Supamas instructed the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to take action against a swimming school that closed a branch and avoided refunding customers by claiming the course had expired. She stated this is not a valid excuse and set a deadline for refunds within 15 days.
On 11 August 2026, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdee, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and overseer of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), disclosed the results of consumer assistance cases involving parents who purchased swimming courses for their children, but the branch they used closed, and the operator refused refunds, citing the course had expired.
After receiving complaints on 10 August 2026, Ms. Supamas urgently instructed Mr. Pradermchai Boonchuaileua, Advisor to the Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office; Dr. Patcharin Samsiripong, Minister's Secretary; and Mr. Ronarong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the OCPB, to immediately negotiate with the operator. They reached a resolution within one day, reducing the refund wait time from 60–120 days to just 15 days. This action supports the government's policy under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who prioritizes managing living costs for the public.
Ms. Supamas added that the complainant purchased a 10-session swimming course for their child in February 2026, using only two sessions before the branch closed without prior notice. They were forced to transfer to a distant branch. When requesting a refund for the remaining sessions, they faced a prolonged wait of 120 days and were told the course had expired after six months, although the purchaser insisted they were never informed of such terms. After the complaint on 10 August 2026, OCPB officials immediately coordinated and negotiated on 11 August, resulting in the operator agreeing to refund the full remaining amount into the complainant's account within 15 days.
"Course expiration is not an excuse to deny consumer rights if conditions were not clearly communicated at the time of sale. This is not just a swimming course; for a family, it is money parents invest in developing their child's skills," Ms. Supamas said.
Ms. Supamas further revealed she assigned the OCPB to monitor the complete refund transfer and to expand investigations into all prepaid service businesses targeting children and families, including children's activity schools, tutoring centers, and fitness facilities. The aim is to verify whether key terms—such as course duration, multi-branch use, and refund rights—are clearly disclosed before payment. If any concealment of information or unfair conditions are found, the OCPB will promptly take legal action.