The worst complaint you have ever received

[planetclom]

I’ll start.
Someone complained they when they arrived early for an appointment I saw them early, they did not want to be seen early ...
Someone complained that I was only interested in box ticking and in the next sentence complained I spend to long trying to sort out their issue...

Work in the NHS if that is relevant, I suspect it is.

Used to teach horse riding many years ago, once had a parent flatly refuse to sign the disclaimer and info/permission form every rider needed completed before they are allowed to ride. She wanted me to guarantee her dd wouldn't fall off or get injured. Obviously I couldn't do that, as the disclaimer states, horses are animals and riding is a risk sport, and although every effort is made to ensure client safety, the risk of falling off and subsequent injury is still there. She seemed unable to grasp that you have to accept some level of risk if you are to ride. There's no way around it, and refused to accept the risks involved - but wanted her dd to ride still, but with the guarantee she would never get hurt. She royally kicked off when I had to cancel the lesson because without the form, no one would be insured. She wrote to the local council to complain (they issue the licence required) they were just as bemused as we were!
Also accompanied a colleague to a meeting once - there was a complaint against her, it was from a customer who had asked colleague to hold their baby so they could eat in peace, and complained when colleague refused because she was too busy with other customers and her actual job. Apparently to that customer 'family friendly' meant free child care! Complaint wasn't upheld but the CF customers got a voucher to come back from the spineless manager.

I had a friend who I found out to my cost was like this. We went to a supermarket cafe and she ordered a breakfast. It came and she spent the next 20 minutes chatting away. After 20 minutes, she took her first bite and complained it was cold. I did point out that it had been sitting in front of her for 20 minutes, but she refused to believe that. She complained to the staff who took it away and brought it back hot without any comment. She went there often, so there were probably used to her.

nancy you are pure evil.

I seriously think people should be made to perform a customer facing role for 12 months instead of national service.

2014 running a nightclub. Customer wanted entrance money she paid back for clients she was entertaining and herself due to there being too many black people in. My (black) ops manager asked where her clients were. She gestured over her shoulder thinking they were right behind her. Instead, they were all up dancing with these black people there were so many of.

I wanted to kick her out for being a racist cunt. Ops manager preferred to watch her squirm.

Just remembered. When I was a zoo keeper someone complained that the brown bears were hibernating (this was Dec).

Talking about nothing stopping people shopping; we were in a supermarket and there was a smell of burning then smoke drifting across (no alarm though). We thought we 'd leave quickly anyway , no one else batted an eyelid!

BarbariumMum if you look on the TripAdvisor for the Durrell Zoo in Jersey, it's all either 5 stars from people admiring how much space and privacy the animals have in their excellent enclosures, or 1 star from people complaining that the animals were taking advantage of the space and foliage, etc, and they couldn't see any!

My Dad complained bitterly to the Nurse that the walls opposite his bed were covered in graffiti and should be painted over as it looked awful.

He was off his head on morphine after an Op, there was nothing there. Amusingly the bloke in the bed opposite threatened Dad with the Police because he'd stolen his camcorder from the end of his bed.

Never had morphine but concluded after that visit it must be a marvellous drug and the nurses had patience of saints.

My parents own a little apartment in Spain which they used to rent out.

Some complaints received:-

Sand too hot to walk on (peak summer)
Sun too hot (peak summer)
Three mosquitos in apartment after we had been out in the evening
Swimming pool washed off suncream which caused sunbburn

They don't rent it out anymore!

People have actually died in fires in shops because they ignored smell of burning/actual small fires they could see, and carried on shopping. People think the issue of fires is people panicking, research shows that the real issue is people do not always take it seriously enough.

I work in retail and I'm nodding away at so many of these.

I agree everybody should have to do a stint in retail. So many customers have no idea what's beyond our control as employees in a chain store. Reading this makes me think people should also have to work in hospitality and for the NHS too.

I've had customers try to return items not from us. Adamant despite the other shops logo clearly all over the item.

I've had customers shout at me because they've paid for car parking and then we didn't have what they wanted. I understand it's annoying but give us a call first to make sure we sell what you want.

The amount of complaints about prices is ridiculous, and they say 'it's half that price on amazon/up the road/ebay' well then go buy it there. I just work here, I don't pick the prices.

It's company policy to not change up notes from the till for the carpark outside for customers (we don't own the carpark, there's many shops on the retail park). We can't open the til without a managers code unless it's a normal cash transaction. We get shouted at continuously throughout the day for not giving change for car park. We apologise and say we're not allowed to/can't access the till unless there's a transaction. We sell things at the till for around 20p so I always say we sell X for 20p if you want to buy one with your note but they don't want to. So we get sworn at, told that they were coming into our shop and now they won't. They're never shopping with us again. Swear a few more times and finally storm out because I can't actually open the bloody till. then won't make eye contact with me when they come back in the shop a few minutes later after getting change from somewhereelse and avoid my till when they pay

I've also ruined Christmas/birthdays because we're out of stock of things. It's my fault. They've come all this way. It's the only thing their DC has asked for. it's also 5pm on Christmas Eve!

