i have found a new voice

[Tortington]

i am 34 years old and have just started to complain ( not about being 34...i mean in general!)

i first found my complaining voice when the nationwide lost my cheque, savings for our holiday at xmas. i paid for special presentation £12 and signed disclaimer saying it was non refundable and they are not responsible if lost. I was distraught, beside mself, and complained in the middle of the shop floor ( so to speak) quite loudly. was phoned the next day and told it was a clerical error so i demanded my £12 back it was now a matter of principle. went in and argued that it wasn't lost , the disclaimer didn't apply and i didn't care if it was the co-ops fault i want my 12 back as it took over 2 weeks.

i got it. and went outside and gave it to big issue man - who thought i was a looney

this story which i have posted last week i think spured me on to complain more. i complained to scottish power that their bills were to high and changed my supplier - something i couldnt be arsed to do before

and last night had a curry. found 13 whole chilis in my curry no wonder i was shouting "WATER WATER" those are what i found in my one portion. i rang up the takeaway who said i could have a free meal next time.
i want my meal free this time - says i.
they sent driver round to collect the chili evidence which i had kept and refunded my £3.80

i intend to carry on. which is bizarre as counter to my mnet personality i would have in the past rather curled up and died than complain. i am the kind of person to leave a shitty meal at restaurant and just never go back - rather than voice a complaint. my dh is also like this and cringes visible when i assert my new voice.

what have you got back after complaining?

Nothing particularly but I have found that I have gained a hell of a lot of confidence complaining wise as I have gotten a bit older(and I suppose wiser).

Basically you are confident about who you are so you don't care who thinks you are a looney because you know you are right. It's very positive imo!

Complained about the cookie bit in cadbury chocolate trifle (missing)-got £10 to spend on choccie trifles.
Complained to Tescos about the car seat trolleys having the straps broken on them all the time -new straps on all the baby trolleys.
Complained to Tesco about the rudeness of cashier-got all the till staff retrained
Currently complaining to Prince Lion Heart about bebe pod.
I love to complain ,its a matter of principles.

wow impressive

life is a series of complaints once you reach 35

My complaining has reached a peak this year ,maybe it was turning 30?
great satisfaction to be had .
Also complained to west mercia police regarding an incident in which an officer was very rude to my bil -written appology and home visit by the case manager.
Sainsburys,found a fruitstone in their bread pudding -got £10 voucher!

Custy-never would have thought you shy to complain! But glad you have learned the art as you are one of the people who would never complain unfairly and one of the ones others would look up to.

I complain if something annoys me - on my first date with dh I ordered an asparagus risotto and they forgot to put the asparagus in - please! U complained and they brough the asparagus (obviously out of a tin) to me on a plate and asked me if I'd like it added!!!

DH thought I was fussy cos I didn't accept it. But he liked me enough to go on with seeing me.

I don't complain if I can see people have good reason for whatever but at the end of the day, if you're being charged the going rate for something you should have the same as everyone else expects.

I am a serial complainer and I don't like backing down.

DH reckons all the local companies and call centres have little red flashing lights that come on if I call.

'Give her anything she wants - just don't bloody argue with the woman'

oooh st g tell us more techniques n stuff

Have your facts right before you are prepared to argue (so check out websites for consumer info etc).

Don't be fobbed off if the first phone call doesn't crack it. Ring back and ask for someone more senior - and keep asking til they give in.

Make notes of everything, times, names etc.

Be prepared to embelish slightly. Not lies as such but maybe bend the truth a little to get the sympathy vote - just make sure you remember what you have said so you don't trip yourself up. So it wasn't just a night out ruined for example, it was the very special anniversary dinner that can never be got back.

Persistance, patience, piss 'em off till they give in

So far this year:

£50 & flowers, Royal Bank of Scotland, card kept at cash machine because machine was faulty.

£30 off + free delivery for my mum's new suite - they didn't deliver when promised.

£30 Direct Line Insurance - renewed my insurance but they took payment 11 days late. I like my bank account to balance and it pissed me off

Loads of others but they are my favourites.

what do you do to get that? do you shout? are you specific about what you want
" i want some recompense for your shoddy business liek attitude " or sommat?

I sound like my mother when i complain

Never shout. Politeness at all time, though I sometimes make it clear that I am getting annoyed. I always apologise and make it clear I am annoyed at the problem not the person I am speaking to.

Lay out the problem and see what they suggest. Gives you an idea how far they are willing to bargain. If they offer you compensation straight away you can push it much further. If they don't then ask. Have a clear idea before you start what outcome you would be happy with.

I don't always get compensation - I am happy simply to know that a problem has been dealt with and wont happen again. Just depends what it is (and how bad my PMT is )

Hello Kayleigh

What are you doing on here? Supposed to have a respectable job these days aren't you?

Kayleigh - I sound like my mother, bless her. Taught me all I know.

That's great, custardo. Welcome to the Serial Complainers Club!

I got a £20 overdue payment charge and 52p interest back on a storecard bill recently, after complaining they hadn't sent me the original bill. They gave in quite easily over the £20 but I had to fight really hard for the 52p.

It's important to remember that as the customer you have power on your side because you don't have to appear professional (just avoid swearing or losing your rag completely) and many organisations will cave in remarkably fast if you threaten to take your business elsewhere.

In an odd way you are actually doing a favour to those you are complaining about - if more people said what they really thought, they wouldn't have to spend a fortune on market research.

£74 charge from the central heating engineer because I was charged for 3 visits when they only did 3 visits because they turned up for one of them with only 1 of the 2 parts.

Got BabyDragon added to our annual family travel insurance despite being told that it couldn't be done outside of the 14 day cooling off period - bear in mind that children are free on this policy and they don't sell policies for babies (which is what they suggested I do).

Assorted interest charges on cards and bank charges.

I hate complaining though. Mainly because I cry when I get angry

id oo too - people think i'm being a wimpy irl but am not am angry!

And then I cry more because I'm angry at crying.

Managed to get Renault to fit my replacement wing mirror glass free of charge today mind you. I lugged BabyDragon in, let her flirt for a bit, got the mirror and then said in a pathetic woman way "can you just check nothing else broke when the mirror fell out...?"