Make Your Complaint Heard & Get Results
| by James H. Dimmitt | June 29, 2003
At some point in time you will be faced with the need to register a complaint because of a poor product or poor service, or maybe even both !
Here are some tips to make sure that your complaint is NOT ignored.
Keep Your Cool
Its difficult to do this when you are mad as all get out but its a key step to making sure youre complaint gets heard. Act reasonably and politely.
Make the person on the other end of your complaint WANT to help you. Losing your temper can cause the other person to become defensive instead of cooperative and helpful.
Identify Yourself
Dont start out with what you are - Im a lawyer, Im a doctor, Im a trash collector. Start out with who you are - My name is Jim. You want them to see you as a person, not just another problem.
Give them your name and telephone number. This allows the other person to respond more effectively and follow-up with results. Remaining anonymous doesnt establish the one-on-one relationship you need in order to have your problem resolved.
Be Precise
Have receipts and other records available to assist you in giving an accurate account of your complaint. Give them as many details as you can - the date you made the purchase, the store where you made the purchase orencountered the problem, the name of the salesperson you were working with, etc.
Keep a record of the date, time and name of any person you speak with about your complaint. If they are unable to resolve your complaint immediately, ask when you can reasonably expect a follow-up phone call.
Thank You
End your conversation by thanking them for their help. If you have the persons name you are speaking with, address them by name, thank you Angela.
When the problem is resolved to your satisfaction, you may even want to write a simple thank you note. People who work in customer service appreciate this more than you might know.
Use these steps to your credit the next time you have a complaint, and youll have greater success and results.
Here are some tips to make sure that your complaint is NOT ignored.
Keep Your Cool
Its difficult to do this when you are mad as all get out but its a key step to making sure youre complaint gets heard. Act reasonably and politely.
Make the person on the other end of your complaint WANT to help you. Losing your temper can cause the other person to become defensive instead of cooperative and helpful.
Identify Yourself
Dont start out with what you are - Im a lawyer, Im a doctor, Im a trash collector. Start out with who you are - My name is Jim. You want them to see you as a person, not just another problem.
Give them your name and telephone number. This allows the other person to respond more effectively and follow-up with results. Remaining anonymous doesnt establish the one-on-one relationship you need in order to have your problem resolved.
Be Precise
Have receipts and other records available to assist you in giving an accurate account of your complaint. Give them as many details as you can - the date you made the purchase, the store where you made the purchase orencountered the problem, the name of the salesperson you were working with, etc.
Keep a record of the date, time and name of any person you speak with about your complaint. If they are unable to resolve your complaint immediately, ask when you can reasonably expect a follow-up phone call.
Thank You
End your conversation by thanking them for their help. If you have the persons name you are speaking with, address them by name, thank you Angela.
When the problem is resolved to your satisfaction, you may even want to write a simple thank you note. People who work in customer service appreciate this more than you might know.
Use these steps to your credit the next time you have a complaint, and youll have greater success and results.
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