I've also been called a cunt by a thief customer because I was working too near to where he was trying to steal. Well he didn't say that exactly.. but I was there first...working. He came down the aisle and started having a go at me for watching him, he's not nicking, he's just looking. I'm like huh? I was down this aisle before you arrived! And you're being very paranoid for a non-thief...

Most of the time we laugh about these customers after, but occasionally it really does get to you. The amount of adult men who shout at 16 or 17 year olds cashiers is unreal. When they take a job in a shop straight out of school they aren't expecting the abuse and they get really upset.

My favourite one from working in retail was being shouted at for not giving a customer asprin, because I MUST have some. It was a bookshop. There was a Boots pharmacy opposite.

And yes to when the fire alarms go off and we have to evacuate.

Really? We have to leave?
Yes.

Can I just buy this?
No

Can you stop messing about and quickly serve me?
No

This is fucking ridiculous.
We need to leave the store now.

Outside the store tallying up that everyone is out and accounted for etc.

Can we go back in now?
No.

But I really need the stuff.
I can appreciate that but we can't go in until we've been given the all clear by X, Y and Z that there is no fire.

Well this is fucking stupid. I just want my stuff and you won't serve me.
Because we're outside! The front door is locked! There's possibly a fire. Fuck off!

Where your manager?
There. Standing with us. Because we've evacuated.

To manager..

How long are we gonna be out here. I want to finish my shopping and pay for my stuff.
We don't know, hopefully not long, but I can't put your stuff to one side if you want to go elsewhere and come back later.

No, I want it now. Can you serve me now?
Nooooooooooo.

I should say I don't work anywhere that sells urgent stuff like medication or whatever.

brasty I can well believe that . I just don't get it And if those people who died in shop fires hadn't they'd have complained if they were asked to leave!

many of you are being unreasonable for making me want a milkshake

When I worked in a call centre (and our calls were recorded and scored for our appraisals) "no problem" was banned. Apparently people hear the word problem and think they are a problem. Bear with me was also banned and some others like obviously (may be obvious to you but not everyone).

brasty

"People have actually died in fires in shops because they ignored smell of burning/actual small fires they could see, and carried on shopping. People think the issue of fires is people panicking, research shows that the real issue is people do not always take it seriously enough.

This doesn't surprise me at all. I think people are really blazè about an alarm or smoke if no one else reacts or panics, until it becomes apparent there is an actual emergency, and then everyone panics to get out. In my time in retail and hospitality I've had
"I'm finishing my meal/drink first. You can't force me"
Or
"Just serve me first, it's only a drill"

I leave them now. I'm not hanging around to get injured or killed, they're adults, they can make the decision to stay despite the alarms, smoke, flames and being told to leave. Customers are always right after all!

I used to manage a theatre bar. One male customer complained as the (male) member of staff that served him was 'ugly'.

My SIL who is from New Zealand and who is highly educated, and softly spoken once had her line manager go to HR and get her moved to a different department because he 'did not like her accent'.

Beerwench Yes to this Customers are always right after all

I watched a video online of a small fire caught on CCTV in a cardboard box in a shop, caused by a match - when you could still smoke in public. Thankfully nobody died. There were various people walking by and looking at this small fire, telling no one, and then going further into the shop to do their shopping. They didn't know what to do, so they ignored it. The shop was totally burnt out.

Delivering highly unsatisfactory service for not at least even offering a customer a cup of tea while she waited during a complete power outage.

'WhatToDoAboutThis2017

A customer complained to my manager that I was "far happier than I had a right to be" confused'

Love this one. How dare you be happy

brasty and Beerwench I was once evacuated out of the London Aquarium, because the electricity had gone off and we were wandering around the tunnels in the emergency lighting. However, the electric tills in the shop were still working, and it was impossible to ask anyone about a refund (the aquarium ain't cheap and if you are turfed out of it after less than an hour it's a considerable loss) because they were too busy selling things to the evacuees!

Ah Watchdog.

Not at work, at home one evening - feet up, watching telly when my personal phone rang. "Hello, is that Watchdog, I need to make a complaint?"

I explained that it wasn't, it was a private number and they would have have to ring a London dial code, the number and then add an extra 5.

"But I am in city and I need to make a complaint NOW!" followed by a long rant, how rude I was not to take seriously and that she didn't want to ring London as she was in the same city as me. I put phone down.

Last time I was that helpful to anyone who misdialled Watchdog's number, mind you most were more reasonable.