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.