Worth complaining?

[NoMercy]

Have you ever complained and received a satisfactory result without recourse to further action?

To cut a long story short, last time I went to see Bobs, I was delayed on the return leg of my journey and was told I would miss the last train from Newport to Hereford. I was advised to get off at Salisbury and travel back to Fareham. I had to travel again the next day, and missed a whole day at work. They refused to cover my loss of earnings, but today I received vouchers from First Great Western for £56. Well, an off peak return from Hereford to Fareham costs about £55, so I'm pleased with the result - well worth filling in the form.

[NoMercy]

Wouldn't you complain if you spent two hours on trains and ended up back where you started, resulting in your missing a whole day's pay the next day?

[craft1948]

I thought you were self-employed?

[sherrardk]

I complain about anything that makes me go into a rant - if it annoys me that much I feel I should tell the store/organisation about it (they can't change it if they don't realise something is wrong).

[micmak]

I disagree Butch. The only way service will improve is to complain. I worked with an American consultant for a while, his favourite saying was "You British will put up with anything for a quite life" I think he was right.

[NoMercy]

What's got your goat today, Butchy?

;-)

[Eve]

I'm really bad at complaining unless it's a work thing (complaining on behalf of someone else).

I feel mean which is daft really as probably miss out on a lot because of it.

[Jan1957]

Hi NoMercy. I complained to my Bank, Lloyds TSB, about the fact that they charged me £25 for being overdrawn by 3p for 1 day, and £18 for a letter telling me so! I was so angry I wrote to the Manager saying I wanted to close my account, after 24 years with them, and got a very nice letter back apologising and saying they were refunding all my money. I also received a bunch of flowers delivered to me at home. I was really surprised.

[karenmac60]

I encourage customers to complain at work - management just ignore staff but the minute a customer complains they jump to it. Sometimes the only way to get anything done is to dish out complaints forms.

[NoMercy]

Jan... good for you. Banks make millions from unjust charges. It's high time their customers stood up to them. :-)

Butch... I got served a flat glass of bubbles in a bar in Southampton a few weeks back. I politely asked them to change it and they did.

It's not about complaining - just pointing out that you deserve better.

[4getmenot]

I wrote a very long complaint letter when I got locked in local swimming pool but didnt get a thing! Then a few months later when I complained as the didnt get the session before out pool quick enough and I was waiting to get in for half hour they gave me a free swim session!

[anneasquith]

its also worth giving positive feedback when you get good service, i often do.

[LoftyLottie]

I complained to my bank about a mess up they made and got some financial compensation and an absolutely huge box of expensive chocs from the branch manager!!

[NoMercy]

Financial Institutions have been ostracising their clients for some time now in the wake of the credit crunch, and several have lost good, long standing customers as a result. Seems they are waking up to the fact that they cannot operate without them.

[joanne]

My brother calls me Mrs Angry.If i think i am not getting the service i am paying for they get what for,it usually pays off though.

[sherrardk]

I have e mailed head office to thank shops for their brilliant service and I have complained for shoody service and lack of facilities. There have been varying degrees of sucess on the complaing front - from complete refunds (hair in youngest son's food), to changes in the system they use (Sainsbury's double baby trolleys - I can now ring up and one will be waiting for me!), to sheer indifference.

[ELVIS68]

When I went to see A Christmas Carol in 3D it had subtitles, I complained afterwards and was given 4 free tickets

[NoMercy]

When I "complained" about my train journey, I never expected in a million years for them to compensate me for my loss of earnings. All along I only hoped to get a free ticket for my next journey, and so I got the result I was looking for, without any ado.