Have you ever made a formal complaint?

MadsL

Have you every made a complaint to a State or Official body? What was the outcome?

I could regale you with numerous examples as I'm a serial "Dear Sir/Madam" complainer, but none of them are all that entertaining.

I have had dangerous advertising signs removed however, and had insurance companies prevented from discriminating on nationality. Much of my complaining has resulted in win.

So are you a 'sad git' complainer or 'couldn't be arsed' walk on by type?

efb

Methinks boardsies would like writing and complaining

weemcd

Can't be fúcked with that, life is too short. Absolute last, last, last resort is complaining, especially a formal written complaint.

Never

KeithM89

In my early teens i sent a letter to RTE complaining they didnt show any porn late at night, it was the only 2 channels i could get on the tv in my room.
They never replied sadly.

BaronVon

I once sent an email to Tesco, cos their petrol station wasn't open at 6:40am, and it was supposed to be open at 6 and, as a result, I was late for work.

I got a €5 voucher from them. Never complained to a State body though, never had any reason to.

Peregrine

I've e-mailed my local TD a couple of times and I sent an e-mail to Dublin City Council about the Docklands SDZ draft plan and it's ridiculous future building height restrictions. Myself and many others complained and it's being revised at the moment, I don't know if they'll cop on.

I can't think of any more.

Christ the Redeemer

No. I'm afraid I'll enjoy it and turn into one those types that write letters to RTE and listen to Joe Duffy.

MadsL

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

I've e-mailed my local TD a couple of times and I sent an e-mail to Dublin City Council about the Docklands SDZ draft plan and it's ridiculous future building height restrictions. Myself and many others complained and it's being revised at the moment, I don't know if they'll cop on.

I can't think of any more.

Why are building height restrictions "ridiculous" ? Dublin is a low rise city. Nothing to 'cop on' to.

Incidentally, it has been complainers like me that got the Development Plan to reflect the low rise nature of Dublin - DCC wanted a free for all on height.

anncoates

Does sending turds in envelopes to TV presenters count?

Cienciano

Nothing serious. Complained to O2 for trying to shaft me on my bill, they changed it. Never complained to a government body.
Although, the older I get, the closer I get to doing it.

Conmaicne Mara

Yes, to the cops, waste of fúcking time. Probably get better results complaining to Sinn Fein.

Cienciano

anncoates wrote: »

Does sending turds in envelopes to TV presenters count?

That's a great idea. On an unrelated note, does anyone know how to find out Ryan Tubridy's address?

FloatingVoter

joe_bloggs_ wrote: »

When I younger, I sent a Chomp bar back to Cadbury complaining about the unusual taste as I had heard that they'd send you a ****load of chocolate as compensation and sure enough, a couple of weeks later got a delivery of a box of assorted Cadbury confectionery.

Did the same myself with a Mars bar back in the 1980s. It worked. I must try it again now that I'm reminded.

Seamus1964

That would be my favourite "complaint" thread :

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057007402/1

Rasheed

No, can't say I did. Yet anyhow. Nothing has bothered me enough to complain about it.

TroutMask

Yes, was unfairly failed on my drivers test - got another one in 10 days (this was back when it took 13 months to get a test).

FTA69

In a retail/service context there is nothing that staff hate more than being accosted by some blackguard who feels the need to p*ss and moan about everything. I honestly think some people factor complaining in to their evening out as it makes them feel more important about themselves. I used to work in a pub and I've had people ask for a pint of Magners and then complain when you don't give them a bottle, people moan about getting a small lemon slice in their G and T, people try and exchange mixed spirit drinks because it turns out they don't like them etc. Not to mention the letters brigade. Moaning that there was a soccer match on the telly while they were trying to enjoy their romantic "2 for £9.99" burger meal in a chain pub!

If you're seriously aggrieved about something important then by all means complain, but nobody likes a whinge-bag and that is in essence what most serial complainers are.

mikeoneil1000

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Did the same myself with a Mars bar back in the 1980s. It worked. I must try it again now that I'm reminded.

i knew a few clever people used to buy the out-of-date stuff cheap and send it back

until the shopkeeper got wind of the scam

Brian_Zeluz

Does ricin count as a complaints letter?

Heroditas

Yes but in a professional capacity to the regulator in my industry.
Part of my job!

wilkie2006

Seamus1964 wrote: »

That would be my favourite "complaint" thread :

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057007402/1

Wow... that link/thread was really, really not worth reading.

Francesco

Seamus1964 wrote: »

That would be my favourite "complaint" thread :

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057007402/1

Why ?

