How Do You Register A Complaint About An Online Company

How to Complain

This costless and comprehensive booklet is designed to help you complain effectively and get results. How to Complain includes communication on how to approach businesses with a complaint; escalating a complaint through customer service or a company's executive offices; writing emails and letters virtually your complaint; and documenting your complaint.

How to Complain

This guide offers suggestions to assist y'all go results when you have a problem with the buy of goods or services. It explains the proper way to brand a complaint, and as well discusses using authorities agencies, consumer groups, lawyers, and pocket-sized claims court. A sample complaint letter and a list of complaint handling agencies are included.

Why should you mutter?

Everyone has consumer rights. Yous have the correct to know what yous will receive earlier you pay for a product or service, obtain what yous pay for, complain when yous are non satisfied, and get your money back when y'all have a legitimate complaint.

There are no magical ways to become action on a complaint, but nothing will happen unless you mutter and need action. This publication offers suggestions to help yous get results when you accept a problem with the purchase of goods or services.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease." This former proverb ways that noise gets attention. If you don't let a merchant or vendor know yous are dissatisfied with their goods or services, you lot have no risk of resolving the problem.

Beginning, ask yourself if your complaint is legitimate. Why are you dissatisfied? What went wrong? Is it a question of losing money because goods or services you received were non what was promised, or was there even outright fraud? Or, did a representative of the company treat y'all rudely?

Taking the time to consider whether you take a valid and timely complaint will save you time and endeavour. But, be certain to check to meet if there is a borderline for making your complaint.

The commencement pace should exist to take your complaint directly to the business before you lot have other activity. Often, the problem can be resolved quickly by doing do, so don't forget to ask to "escalate" your call if the client service representative is not helpful. Ask politely if you lot could exist transferred to someone with the potency to assist resolve your complaint. If it is a minor company, ask to speak with the possessor.

Apparently, you can't resolve a complaint about fraud or a scam past contacting the political party that ripped you off—the scam creative person is probably long gone, and it isn't advisable to contact fraudsters anyhow. Withal, you should permit the appropriate authorities know when you have been a victim of fraud. There is a chance that they could recover your money, and at the very least you will help preclude other consumers from falling victim to the same scam.

Complaints overview

Hither are some of the concepts for complaining that are explained in this guide:

Know your rights.
Mutter in a timely fashion.
Set up a folder or file to keep documents and notes about your complaint.
Write out three or iv sentences that describe your complaint clearly and concisely.
Exist articulate about what you desire.
Be persistent.
Be patient and don't lose your absurd.
Seek assist from a 3rd party.
Consider going to court.

Before complaining

Review what happened and think nigh your options and rights. Consider the facts of the case and what yous desire to happen. Write downwards:

a brief description of your complaint;
what your rights are;
why you feel the business should practice something for you lot; and
what you want the business to practise to resolve the problem.

If you are not certain what your rights are or how to continue, exercise an Net search to larn more than, or contact a consumer grouping and discuss the situation. Talking with a qualified organization may help you decide how to handle the trouble, and many agencies accept publications that explain consumer rights and how to resolve complaints.

You lot tin can consult the Consumer Action Handbook, a free guide that includes information nigh your consumer rights and lists many consumer protection agencies. From this page you can guild a printed copy or download the PDF version.

Review all printed information you lot take about the case, such as:

whatsoever ad that you responded to, or whatever brochure, warranty, guarantee or other document that describes the product or service and how it should work;
all messages between y'all and the business; and
any other papers you received from the company, including agreements, instructions, receipts and billing statements.

If yous signed a contract, read it carefully and ask the company for explanations of anything you don't understand. The contract or warranty may limit your options or provide you with sure rights. Make sure yous accept washed everything that you were supposed to practise to alive up to your part of the agreement.

Make up one's mind what you want from the company, such every bit repair or replacement of the item, a refund, an exchange, a credit, a correction of the visitor's records or the payment of damages. Consider whether a compromise would be acceptable. Information technology may be easier to resolve the complaint if you agree to a settlement that falls short of a full refund.

