Things You'll Need:
- Paper, pen, phone, computer
-
Step 1
HOW TO GET RECOURSE FROM A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WITHOUT LAWYERS!
With customer service almost non-existent and government agencies over-burdened, it’s time for new options that will allow you to voice your dissatisfaction with less than acceptable products and services…and get recourse. There are two new companies that can help you do just that, without the need to hire expensive lawyers. -
Step 2
One is LetterChamp.com, which handles phone calls with the company and writes letters to its top executives for a $25 retainer fee, plus a 33 1/3% commission if you receive any money back. Other other option is HelpMeResolveThis.com. HelpMeResolveThis bypasses the tier one efforts of phone calls and letters and focuses on a more in-depth approach to reaching executives who can approve consumer reimbursement or replacement issues for customer satisfaction.
-
Step 3
WHEN SHOULD YOU TURN A COMPLAINT OVER TO A THIRD-PARTY AGENT?
Consumers who have detailed and documented issues or concerns, but don’t have the time to invest in a resolution can find an easy shortcut to satisfaction by hiring an agency. A different level of frustration comes from those who have exhausted all of their resources (and probably time) and are ready to give up on their efforts. Unless issues are small and uncomplicated, it typically takes a great deal of time and effort to achieve a successful outcome. Often, the financial investment a consumer has in a product or service is the justification to pursue a claim, but sometimes it’s simply the principle of the resolution that’s important. Either way, with the old rules of customer service rapidly disappearing, it’s time to look to new approaches.
TACTICS YOU CAN INITIATE ON YOUR OWN
The Better Business Bureau successfully helps in over 70% of disputes, but it doesn’t have the authority to force a resolution. The second option is to contact the office of your state attorney general through naag.org, which does have authority and will review your issue or complaint. Your most costly alternative is to hire an attorney or law firm to represent you, and in the case of very large financial issues, it may be the course to take. But with all three of these options, there is a great deal of investment and time delays in getting satisfaction.
If you decide to take on or, at least, initiate your own effort on behalf of yourself, here are some quick tips on how to effectively register or complaint or dissatisfaction.
Stay to-the-point. Don’t be too formal and don’t joke or give more information than is necessary for the reader to understand the issue.
Make the structure of the letter or email easy to follow. Use the following 4-paragraph structure:
1. This the event I'm writing about;
2. This is what happened, and how it was not resolved;
3. This is why I'm a customer worth keeping (state any repeat business, loyalty to product, etc); and
4. Here is what I want you to do to rectify the situation.
Be sure to keep Emotions, insults, and grand statements against corporations/the decline of American values/humanity in general out of the email.