Amerika

My two US Senators usually get a couple emails from me each quarter. To their credit, I do get responses every time from them, albeit in talking points standard form. Unfortunately nothing much gets done, but I figure they at least have it in their heads that some of their constituents have a particular mindset on the issues. Of course they do get my email address, which they use to solicit donations to their campaigns on a regular basis.

I don’t dare write the POTUS on current issues. Wouldn’t want a visit from the IRS, NSA or DOJ... The Chicago way.

remsburgsgirl

I took a toy back to (a well known large toy retailer's here in Ireland...don't know if I'm allowed name...) and they made me jump through f*cking hoops to get a replacement....it was bought a week beforehand, given as a gift for a birthday, kid opened it & it didn't work, brought it back with receipt thinking I'd get a refund/replacement straight away...holy crap 2 weeks later I was still in contact with these people over it...something so simple...christ

In the end I got a refund (they tried the whole no refund but we'll give you a voucher sh*te) and I am never buying from them again...and sending my friend in to complain for me anywhere else in the future, because she is great at it & always gets apologies & free stuff...she did study some body language & hypnotherapy thing in college though... maybe that's why

(...I realise this may not be a the 'formal complaint' you asked about OP )

Vojera

I've never complained to an official body. I think I've only ever complained three times.

One was to an emergency veterinary service that refused first aid to my pet who then died. I got a phone call and an apology and assurances that their staff would be better informed about the emergencies they are obliged to accept. I only complained so that maybe it would help someone else's pet in future, so I was happy with that.

I also complained to a pet shop because the conditions they were keeping their animals in weren't satisfactory. The next time I called in to check they had been improved. I never got a reply, so I can't say my letter made the difference, but I'd like to think it helped.

The third time I remember was to a restaurant that I got really terrible service in. Seriously, the worst. And when I said it at the end of the night the attitude was real "So what?" (which I was surprised at because I'd been there a few times before and it was lovely). I wrote a complaint to the manager and never got a response, so me and my family and friends have boycotted it ever since.

MadsL

remsburgsgirl wrote: »

I took a toy back to (a well known large toy retailer's here in Ireland...don't know if I'm allowed name...) and they made me jump through f*cking hoops to get a replacement....it was bought a week beforehand, given as a gift for a birthday, kid opened it & it didn't work, brought it back with receipt thinking I'd get a refund/replacement straight away...holy crap 2 weeks later I was still in contact with these people over it...something so simple...christ

The contrast with the US is astonishing on retails sales. Basically you can return anything more or less in the US and get a refund/replacement. I have abused tools and returned them for replacements.

So far I have returned an electric toothbrush that kept breaking 3 times in the past year, a solar panel I cracked, a battery pack I left in the rain, a pack of wood I didn't use, an electric tester I used once and then returned, and a set of clamps that were too cheap not to buy and them they systematically broke.

Never a grumble and often non of this do you have a receipt crap.

Nettle

Yeah I complained to the state in relation to the recent magdalene report. Took them on and won. It took almost 5 months and was met with the most ridiculous responses from our so called government leaders, one td actually spoke for 6 minutes on my behalf in the dail, also wrote to the UN torture committee about the treatment both by the nuns in the magdalene laundries and the governments response, my advice to anybody taking on the state is to keep it all in writing even phone conversations, type them up and email it to the person you were speaking to and then follow that up with a phone call to make sure they have received the email. Have to say 'twas a pretty decent feeling knowing they back tracked based on my findings

Jester252

I complain to my SU regarding a fire exit. The locks on the fire exits broke and they decided lock it shut with chain and padlocks

seven_eleven

Wrote a complain to ESB because our power would cut for 5seconds 1-2 times aweek. Continued for 3+ months and was really fúcking annoying and could have messed up my pc and other electronics.

Got a phone call off them about a month after I wrote it explaining what the story was and when it was going to be fixed.

starling

Jester252 wrote: »

I complain to my SU regarding a fire exit. The locks on the fire exits broke and they decided lock it shut with chain and padlocks

Nice one. That's the kind of complaint that makes the world better. Padlocking fire exits ffs.

My ma was a regular complainer to Cadbury about chocolate with white spots on it from the cocoa rising or whatever. Eventually they stopped sending her massive boxes of chocolate, the last time they just sent her a refund for her Dairy Milk. In the form of UK stamps :pac:

I wrote a formal letter of complaint about a manager whose bullying was legendary. I got fired about a week later. Was a sh1t job anyway:)

meoklmrk91

Made a complaint against a guidance councillor in school, they were spoke about my business to some other students, the following day I handed my written complaint in to the principal, they were reprimanded and I received an apology, they also licked my ass the entire time I was there after. It was nothing too personal but I am a pretty private person and hate busy bodies.

