Thirty people sought legal action from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in Bangkok on Wednesday against a former insurance broker they say defrauded them of 5 million baht by falsely claiming to represent 10 vehicle insurance companies.
The complainants alleged that Juthapas Angkap and her company TIS Quality Management had offered special deal auto insurance in phone-call promotions. They included interest-free instalments and special discounts.
However, after they paid the premium they never received a policy with their chosen insurance firm.
The complainants were taken to the CSD by Tanupat Ratanapulchai, deputy secretary-general of the Insurance Commission.
He said TIS Quality Management Co did not have a brokerage licence for property insurance. Ms Juthapas had once been a property insurance broker for Ace INA Overseas Insurance, but her licence had been cancelled in 2010.
He advised people to double-check the licences of insurance brokers and companies on the website of the Office of the Insurance Commission, at www.oic.or.th, before committing themselves to a policy.
CSD deputy commander Pol Col Chakrit Sawasdi accepted the complaint, and also warned that people should not simply believe whatever they are told by someone who phones them wanting to sell insurance.