtain the cash to cover the daily interest two weeks ago, the problem worsened. Debt collectors sent customers to her bar where they made the female staff members remove their clothing in order to attract customers and increase revenue for debt payments.
Additionally, some debt collectors contacted them and threatened to hurt her if she didn’t pay her debts.
Because she was concerned about her safety and the safety of her staff, Daranee reported the incident to the Pattaya City Police. The bar owner never intended to avoid paying her debts, but she no longer felt secure running her establishment as a result of the debt collectors’ aggressive tactics.
Due to potential risks, her staff were also afraid to report to work. Daranee shared her experience to serve as a warning to others thinking about borrowing money from shady sources to carefully assess their options. These moneylenders may utilize aggressive debt collection tactics that could be violent and charge high-interest rates.
She agreed that loan providers have businesses to run and obligations to uphold, nevertheless.