Mutter every bit soon as possible

The sooner you lot complain, the meliorate your chances are for a satisfactory settlement. In some cases, especially billing disputes, the visitor may not be legally liable if you fail to complain within a reasonable time afterward you beginning discover the problem or receive the nib. That is why it is important to read all bills and statements as soon equally you get them.

Some shop refund policies permit yous to render items if you practice and so within a few days. If you expect too long to return the item, you will lose the correct to become your coin back. In improver, it can be hard to defend yourself if you look a long time to complain. If you buy a telly and don't render information technology for three months, you lot may have a hard fourth dimension disarming the store that it didn't work when you outset tried to use information technology.

How to mutter

The first step in lament is to clearly present your problem. Failure to communicate effectively oft makes it hard to resolve complaints. Have all relevant information at hand when you lot contact the company, including: a description of the item; your business relationship number or other facts to aid the company place the transaction; your receipt, billing statement or cancelled check; and a articulate and cursory explanation of what is incorrect and what yous desire the company to do.

Exercise not get emotional: Speak calmly and politely. Recollect about how the person y'all are speaking to volition react. If you enhance your vocalisation, that person volition probably get aroused and yell back or simply hang upward. Handling complaints tin be a tough task. If you make the complaint handler'south chore harder by getting angry, that person is probable to reply negatively to yous.

Make notes most all conversations you have about the complaint, including the time and date of your calls, names of everyone at the visitor y'all spoke to and what they said.

Yous can complain by phone, in person, or in writing by electronic mail or postal service.

Phone or email get-go to tell the visitor nigh the problem and to effort to resolve it. You should exist able to learn pretty chop-chop whether the problem volition be resolved.

Go to the company to render the purchase, or if in that location is a need to run across with someone to examine the item, receipts or statements. Lament in person helps to strength the event, simply is not always necessary. Ask a friend to become with y'all if yous are concerned about being harassed or want a witness.

Sometimes issues can exist resolved with one call, e-mail or visit. Yous may learn that you are not using the detail properly, or that the company is willing to give yous a refund without an argument.

Merely when y'all realize that your attempts to contact the company are beingness ignored, or the company refuses to help you, first putting your communications in writing. Sometimes businesses ignore complaints until they see them in writing. Even if yous email, information technology's a expert idea to print out a copy of the message and send it through the mail. Always transport your hard-copy complaint letters certified mail or "return receipt requested." This way you will have a record that the company received your communication.

Complaint emails and messages are important because they:

create a written record of your complaint with the company;
preserve your rights nether law;
assist the business sympathise your side of the story;
involve government agencies that y'all ship copies to and alert them to the firm's practices;
lay the groundwork for a futurity legal case or defense; and
permit the company know you are serious virtually the matter.

Complaint emails or letters should not be long—a long letter tin exist a drawback as representatives may not take the fourth dimension to read every word and may fifty-fifty choose to ignore your letter as a "rant."

Spend some time trying to explain your problem in 250 words or less. Include your name, address and phone number, and account or invoice number, if whatever. (However, if you are going to CC others on your letter, redact (cross out) account numbers on the copies.)

If appropriate, include a copy of your cancelled check, receipt or other documents. Keep a copy of all communications you lot send and receive. If the first contact does not bring a response, send another. Simply send the same email or letter, with a new sentence stating, "This is my second attempt to contact you about this matter."

Remember: Always send your complaint letters certified mail or "return receipt requested." A mail receipt will provide proof that delivery was made. Make certain you practice not delete emails you send, just salve or copy them for hereafter reference.

Proceed records

You may demand certain documents, or show, in order to win your example or prove you paid for the particular. These can include your receipt, credit carte du jour statements, screenshots of the visitor's website, repair orders and/or the warranty.

Keep receipts and proof of purchase until you are sure y'all won't need them:
Companies may demand proof of purchase before settling a complaint or fixing an item under warranty. Note that you don't need to mail service in a production warranty menu in order to claim your rights on a product that is still nether warranty—a receipt and the barcode (Universal Production Lawmaking, or UPC) from product packaging is enough. If your buy was made online, you lot might be able to print another receipt from the company's website.