TroutMask

I complained about a guy who made his own 'mains distro': a 32 Amp 3-phase plug with three 13-Amp plugboards coming out of it! No breakers, and the possibility of a user being caught between 2 phases made this a cardinal offense.

Ruu

Bring back Mailbag!

MurdyWurdy

I did send some malteasers back to mars because they had white gunk on them. They wrote back to me telling me it's what happens when chocolate is stored at too hot a temperature and gave me some vouchers for chocolate.

Apart from that no, I used to be on the receiving end of a lot of letters of complaint, I worked as a PA to the CEO of a company that served the public. At least 60% of the letters were written by people who were not all there, some of them used to make me really sad, because of that

Galwayguy35

Vojera wrote: »

I've never complained to an official body. I think I've only ever complained three times.

One was to an emergency veterinary service that refused first aid to my pet who then died. I got a phone call and an apology and assurances that their staff would be better informed about the emergencies they are obliged to accept. I only complained so that maybe it would help someone else's pet in future, so I was happy with that.

I also complained to a pet shop because the conditions they were keeping their animals in weren't satisfactory. The next time I called in to check they had been improved. I never got a reply, so I can't say my letter made the difference, but I'd like to think it helped.

The third time I remember was to a restaurant that I got really terrible service in. Seriously, the worst. And when I said it at the end of the night the attitude was real "So what?" (which I was surprised at because I'd been there a few times before and it was lovely). I wrote a complaint to the manager and never got a response, so me and my family and friends have boycotted it ever since.

Probably as well you didn't go back to the restaurant, if they were pissed off about the letter then no gaurantee they wouldn't spit in the food before bringing it to you next time.

Galwayguy35

Ruubot2 wrote: »

Bring back Mailbag!

Christ theres a blast from the past!!

Some of the letters used to be gas all right.

dobman88

Not really a formal complaint but I rang Sky on Sunday cos it had "no signal" 5 minutes into the football, went online to find a solution, followed the instructions, didn't fix it, rang them and the girl told me to do everything i had done so i told her i had done it already. Unplug the sky box and wait 2 minutes etc. She said an engineer would have to "call out" and there was a €60 charge!! LOL. When she told me that my exact words were: "ok, cancel the subscription please" got me straight through to her "colleague" and he done me the fantastic favour of waiving the charge, what a nice guy. Since then i fixed it, just switch cable 1 and 2 at the back of the box FYI

osarusan

Ruubot2 wrote: »

Bring back Mailbag!

One of my two 'formal' complaints was to Mailbag. I called and complained about RTE advertising the latest piece of crap Danielle Steele TV movie for weeks on end, and then showing the miniseries Brideshead Revisited in the middle of the afternnon with no advertising whatsoever. I never saw the show, but my uncle did, and heard my voice.

The other was a complaint to Yebisu (Japanese brewery) for their ****ing horrible beer called "Creamy Top". I started writing it in Japanese, then got tired of that, wrote a nice polite English version, ran it through Google translate, and pasted it into the box on their website. Never heard anything back from them.

mikemac1

Most recent was in my local Tesco. A guerrier was in the alcohol section putting bottles of Stella in his sportsbag. If you're going to steal why not something better then Stella? Anyway...

I got cursed out of it by the guerrier as it's a narrow aisle and it seems I was in the way. Tesco Ballyfermot if you know it.
He was so blatant about it, didn't care who saw him.


Went to the security desk and told the guy and got blanked. Completly ignored, he didn't say anything, never even looked at me. 20 minutes to closing I guess and he didn't want the hassle.

Emailed Tesco HQ and said nobody cares. Phonecall the next day and got an apology.

But now I feel like an ass as they said the security guy was an agency worker and Tesco would tell the agency they don't want him for any more shifts. And I've never seen him there again.

I put someone on the dole

MurdyWurdy

mikemac1 wrote: »

Most recent was in my local Tesco. A guerrier was in the alcohol section putting bottles of Stella in his sportsbag. If you're going to steal why not something better then Stella? Anyway...

I got cursed out of it by the guerrier as it's a narrow aisle and it seems I was in the way. Tesco Ballyfermot if you know it.
He was so blatant about it, didn't care who saw him.


Went to the security desk and told the guy and got blanked. Completly ignored, he didn't say anything, never even looked at me. 20 minutes to closing I guess and he didn't want the hassle.

Emailed Tesco HQ and said nobody cares. Phonecall the next day and got an apology.

But now I feel like an ass as they said the security guy was an agency worker and Tesco would tell the agency they don't want him for any more shifts. And I've never seen him there again.

I put someone on the dole

I'd say the agency just sent him to another company, having worked in that area before. It 's only Tesco who won't have him back, he's probably not in the dole and you'll see him in another shop soon!

