Generous responses to complaints.

Eejay

Yes, the thread was not about her telling me to get out though - it's the way she went about it, and the way they then turned the girl away. If they hadn't done the latter I wouldn't have posted it.

Complaining is what I do second best. I'm better at making things - cross stitch, jewellery, etc - but there's no time for that with a baby who would just have needles, threads and beads everywhere

I only complain when there's something to complain about though. I wouldn't generally bother wasting my time if I just didn't like the taste of something, for example, because what I like is different to what someone else likes.

Here are some more...

I found a lump of hard plastic in a prawn ISO roll at Yo! Sushi. I knew the staff really well so took it back the next time I went in a little plastic bag just to see if they had any idea where it had come from, and they insisted on giving me a free box of sushi. Wasn't a complaint as such though.

Went to a hotel in London - the printout we had gave the totally wrong 'nearest station' so we were wandering around for ages. When we got there I pointed it out to them and they said it wasn't their fault as we'd booked through somewhere else. However a manager or someone had overheard and came over and said we could have a free upgrade and breakfast.

Another hotel, the room was dreadful and dirty - and this was a very well-known chain. They left a comment card so I commented on everything that was wrong with it (including the bathroom light hanging off the ceiling - I wasn't just being petty). They gave us some money back as well as breakfast for free. I did make a point of thanking the person who brought me extra pillows though (I was pregnant and struggled to stay on my side without them).

Another hotel, we were going out for the evening so we got there, went in the shower, dumped our stuff all over the bed and then realised the sink was leaking all over the place. It was a nice room - I'd have happily stayed in it if they could stop the leak (I didn't even mind the leak to be honest, I just didn't want to flood the place) - but they couldn't. The only other room they had left was twice as nice!

Pollycat

Eejay wrote: »

I only complain when there's something to complain about though.

All I can say is you appear to be one unlucky lady going by the amount of things you've found to complain about. :rotfl:

Eejay

Pollycat wrote: »

Why do you think you do more than your fair share of complaining?

Would it help if your OH let you use the credit card more often?
Just wondered if you complain so much because you think there's something missing in your life.

And do you write to/email companies to commend them when they go above and beyond what is expected of them?

To me, both go hand-in-hand.
We used to call it 'brickbats & bouquets'.
I often contact my local bus company about missing services but if we have snow or severe rain that affects the service, I'm the first to write and say how well the drivers have done.

If you're a complainer only, your glass must be half full - if indeed you have a glass at all.

I don't compliment good service as often as I should, and I do feel bad about that sometimes. I sometimes have every intention of doing so, but I struggle to write about people (hence very few of my complaints mention people). Saying that, a health visitor spotted my baby's tongue tie after countless others (including doctors and breastfeeding advisors) had missed it and she got us a referral - I have been telling everyone how wonderful she is. If staff in a shop are particularly helpful I make a point of telling them so and how much I appreciate their assistance. If someone helps me off the bus with the pram I tell them how grateful I am (rather than just 'thanks'). I am good to people, just in a different way.

I think it mostly stems from boredom - that and the fact I hate waste, so if something is rubbish and I've wasted money on it and/or the item is also unusable, I will tell someone. Like the curtain poles - they are really great poles but the brackets are dreadful. We've had to buy brackets elsewhere which have come to about £30 extra, so the £15 goes partway to making up for that and it was a good gesture. I'd have been content with £5 to be honest. They said I could take them back but getting them home had been a total and utter nightmare and I dreaded the thought of taking them back (on the bus, with the packaging in pieces). With the new brackets they should be perfect.

Pollycat

Eejay wrote: »

I don't compliment good service as often as I should, and I do feel bad about that sometimes. I sometimes have every intention of doing so, but I struggle to write about people (hence very few of my complaints mention people). Saying that, a health visitor spotted my baby's tongue tie after countless others (including doctors and breastfeeding advisors) had missed it and she got us a referral - I have been telling everyone how wonderful she is. If staff in a shop are particularly helpful I make a point of telling them so and how much I appreciate their assistance. If someone helps me off the bus with the pram I tell them how grateful I am (rather than just 'thanks'). I am good to people, just in a different way.

I think to single out a specific person and take the time and trouble to email the company they work for and say what they've done for you can possibly make a really big difference - in the manager's perception towards that member of staff and to the moral of the person concerned.

I've had bus drivers (I use our local buses regularly so lots of drivers know me) say 'thank you for your comments'.
Apparently they put letters/emails up on the notice board.

And it can work both ways.
I've had drivers wait for me to trot up to the bus stop because they recognise me.

To say you complain from boredom but often can't be bothered to make the effort to compliment is slightly bizarre.