If you don't have a copy of your credit menu statement or cancelled bank check, you may be able to print one out from your bank's website or request a copy from your banking company. (Banks may charge a fee for copies of older records.)

Never ship originals of receipts or checks to the company or any complaint-handling agency—always transport copies. Copies of your emails or letters can also exist very helpful. If the firm claims information technology never heard from you, copies of messages with render receipts or proof of delivery, or emails with a date header, tin aid you resolve the problem.

Contact someone higher up

If your start attempt at complaining fails, contact someone higher up in the company. If the salesperson tin't help you, ask to speak to a supervisor or shop manager, and so the owner or the visitor's headquarters. Larger companies often have customer relations or consumer complaint departments that you lot can contact for help. If all else fails, ask to exist connected to "customer memory," a department responsible for keeping customers.

Don't hesitate to send complaint letters to the owner, president, chief executive officeholder (CEO) or general counsel of the company at its executive offices. These officials should send your alphabetic character to the appropriate person, and may accept steps to resolve the dispute promptly. College-level officials are sensitive to the house'south image and often are more than willing and able to find a solution to complaints. Pinnacle executives do not like hearing from consumers, and top-level staff often intervene to solve issues quickly, earlier they reach the big dominate.

To get the name and address of the president or executive offices, put "CEO" and the proper noun of the company in a search engine. Or call any office of the visitor and ask for that information.

All companies, foreign and domestic, are required to file registration statements, periodic reports and other forms with the Securities and Commutation Commission (SEC) electronically through EDGAR. You tin can access this information for costless. The reports are a skilful resource for finding the address and telephone number of a company'south headquarters or general counsel. Other sources of this data are Hoovers, Google Finance and Yahoo Finance.

Call the executive's role by dialing the general number for the company and asking for the executive by proper noun. In most cases, you will get through to someone who volition take your complaint seriously. If you cannot go through during business concern hours, effort calling the number after business organization hours to see if it has a directory of employees you can search by name. Leave a short only informative bulletin about your problem and inquire for a return call.

Sometimes you encounter a company that makes complaining very hard. It may say, "The person you need to speak to is not in the office today, recollect next week," or "Leave your number and we will get back to you." This may be a sign that the company is stalling y'all. If you are not being treated seriously, it might be fourth dimension to take your problem to a person higher up in the company, complain to a government agency or consider legal action.

If you cannot find a phone number or you prefer to communicate past electronic mail, Consumerist offers some tips for finding or figuring out executives' e-mail addresses .

Contact regime agencies

Regime agencies will not always intervene to settle your case, but some will contact the company to open up upwardly communication. For case, if y'all complain to the state public utilities commission about a phone company, information technology might enquire that company for an explanation of its position. A regime fiscal services regulator might contact your banking concern to enquire for its side of the story. Land attorneys general (AGs) and municipal district attorneys (DAs) handle many cases that practice not fall under the jurisdiction of whatever other government agency. Some district attorneys accept units that offer consumer complaint mediation.

No agency can force a business to settle an private's complaint, but the government'south interest in the example may convince the company to resolve the dispute. Businesses that ignore most complaining consumers frequently settle cases that are sent to authorities agencies (or consumer groups, business associations or activeness lines).

Government agencies tin be fantabulous sources of information nearly consumer rights and the laws and regulations that companies must follow. If you lot are not sure whether a visitor has cleaved the police force, telephone call the appropriate government bureau and ask for information well-nigh your rights.

Many businesses are direct regulated past government agencies, such as a section of insurance or department of banking. These agencies receive complaints about the companies they regulate and investigate allegations that those businesses have violated the law. The agencies depend upon consumers to alert them to companies that are engaged in illegal practices. Even if the agency doesn't assistance y'all resolve your complaint, it might be able to use your case to stop an unfair business concern practice.

If your complaint involves an out-of-country visitor, y'all may all the same be able to obtain assistance from government agencies in your land. You can also contact a federal authorities agency to complain virtually out-of-state firms.

