To ask if you've ever had compensation for complaining..?

[thinkingoutloud4]

So I was in Tesco last week getting our weekly food shopping with my DP, when a member of staff came out of the warehouse section with a large trolley filled to the brim with produce to fill the shelves with.
The staff member didn't check behind him before moving out onto the shop floor, and pushed the trolley into my ankle causing a nasty gash, and quite a lot of blood 🥴
He was lovely and really very apologetic, I was hurt but not extremely and although he offered an ambulance 😆 I politely declined.

The store asked to take my details to make note of the accident, which I complied with and left my name and address etc for their accident log.

Anyway.. fast forward to today, and I've received a lovely letter in the post from the store manager, and a store voucher for £150. I'm completely blown away!

it got me thinking, as i remember once a friend of mine once said her sister complains as a hobby to companies and receives large amounts of free items, vouchers etc...

have you ever been sent something from a company following a complaint?

I have just sent a thank you letter back to Tesco, as I am completely shocked and so grateful for their lovely gesture!! 💖

I've written emails to my bank, RBS, twice commenting on how something minor was mildly unsatisfactory in a sort of gentle way. I didn't even intend them as complaints, but they paid money into my account as compensation each time, and the first time they sent me a fantastic bunch of flowers too, plus detailed letters of apology. The second time they gave me £100 compensation. I can't remember what it was the first time.

Had a reaction to Sure deodorant, didn’t complain per se just left feedback. They gave me a £20 refund in vouchers which I thought was nice!

Also I complained to MAC after a product performed worse than the old version it replaced. They let me choose any item from their website and sent to me for free as an apology!

Part of our hoover broke today just outside warranty. Cost of replacement motorised part was £100. I politely explained that I'd expect the entire machine to well outlast the warranty anyway and was there anything they could do. If I was forced into buying a new one after only two years I wouldn't be buying their brand again. Was offered the replacement with its own warranty for half price and free next day delivery. I thought that was fair.

That's a very nice gesture, but a bit OTT.

It's not OTT, and nor is it a gesture. OP ended up with a badly gashed ankle due to negligence, and if she'd decided to sue them she'd have received more than £150. The shop knew that, and that's why they sent the money, as if OP were to change her mind and decide to pursue it in the future they could attempt to argue that the matter was already settled.

SmudgeButt

Sainsburys gave me a £10 voucher after I cried in store because I was overwhelmed with my kids and was clearly really really struggling I was mortified and said I wouldn't take it but they insisted that I used it to by myself something to enjoy once they'd all gone to bed

Just once from Frankie & Bennys

It was DD2's first ever wage, and first time using a debit card. She wanted to take me out for a meal. They charged £450 instead of £45.

DD got her money refunded and we got a voucher for two free meals.

Recently I got £60 from our energy supplier after they took 6 months to repair our broken meter.

Last year I got £250 from RBS after appalling service from their bereavement team.

I’m quite laid back so don’t complain often but can write an excellent complaint letter if needed!

I have some friends who have a separate bank account to put all their compensation money in - they are that good/tenacious at complaining!
I have to say they only make genuine complaints, they don't take the piss, but most people would either not bother, or give up at the first hurdle. They keep on going until they get a suitable offer.

@FredaFlintstone

Yes-£2000 from a gas/electric company.

We moved into a new house, told the utilities companies, all fine. Started getting gas bills for the previous owners with Huge debt. Called gas company 3 different times in the next 3 months as letters kept arriving and was assured each time it was an error, records now updated etc.

Came home late one night in December and we'd been burgled (so we thought)as the contents of our stair cupboard was strewn everywhere. Exited sharply and called the police. Crying, terrified children.

DH went in as had had enough of waiting (causing hysterics from our 8 year old who thought he was going to get killed by a burglar). Found a bailiffs notice on the kitchen counter. Bailiffs had forced entry to fit token meters due to the debt of previous owner. And left all the contents of our understairs cupboard literally thrown everywhere. All the bedroom doors were open (we Always close them) and they'd been in every room which is Standard procedure apparently.

To top it off, their gas engineer fucked up and capped the gas meter incorrectly so a local gas engineer wouldn't take the cap off... and it took 4 days of me screaming down the phone at the company for them to come out and pull the token meters out and fix it. 4 days in December with no heating or hot water.

Obviously I got grovelling apologies for their 'admin error' and £2k but it still makes me angry thinking about it! Ds2 wouldn't sleep alone for a week worrying about strange men breaking in.

The bailiffs broke the law

* Bailiffs are allowed to force their way into your home to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty, but only as a last resort.*

Got vouchers from a well known coffee shop when I. Complained there was flies everywhere in the shop and it looked dirty. Also Morrison’s when I bought a bleach spray and it wasn’t sealed right. It ruined my daughters new top when it leaked in my car boot.

I’ve had random freebies too! I’ve had free first class seats, free meals at Nando’s and five guys, free drinks/sides on the house at cafes & restaurants. No idea why though!

@Chewingle maybe not classed as bailiffs officially...but it was a Court entry warrant and in attendance was a 'Court officer' I think it was...ie a bailiff in my words.

Totally legal though, when carried out correctly, apparently energy companies do it all the time.

I work in the insurance department for a retailer and you have no idea how many peoples eyes light up with pound signs after genuine accidents. The sad thing is if you sued you would probably get a large pay out.

Kfc also sent me a voucher when I asked them why they always forget the gravy at the drive thru. They emailed it through in a really cool email with "Kentucky cash" attached!

Next sent me a £10 voucher after the boots I’d paid for next day delivery didn’t turn up! And sent out another pair boots.

I now have 2 pairs of boots and £10 voucher next didn’t want the 2nd pair of boot back 🤷‍♀️