Eejay

I'll start making more of an effort

Shelldean

Pollycat wrote: »

All I can say is you appear to be one unlucky lady going by the amount of things you've found to complain about. :rotfl:

Oh I don't know if listed all the things I've complained about I'd look a right moaned and look unlucky. But it's lots of little small things, that it end to complain about.

But I don't think I complain that much. I often chance my arm in hope of getting something small as a reward.

For example one of the kids advent calendars was given an advent calendar. Now we'd not used this before Christmas as.it was a gift and I'd already brought them calendars. It also had a date of May 2016. So I figured it would ok to eat at a later date. Upon opening it last week the chocolate had gone white, a quick Google confirmed it was probably ok to eat (just fat separating) but it looked so unappealing.

Googled the company, sent a quick email asking how was best to raise a complaint as couldn't see on their web page. Got reply back asking for full details, including code on box and our address. I sent this.
Few days later a puffy envelope came through the door with several sweets in it. Was very pleased.

Herbalus

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

financial services

is a real kick in the teeth when someone is awarded £50 compensation for some small mistake when they have had no financial loss and it costs me £660 out of my salary - most complaints seem to be upheld for small amounts... I wonder why

Well complaints in financial services are beyond belief. It's like they want to uphold complaints and bung money to customers.

I complained because I wanted specific action once, and they said 'No, there's nothing I can help with in that, but here's £25.' That's great, but I wanted the action, not money. If they'd have said 'Sorry, nothing we can do', then that's fair enough! I understand there are constraints in mortgage application processes, so I don't need them to throw money at me to get me to end my complaint.

ShaneUK

Eejay wrote: »

Complained to Tesco that my cat had hated her Wiskas milk and it turned out it was six months beyond the BB but had still been full price. They sent me a £5 voucher and told me to treat her to some more milk.

You buy cat milk?!? That isnt very MSE :money:

Whilst I will say DON'T give a cat cows milk, as most cats are lactose intolerant, lactose free milk is (I'm reliably told!) the same as "branded" cat milk.

I agree with a lot of your complaints. If companies are told when things aren't right, then they can't correct them moving foward.

One complaint I once made was in a Wetherspoons. I had ordered a pie, and when it came out, it was still frozen in the middle!! When I complained to the member of staff, I didn't even get an actual apology - just a "Oh.... would you like a replacement?"!

I once made a different complaint for the same chain, different branch. It was so long ago that I can't even remember now what the complaint was. I made the complaint in writing, to the branch, and cc'd the head office. The HO sent me £20 in vouchers, and the branch invited me (and the friend that I was in with) back in for a free meal!! So double result!

grunnie

Brickbats and bouquets I like that. I have complained about 2 items in the last few months. One was genie bras and I am the first to admit that their customer service is excellent - it is the people in their warehouse who send out the wrong sizes that get the brickbats.I have given up with them after 2 months or trying to buy bras.
But the brickbat for the worst bouquet goes to a local florist who sent me a bouquet which had dead chrythanemums and squashed carnations. She was particularly nasty to me but I had to laugh when she said the local undertakers loved her wreaths and no one ever complained. I said it wasn't a wreath for me but a birthday bouquet. But still didn't get a replacenment for the dead flowers.

Eejay

ShaneUK wrote: »

You buy cat milk?!? That isnt very MSE :money:

Whilst I will say DON'T give a cat cows milk, as most cats are lactose intolerant, lactose free milk is (I'm reliably told!) the same as "branded" cat milk.

I agree with a lot of your complaints. If companies are told when things aren't right, then they can't correct them moving foward.

One complaint I once made was in a Wetherspoons. I had ordered a pie, and when it came out, it was still frozen in the middle!! When I complained to the member of staff, I didn't even get an actual apology - just a "Oh.... would you like a replacement?"!

I once made a different complaint for the same chain, different branch. It was so long ago that I can't even remember now what the complaint was. I made the complaint in writing, to the branch, and cc'd the head office. The HO sent me £20 in vouchers, and the branch invited me (and the friend that I was in with) back in for a free meal!! So double result!

Yes, she was spoiled. We got her when she was 14 and we thought we'd pamper her. She hadn't even been interested in cat milk before coming to us, but she decided she couldn't get enough lol! We wouldn't have got through the lactose free milk quick enough I don't think. Normally she got Wilko cat milk which wasn't that bad value. She passed away about a year ago, and our two new cats aren't interested in cat milk - or any human food either. They even turn their noses up at salmon when I offer it!

Sounds like you got a good response from Wetherspoons Only loosely related, but my brother started working there a few months ago. Apparently the fish and chips are a bit of a nightmare to make as they make so much mess and require various pieces of equipment. One night they'd got all cleaned up as it was really quiet, but just minutes before the kitchen closed, someone ordered fish and chips. His colleague was furious and things were flying everywhere as he prepared the food lol! :rotfl: