Best complaints department story you've got

[Leoie]

This one is for those of you who have worked in a complaints department either in person, on the phones or online. What's the most unhinged customer you've had? Or the funniest complaint?

A middle aged man in B&Q having a tantrum because the customer toilet wasn't working inspired this thread. Just made me realise how petulant some people can be. Let's hear your best story

I don't think the guy should have been having a tantrum but for some people with health issues a customer toilet being out of order is a serious issue.

but for some people with health issues a customer toilet being out of order is a serious issue.

Yes definitely - lots of conditions where this could be a frightening experience and fearing soiling in public if you can't change a stoma bag or get to a toilet fast enough must be deeply stressful

There are never enough working , clean and reliable toilets anywhere. Usually one is out of order or the dryers don’t work or not enough loo roll. No wonder people get annoyed. I did complain in an email to a big supermarket about their ladies loos once, but it was a polite email.

I work as a senior complaint handler. I’ve been called a vampire and a cockroach, which is my favourite anecdote

That gammon was made of pork

That mushy peas were put on top of a jacket potato when the customer asked to swap baked beans for mushy peas, apparently putting them ON the potato was absurd

One customer threatened to “destroy your brand like Ebola” when we wouldn’t let them return an item after the 14 day cut off

Oooh and a recurring one is customers being furious that you won’t refund them for something that is from a different company or when they have returned our order to the wrong company.

i worked in a frozen food shop on the till. Customer complained her bread was wet after she put a bag of frozen chips on top of her bread. I politely mentioned that maybe next time don’t put the chips on the bread. She then complained to the manager about my attitude?

Yes I appreciate there's times people need the toilet urgently. Being concerned in this particular medical situation would be understandable. However this man stood around for a few minutes berating multiple staff. Mocking them for being a "DIY store that can't fix a loo". He didn't come across as distressed but simply nitpicking. In the time he stood around being annoyed he could've made it to costa next door. Medical issue or not, the staff didn't deserve the tone they were spoken to in.

I had one kicking off because she didn't realise Cod Liver Oil was made from fish and thought it should be vegetarian/vegan 😂

I once forwarded an email response from a manager which had been cut and pasted. Unfortunately I didn't notice the complainant's name had at various times been spelled Ann instead of Anne.

The complainant responded stating anyone with half a brain could see the error and I should be sacked.

Unfortunately for her she used a totally different and incorrect surname for me (think Jones instead of Johns)!

I was tempted to respond but after years working in a complaints department decided CBA!

I was working in a new store on a retail park. There was a big bright orange sign tied to the fence in the car park. I think it was advertising 25% off everything during opening week or something. Anyway, a man comes in and complains that it’s too distracting as it caused him to bump his car into something (can’t remember whether it was another car or a fence or what) and tells us we should take it down right now so no one else gets distracted by it. He was very cross about it but staff in earshot were trying to keep a straight face! I think the manager at the time just said he should take it up with customer services and gave the man their phone number.

Tbf needing the toilet badly ( I have a disabled radar key for toilet / can't wait too long etc ) is a real worry when you are out .
A tantrum is going a bit far agreed , but I have a bit of sympathy towards him .
I needed the loo this week and was in a Sainsbury's with no toilet . The public toilets were locked so I went back to Sainsbury's and asked a member of staff telling her I could show her my key to show some proof of need . She only would say no toilets .

Years ago I worked in retail and would allow mother's with small children plus those with real need to use the staff toilets . A member of staff would take them and stay outside the toilet and escort them back to the shop floor . It's an act of kindness .

I used to work in a bank and we once had a customer write a furious letter to head office because one of the cashiers had refused to sell him some postage stamps.