Regime agencies normally prefer that you complain by e-mail, phone or mail—not in person. Most are not prepared to assist people who walk into their offices without appointments. Some have special complaint forms for consumers to utilise. To make sure you are lament to the appropriate agency, visit its website or call before submitting a complaint, or ask a consumer group which agency to contact.

When yous call or submit a complaint to a regime bureau, indicate what you are looking for. For example, ask it to "Delight investigate my complaint," or "Propose me if in that location is a police force that covers my complaint."

To find the appropriate agencies, consult the Consumer Action Handbook, a complimentary guide. From this page you can club a printed copy or download the PDF version.

If you don't find the data you are looking for, expect for the names, telephone numbers and addresses of authorities agencies in your telephone book. A special regime department in most phone directories lists local, country and federal agencies.

Complaining through an arrangement

When you have done all y'all can on your own, consider whether an organization can assist y'all. In many areas, capacity of the Amend Business Bureau (BBB) assist consumers with certain complaints. You can file a complaint with the BBB.

Few consumer groups handle individual complaints, but action lines in many states help consumers to resolve problems. The archway of a tertiary party into a dispute may send a bespeak to the business concern that:

yous are determined to see the case through, and won't surrender;
depending on the organization, there could be bad publicity and lost business organization; and
you may be represented by people with sufficient expertise, sophistication and resources to crusade issues for the business.

Action lines are volunteer programs, usually run through newspapers and radio or television stations. (Callers to activity lines are not placed on the air.) They requite assistance to people who are having difficulty resolving complaints. They can contact a business on your behalf and attempt to work out a solution. You may know of a local station that features consumer complaints. To learn if at that place is a Call For Activity-affiliated activity line that serves your area, visit Call For Action.

Consider your alternatives

If you feel y'all have run out of options, consider taking these steps:

Seek advice. At that place are many sources of data and advice. Many consumer groups and action lines offering free consultation about consumer problems. Some government agencies provide advice and information concerning complaints confronting the companies that they regulate. There are many publications that provide helpful suggestions about resolving consumer problems.

Sue in small claims court. Small claims court is an appropriate place to settle many consumer cases.

Contact a lawyer. Usually, the coin involved in consumer cases is non enough to involve a lawyer, and legal deportment can take years to complete. But a lawyer tin can advise you about your legal rights and options.

Conduct a consumer spotter. You can mitt out information most your case to the public while you stand in front end of the visitor's store or offices, as long as y'all do not cake traffic, break any laws or say anything in your handouts that you cannot testify.

Apply social pressure level. The opportunity to shame a concern publicly has grown in the historic period of the Internet. It's possible to postal service your story online in reviews, blogs, comments and social media such equally Facebook and Twitter. Many complaint websites allow y'all to post public complaints or to write a review of the business. (To find them, practice an Internet search.) As with a consumer lookout man, never post anything you cannot prove or defend in courtroom, every bit you could face legal action from the business if you go too far or make false claims. Nonetheless, this avenue can be effective, as a large number of companies monitor the Spider web and social media in order to resolve complaints before they create bad publicity or impairment their brands.

Create a website or a social media page. Disgruntled consumers take gotten very creative and gear up "corporate hate websites" targeting companies for bad practices. It is important to recall that the company may try to accept legal action against you, and even though y'all are probably within your rights of freedom of spoken communication, defending yourself could be costly. (To protect yourself from any lawsuit, make sure y'all accept adequate liability insurance on your rental or homeowners insurance policy.) Virtually of these "hate sites" accept posts from other disgruntled consumers.

Stopping payment

Y'all can stop payment on a cheque or an electronic payment from your bank account. This is a traditional consumer remedy, just it doesn't piece of work in every case and it may not stop the dispute.

Stopping payment on a check means that you tell your banking company non to pay a check that you wrote, but at that place is no guarantee that your depository financial institution can cease a payment. Most banks charge fees of $30 or more to stop a payment. Cease payment orders mostly expire later on six months. When you stop payment, the company y'all gave the check to will be unable to get any money for it—unless it cashed the check before you stopped payment. Businesses often cash checks immediately to prevent customers from stopping payment.

