Complaints to Radio stations - Any use?

ChunkyManSkinny

If you had a problem with a service or a product would you go to a radio talk show to fix it for you?
I work for a Regulator (cant say who it is) and people ring up and say they are going to the radio to get their problem solved. Does anyone believe that will actually work?

biko

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

You mean that they threaten go public if their toaster broke and they can't get a new one on their warranty?

ChunkyManSkinny

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

biko wrote: »

You mean that they threaten go public if their toaster broke and they can't get a new one on their warranty?

Its more like if they bought a toaster and want to give it back and get a refund. As the companies are not obliged to give anything under law, they get p***ed off and go to radio chat shows

btw i do NOT work for the NCA!

ojewriej

It depends how juicy the story is, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Also depends if their company cares about their public image or not - a lot of them don't.

And of course it's important if the complaint is valid or no.

prendy

No

well yes saying most companies hate bad publicity they will not want their name on radio!

ChunkyManSkinny

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

ojewriej wrote: »

It depends how juicy the story is, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Also depends if their company cares about their public image or not - a lot of them don't.

And of course it's important if the complaint is valid or no.

If it is valid, fair enough, but a regulator would deal with it if that is the case.
For an invalid claim, do people think that it will be made valid through this method?

ojewriej

ChunkyManSkinny wrote: »

If it is valid, fair enough, but a regulator would deal with it if that is the case.
For an invalid claim, do people think that it will be made valid through this method?

It's a good point, but you would be surprised how many people are not aware of the regulator.

Another thing is that often they have no intention of going to the media at all, they just trying to scare the company, hoping it will just cave in in fear of a bad press. It's usually used when the complaint is not valid.

When I was working on a phone in a complaint department a while ago it was often used by the customers who weren't getting what they wanted. This and "you will hear from my solicitor" line.

ChunkyManSkinny

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

ojewriej wrote: »

It's a good point, but you would be surprised how many people are not aware of the regulator.

Another thing is that often they have no intention of going to the media at all, they just trying to scare the company, hoping it will just cave in in fear of a bad press. It's usually used when the complaint is not valid.

When I was working on a phone in a complaint department a while ago it was often used by the customers who weren't getting what they wanted. This and "you will hear from my solicitor" line.

I often hear that, when they were very bold and wanted to get out of paying their huge bill!

Mossy Monk

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

People that do contact radio phone in shows when they are clearly in the wrong should be thrown in prison.

MagicMarker

Ha.. I used to work as a complaints manager for a very well food known company. As in, this company would have at least one of their products in every fridge in the country.

I always laughed (to myself) when people mentioned Joe Duffy. Sad bastards!!

However, if it were an actual SERIOUS problem, sure why not. Bad publicity is bad publicity.

ojewriej

MagicMarker wrote: »

However, if it were an actual SERIOUS problem, sure why not. Bad publicity is bad publicity.

Yeah, that's true, but most of the companies will act quickly on actual serious problem, without any threats.

jameshayes

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

The people that listen to those particular types of radio station are normally the people who complain to them and they are never gonna be happy anyway

phasers

"oh Joe its terrible, all I did was try to make coffee in me kettle and it stopped workin'. Dey wont give me a refund Joe, what should I do Joe?"

"it's terrible Mary terrible"

GerryRyan

No

phasers wrote: »

"oh Joe its terrible, all I did was try to make coffee in me kettle and it stopped workin'. Dey wont give me a refund Joe, what should I do Joe?"

"it's terrible Mary terrible"

Or ring Gerry Ryan for a more enlightened response. Just saying.

simu

Atari Jaguar DS 2008

No, never. I don't get why people listen to those whingey shows either - they cannot be healthy.

Rb

simu wrote: »

No, never. I don't get why people listen to those whingey shows either - they cannot be healthy.

Agreed.

I can see how it might aid a case whereby a company were in the wrong and were acting completely ignorant towards the customer, but if it's a case where the customer is wrong, the company held their ground and the customer goes on live radio, then they're just ignorant fools making a show of themselves (and/or whoring attention) and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the media again.

Red Hand

Gives the Taxi drivers something to listen to though.