Tabnabs

I made a compliant to the Communications Regulator (iirc) about ten years ago as Vodafone were charging me €1/min for making calls whilst abroad. Only problem was, the wording in their brochure for the plan I was on was very ambiguous. The Communications Regulator agreed and I got a full refund for about four months worth of bills (and Vodafone reworded the plan!)

I also made a complaint to the Financial Regulator about GE Money. I had a car loan that I wanted to clear. I sent in a cheque but accidentally postdated it. I had to send in another cheque with the correct date. In my haste, I never cancelled the first cheque. GE Money cashed both... The Financial Regulator took a very dim view of this and I got a few hundred quid compensation. Contracts are two way things and it's not always the little guy who looses out.

Hoop66

I complained to the National Consumer Agency about shoddy service product I got from TIME computers out in Blanch (long gone). They were really good and quickly got on to them; lo and behold, Time were suddenly responsive - I had had problems with a laptop I bought from them and said I wasn't going to make any payments until they sorted them. They replaced the laptop and I never heard from them again. They never collected a single payment for the laptop either.

I later heard that they had lost all their customers details re: the payments they were supposed to make. No wonder they went out of business...

DonkeyStyle \o/

I've made complaints, but they always seem to find their way to the department of I'm not legally obliged to take an interest in this issue so I'm not going to, goodbye.

ash23

I complained to the Financial Service Ombudsman when a mistake by our mortgage company cost us hundreds. I initially complained to them but they ignored the complaint. As soon as they heard from the FSO we got a refund and a massive apology as it was well and truly their f*ck up.

I complained the a government department when my email requests for updates were ignored...got a phone call and an update which is all I wanted in the first place.

I also complained to an insurance company about incessant sales calls when I had said I wasn't interested. Got a phone call and an apology.


I sound like a right whinger but I work in a financial services complaints department so I know how to be decent about complaining (i.e. no mad ranting and no abuse) and I also know when I have a valid complaint. I don't just complain for the craic.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I made a formal complaint to the Garda Ombudsman when I was 18, and things worked out in my favour.

Chancer3001

Bought a packet of skittles before that only had 6 skittles in it.

Wrote a letter but only got a voucher for 2euro worth of sweets.

Bit crap really

adocholiday

I wrote a complaint to a holiday letting company in Rome because of the apartment we were given for a week. It was a fúcking disgrace. Damp and mold everywhere, bed was actually wet from the damp, smelly, cold etc. Now honestly when I go away I always go for cheap and cheerful and I don't care much for luxury. All I want is somewhere that's clean. This place was beyond bad.

Rang the rental agency the minute we got there. They sent an agent down to assist. I demanded my money back and was told I could have the balance minus the security deposit, which would have left us fecked financially for the week. Tired and depressed, we accepted the offer of having the bed clothes taken away for dry cleaning and a cleaning company come in the next day to do work while we would be out sight-seeing. The next evening, still as bad even after all the work etc but I couldn't be arsed fighting it. They delivered fresh bed clothes to the place every day though, which was something I suppose.

Anyway the day I got home I wrote a stinker of an email to them, ranting like a lunatic

Got a response the next day saying that the apartment had been removed from their listings (they were agents for private renters) and a 50% voucher for any apartment on their books in the future.

Sometimes pays to complain! I intend on using it on a trip to Florence in Spring

HerrScheisse

I complained to BBC many years ago about Anne Robinson from the Weakest Link and very shortly after got a serious reply from customer relations thanking me for my complaint and stating that the majority of the public do actually like her style. No dice so.

I also started proceedings to take a Dublin university to the small claims court because they put on a shoddy night course where the teacher did not turn up for a few lessons. Since they refused a refund, I started a small claims process against them knowing it would cost them more to have representation than to pay me back. The cheque was in the post within a week :pac:

Miss Lockhart

I've made a formal complaint to the Garda Ombudsman and to the Veterinary Council. Both resulted in disciplinary proceedings so it was worthwhile complaining.

Stabshauptmann

Would I simply take it when someone makes a mistake that disadvantages me? Hells no. I am €1,000s better off over complaints re: Insurance company not paying out claim, university over charging me fees, large retailer selling me a faulty laptop.

I'll be making a complaint to the UK Ombudsman next Monday about a regulated UK e-money provider.

Twasn't a lot of effort at all, though I do happen to have studied a bit of law

sugar_fiend

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I've made a formal complaint to the Garda Ombudsman and to the Veterinary Council. Both resulted in disciplinary proceedings so it was worthwhile complaining.

I considered making a complaint to the garda ombudsman once but my solicitor said it would be a waste of time