To stop an electronic payment from your bank account, you will demand to notify your bank at least three business days earlier the transaction is scheduled to be made. (Again, a stop payment fee is likely to apply.) This find may be made orally or in writing. However, if the find is fabricated orally, the bank may require you lot to follow up with written notice within fourteen days. If y'all don't provide written verification of the oral notice when required, the oral stop payment order may elapse.

If y'all gave a merchant preauthorization to take coin from your bank business relationship, you need to revoke the authorization with the merchant. Pre-authorized withdrawal agreements are betwixt consumers and vendors—the bank tin can't cancel them until you lot notify the vendor/merchant. Write directly to the vendor/merchant to asking that no farther money is taken from your business relationship. It can be difficult to cease payment on a recurring debit if the company won't cooperate. You should provide the bank with a re-create of the letter and inform the bank that you no longer qualify these charges and y'all have notified the vendor/merchant. Go along a copy of the letter for your records.

In one case yous stop payment, y'all should immediately tell the visitor (or person) what you have done and why. You can exercise this by phone, but you should also write a alphabetic character to create a written record of your position. (If you neglect to explain the situation, the company might assume that yous are trying to take the item without paying for information technology.) When you end payment for a purchase, yous should return the particular to the visitor.

Credit card rights

Contact your credit carte company. If you paid by credit carte du jour, the bank that issued the bill of fare may be able to assistance you resolve the trouble. Make certain the bank receives your notice of billing error within sixty days of the monthly statement containing the unauthorized charges. Y'all may be required to submit your dispute in writing.

Your card issuer will investigate the instance and may decide in your favor if it believes you have a legitimate complaint. While information technology is investigating, you practise not accept to pay the disputed amount on your credit card statement, but the bank can accuse you interest on the corporeality y'all don't pay if it rules against you. (Make sure yous pay the undisputed portion of the nib.) If the banking company rules in your favor, it will give you a credit for the disputed amount. If it rules against y'all, you lot can notwithstanding seek a refund in court or through other actions, such as by lament to government agencies.

The process for stopping pre-authorized, recurring credit bill of fare payments to a merchant is a lilliputian different than a credit carte du jour dispute. Showtime, write to the merchant, directing it to finish the charges. Second, notify your bank about any charges that you feel were in error. You may be required to submit your dispute in writing or to explain it in a form the card issuer volition provide.

Writing your complaint

See the sample letter and sample email. Re-create and paste the text, or download these equally plain text files, and insert your own data.

In your alphabetic character or email, include your name, address and telephone number.
Notation what you are complaining almost, when and where the buy or agreement took place, and whatsoever other pertinent information, such every bit the particular's make, model or serial number, or your account number.
Briefly and clearly describe the problem, ideally in 250 words or less, and what you want done to resolve it.
Give a specific flow of time in which a response must be received (such as ten-fourteen days), and indicate that you will seek legal advice or have other steps if the affair is not resolved. You demand not tell the political party exactly what you volition practise.
Write "CC" and the names of other recipients at the end of the alphabetic character if y'all are sending copies to anyone, such equally a local consumer group or district attorney'southward function. For email, employ the CC field to copy government agencies, organizations or the media. (Remember to remove business relationship numbers or Social Security numbers from your CC copies before you lot send them.)
Betoken if you lot are attaching copies of supporting documents. (Never send originals.)
Keep a copy of all communications and supporting documents.

Consulting a lawyer

Sometimes your but alternatives may be to hire a lawyer or drop the matter. If you believe your best selection is to sue, but the amount is more than the small-scale claims court limit or the instance cannot be pursued in pocket-sized claims court, you lot may have to hire a lawyer.

Still, well-nigh consumer cases do not involve enough money to make it worthwhile to hire a lawyer. You may non be able to locate 1 who is willing to assist you or who is familiar with the legal issues involved. Information technology could be many years earlier a court decides your case.

If yous desire to speak to an chaser just don't know how to notice 1, contact a lawyer referral service. (See Resources, or call your canton's bar association.) If you can't afford an attorney, ask if your county has a legal assistance agency or bar association that can help low-income consumers obtain legal advice.

