Expert Complainer

MidLifeCrisis_3

Ha, this message that I just found in my MSE inbox dated 19 Nov has just given me laugh. Oh dear, I'm really not sure if I should be flattered or not:rotfl:

Expert complainer Hi,

I saw your message on the complainer thread and wanted to get in touch.

I work for Dragonfly Film & Television Productions. We are an award-winning, independent television production company and our programmes include ‘One Born Every Minute’, ‘The Hotel’, ‘Plane Crash’ and ‘June Brown: Respect Your Elders’. We work across all the major broadcasters. Please see our website for more details – www.dragonfly.tv

We are currently working on interesting series about ‘expert complainers’ – people who demand excellent service, whether this be customer services, local politics, news, bargain hunting, beating large companies - and people who like to share their opinion and fight for their rights.

This isn’t for broadcast at this stage, but I’m looking to get in touch with people who are good at complaining and are proud of it. If this sounds like something that you'd be interested in please give me a call on 0207 033 2306 or email [EMAIL="kate.hitchen@dragonfly.tv"]kate.hitchen@dragonfly.tv[/EMAIL].

Thank you,

Kate

yangptangkipperbang

I find this a little depressing.......

Why should we have to "demand excellent service" ? is it too much to expect something approaching this all the time ? Why does one have to be an "expert complainer" ?

Many of the so called problems are reported by people who think that they are "expert complainers", when their knowledge of the subject in hand is at "Daily Mail" level. This site is riddled with complaints from people saying that they are not getting their "rights" when it is plain to see that their understanding of The Sale of Goods Act (or whatever) is deeply flawed.

If - and when - this programme is aired, I think I will watch something more educational :rotfl:

somethingcorporate

I remember seeing a breakfast programme a few years ago about a guy that made his living complaining to companies on behalf of customers.

He was quite wacky, sending motors from washing machines etc and being very creative in how he went about it. He was not really an "expert" and resolving a complaint is rarely about being in the (legal) right it is about getting your complaint in front of the right person to get your situation resolved.

I've had arguments with shop staff (Argos) over SOGA until I was blue in the face and them calling my (solicitor) wife a liar and stupid. Having the knowledge and being in the right can often be completely pointless if the person your complaint is with is useless/stupid/ignorant or a mixture of the three.

yangptangkipperbang

somethingcorporate wrote: »

I've had arguments with shop staff (Argos) over SOGA until I was blue in the face and them calling my (solicitor) wife a liar and stupid. Having the knowledge and being in the right can often be completely pointless if the person your complaint is with is useless/stupid/ignorant or a mixture of the three.

Of course you were in the "right" ? (humourous sarcasm ). I must confess I have never had any bother in an Argos store when returning stuff.

I will agree that many shop staff are "useless" but that is usually due to the management structure in the store giving zero individual responsibility to the staff. Why should they read up on the Law when they cannot exercise their knowledge ?

Finally, even sites which should give accurate info are often not correct.
This is from an OFT site
http://www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/treating-customers-fairly/sogahome/sogaexplained) giving advice to retailers:-
"you (not the manufacturer or supplier) are legally obliged to resolve the matter with the customer at any time for up to six years from the date of purchase"

This is just NOT correct - the 6 year period is the time limit during which the customer may take action in Court to recover damages. It certainly is NOT - as this quote suggests - a 6 year warranty or anything approaching that. The retailer has no legal obligation to do anything - the aggrieved customer must take Civil action in Court to prove his claim. (Strictly speaking after only 6 months - although most retailers give a warranty of twice this period)

This is from a BERR (now BIS) website, which does give a better explanation:
"Q3. Are all goods supposed to last six (or five) years?

No, that is the limit for bringing a court case in England and Wales (five years from the time of discovery in Scotland's case). An item only needs to last as long as it is reasonable to expect it to, taking into account all the factors."

I am all for customers exercising their "rights" - but regrettably, these perceived rights, are often a long way from what the Law actually says.