Consumers are being warned not to make advance purchases of cheap digital TV set-top boxes from suppliers who ask to be paid later with subsidy coupons.
This is happening in many regions across the country as small set-top box providers try to grab a share of the 25-billion-baht digital TV coupon scheme.
Charunee Sutacha, president of the Bakham community in Khon Kaen, said leaflets are being distributed pushing consumers to reserve a set-top box with certain vendors.
The leaflet says digital TV coupon holders can fill in a reservation form and bring in their coupons later to exchange for a set-top box and antenna. Customers will be charged 1,000 baht for installation and cannot choose which box they like.
Ms Charunee said many local officials are involved in the set-top box campaign, often with dubious knowledge of how the coupon scheme works. Some officials have lent their homes as places for set-top box suppliers to accept reservation forms.
"The involvement by these local officials made a lot of people confused about the real coupon scheme," she said. "Most rural people didn't know that the scheme had been delayed. When they are told by local officials to make advance box reservations, they believe them."
The broadcasting regulator seeks to begin distributing digital TV coupons in September.
Ms Charunee said the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) should provide accurate information about digital TV and the coupon scheme, especially in rural areas.
Community leaders in many provinces have told public hearings they face deceptive practices such as leafleting that lures rural people to reserve a set-top box with small operators.
Supinya Klangnarong, the NBTC's commissioner for consumer protection, said those who use misleading marketing campaigns are likely to be excluded from the list of qualified set-top box operators for the coupon scheme.
Karn Suksa Kao Klai Co, which makes the Winner set-top box, said it was unaware that it could not do advance box reservation.
In fact, set-top box makers must sell the physical set-top box first. Customers can get information and make their own choices.
At a public hearing yesterday in Khon Kaen, attendees agreed on a coupon value of 1,000 baht as acceptable to provide access to quality digital TV devices. They said they did not want to pay extra for equipment.
Public hearings on the coupon scheme will continue through tomorrow and a report will come out later this month.