Great Letters That Work Hunt

bowesworld

We wrote this letter to Wee Chef,

15 Xxxx Xxxx
LOxxxxxxxxxx
Customer Service Department East Lxxxxx
Little Chef Support Centre Exxx 0xx
Gainsborough House
Houghton Hall Office Park
DUNSTABLE
Beds.
LU5 5XF. 2nd June 2005






Dear Sir / Madam

I recently visited my son in Lancashire and on my way back home had the misfortune to experience your ‘restaurant’ at Seaton Burn.

I have travelled all over the world in my younger days and do not expect particularly high standards from motorway services in this country – but you managed to reach a new low.

Not only was the food overpriced and barely edible (which I did point out at the time to the waitress) but the toilet facilities were absolutely disgusting. Some public toilets are pretty bad, but I have never experienced such dreadful ‘facilities’ in a restaurant which is allegedly providing ‘services’ for weary motorists.

I am sure you can appreciate that to have to stand in someone else’s (or probably several others) urine is not exactly a pleasant experience and having to spend the rest of my journey smelling of it was even less pleasant.

The state of the toilets was also pointed out to the waitress who served us, who explained that ‘she had not had time to clean them yet’ (this was at about 6pm) –
this was however, maybe just as well as she was serving food – I dread to think that this might have been contaminated as well, although it couldn’t have tasted much worse anyway.

Perhaps you should consider employing a cleaner, a chef who can actually cook and staff who are capable of being polite and helpful. However, if your objective is to ensure that any tourists who do visit this country do not return, you are bound to succeed, as I certainly won’t be back.

As a retired Director of a multi-national company, I would suggest you visit Canada where it is possible to eat in clean, comfortable surroundings, where the staff actually smile and are polite to customers - and all for a fraction of the price you would pay in the UK.
I expect it is too much to ask that you consider reimbursing me the £9.81 I paid for the appalling food and £40.00 for a new pair of shoes – I am sorry but I simply had to throw the ones that had trekked through your urine-sodden floor in the bin.

I can only hope that this letter might result in action being taken to prevent some other poor motorist having to endure a journey home smelling like they had had an accident (and not of the motoring kind.)


Yours faithfully




Xxxxxx Xxxxxx.


Outcome:

A voucher for £10 a an offer to refund the price of a new pair of shoes.

Baz@rr

Hello,

I'm the guy behind Random Rant, which has appeared on the forum here a couple of times (in this thread and Martin posted the Letter to Skeletor link at some point a while back). While the letters which make it to the site are written to be funny, I've done a fair amount of "serious" complaining by letter over the years, often to banks.

That said, I've actually had more "compensation" from the letters on the site than from the polite, brief, but to the point versions I have sent other companies.

From my own experience I'd echo many of the things said here, as well as a couple of other points. Others may disagree on some of them, but these are my thoughts:

A) Try to get your letter as high up as possible. If a company is worth its salt then even sending your complaint to the customer services department should see it move up to the correct person, but sometimes it doesn't happen, and if it does it takes a while. If you can possibly get an address of someone higher up the chain, then use it.

Suggest a way the company can rectify the situation. Make it reasonable. There's no point asking for the bank to give you a few hundred quid because they rejected a direct debit by mistake or something, unless you can demonstrate how them doing so cost you a few hundred quid. Whatever the reason you're writing, don't be afraid to gently suggest that compensation might help calm your rage.

C) If possible, back the complaint up with dates, times, names, etc, etc. Any documentary evidence you have of whatever you're complaining about is useful too. The more detail you can give, the more seriously you'll be taken.

D) Don't expect a cartoon character from the 1980's to write back. They never do.

Cheers!

Baz

loopy_lass

er... anyone any ideas who to and how to complain about the NHS?

thanxz

ang x

Undercovercarrot

Loopy_lass...yes. Many. Why do you want to complain, who do you want to complain about and when did this happen? As a general rule, the NHS trust involved will have a PALS (Patient Advice and Liason) department who you can write or telephone to. As a word of advice, the NHS treat complaints VERY seriously. Please PM or e-mail me regarding this and I will see what I can do to help.

Dave

DavidC_4

Does anyone have any experience on dealing with US based companies? I am in dispute with Dollar Rentacar who provided appalling service (and 3 faulty cars) during our recent visit to the USA, ignored all my letters of complaint (including one sent international signed-for), eventually replied when I wrote to their UK office asking for help, refunded money that they had somehow taken without authorisation, said they had credited compensation to my credit card, didn't actually credit the amount they claimed, then claimed it was the correct amount, eventually offered a paltry compensation payment, stated that they had no official complaints procedure and then refused to enter into any further discussion. (it's a long and painful story and resulted in my wife needing medication and us losing 2 entire days of our holiday as well as my nearly decking one of their so-called operatives)
My letters to the UK Travel Agent have also gone unanswered as yet but I expect them to answer eventually.
Any advice on US companies and any regulatory bodies or arbitration services please?
Thanks
DavidC

janjan

Loopy To complain about the NHS PALS are good but depending on where you live ICAS, (inependent complaints advocacy service), who are part of the CAB, may help. Try ringing your local CAB, or emailing them. Phone number in the phone book.

DorsetDave2

I note some letters are where people have replied to companies where the companies have claimed they are owed money.

If you are confident you dont owe them any money then I always use the phrase ".... do you realise it is a criminal offence to harrass someone for a non-debt"

This has always worked for me.

webmasterpolo

DavidC, get their headquarters address, write to the CEO of the company by name, enclose all documentation receipts etc, perscriptions, doctors letters etc. Threaten to sue for distress loss of holiday etc. Do the same kind of thing to the travel company. Did you pay by credit card? If so you have another chance with them. One will give you what you want.

tiptoptom_2

Hello Very frustrated with comet- this is my final offering after nine months of battling! Getting this stuff out is good fot the soul!

I am writing to follow up on my letter written May 19th 2005.

Seemingly the post office has failed us for the third time during our correspondence as you have made no reply to my letter, or perhaps chosen to ignore it hoping I would go away.

Therefore, I have taken the liberty of enclosing copies of all the letters and despatching this follow up registered post so as to ensure you receive it.

I will also be forwarding copies of all our letters to the consumer pages of the Guardian.

I have been advised to pursue civil legal action to recover my costs incurred by the negligence of your company. As I advised you before, that whilst I am presently prepared to accept £153.99 any further costs I incur will be borne by your company. You have fourteen days from the receipt of this letter to reply and avert this course of action.

I would also like to highlight my extreme disappointment with Comet at their unwillingness or inability to deal with a valid customer complaint. Indeed, given I initially highlighted this issue nine month ago I am amazed that this matter has not been dealt with.

soooo

I am currently trying to write to numerous sweepstake/promotion/prize draw etc in Canada, USA, Belgium, France and Switzerland to try to stop them sending letters to my 83 year old mother telling her she has won thousands and asking for around £20. I know all the advice is to bin them but they are making my confused mother very ill and I need to stop them.

Do I try reality and appeal to their 'humanity' or will this make it worse? Do I just ask to be removed from mailing list? There is little I can threaten as it seems to be an international legal minefield.

Any help or suggestions would be very gratefully received, I am getting desperate as around 10 letters a day arrive.