In many consumer complaints, the amounts involved are much likewise small-scale to make information technology worthwhile to consult a lawyer, merely contacting a lawyer can exist of value in some instances:

If y'all are beingness sued, you definitely need legal advice. Your failure to announced in courtroom or obtain legal advice could exist costly. Fifty-fifty if you know that you volition lose the case, the advice of an attorney may help you to reduce the amount y'all will have to pay.
You may benefit from having a legal good read or review a document. If you lot are about to purchase a house or sign a contract, a lawyer can make sure the understanding doesn't have clauses that could cost y'all money.
It can exist helpful just to discuss a matter with a lawyer. If consumer agencies tell you that your just pick is to sue, a lawyer can tell y'all the costs involved and what to expect.
In some cases, a letter from a lawyer tin resolve the problem.

For case, if you have only signed a car contract later on being subjected to high-pressure sales tactics, a letter from a lawyer questioning such practices might convince the dealership to cancel the agreement.

Small claims courtroom

Pocket-size claims courtroom is for the resolution of small disputes. The rules and requirements for such courts differ widely from land to state, so the starting time step is to learn the rules for filing a instance in your country.

Nolo, a legal self-help publisher, offers an online list of small claims limits in every state.

Search online or expect in your telephone book for the phone number for your local small claims court. By and large, you must file your suit in the city or county in which the business organization yous have the dispute with has an office or in which the transaction took place. In that location is usually a fee for filing a case.

Here is some general communication about suing in small claims courtroom:

Before you file, acquire about the limitations and requirements of pocket-sized claims court. This includes the maximum amount that you can sue for and restrictions against filing certain types of cases. Nolo offers a free online list of state Statutes of Limitations.
Inquire the clerk of the modest claims court for advice about how to file your case. If you do non file correctly, the example might be thrown out.
Give the company a chance to resolve the problem. Before yous sue, notify information technology of your intention to sue by sending a letter.
Tell the house why you feel information technology owes you coin, and the specific dollar amount yous want from it.
Notice out the company's legal name, and use that when suing it.
Formally notify the company of your accommodate. Ask the small claims court clerk how to practice this.
Fix your example. Gather your prove and consider whether there are witnesses who tin evidence on your behalf. Do your presentation by explaining your case to friends. Ask if they can understand your position and think you are making a practiced case. Exist clear and concise.

You can visit a small claims court earlier your court appointment. Watching other people announced earlier the judge could make you lot feel more comfy about the procedure.

Usually, the approximate will first ask y'all, the plaintiff, to speak, followed by the accused. Then the judge will enquire questions and consider the evidence. Even if you win your case, there is no guarantee you will get your coin. If the person refuses to pay, then you may accept to take steps to force payment. Ask the courtroom clerk how to do this.

For more about small claims court, go online to read the questions and answers offered past Nolo, or obtain a re-create of "Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court" by Ralph Warner, published by Nolo. Check your public library for a re-create before purchasing the book.

Community mediation services

Many states offer community or court-based arbitration designed to help disputing parties arrive at their own compromise settlement with the assist of a neutral third party. The National Clan for Community Mediation offers a program locator to help you find community mediation programs well-nigh you.

Resource

Better Business organisation Agency: Complain about businesses.
Consumer Action: Call (415-777-9635) or send a webmail for advice and referrals. Access free, multilingual brochures.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Submit complaints about credit cards and other fiscal services.
Consumer Product Rubber Committee (CPSC): Submit and review consumer product safety complaints.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Complaint form): Submit landline and wireless telephone complaints also as those related to telemarketing, broadband (Internet) and TV broadcasting.
Federal Trade Commission: Submit complaints well-nigh unfair or deceptive business organization practices, fraud, scams, credit reports and collections corruption.
Financial Industry Regulatory Potency (FINRA): Submit complaints about an investment or fiscal advisor or brokerage nether FINRA's mediation program.
Help With My Bank (Comptroller of the Currency): Submit complaints about national banks (with "National" or "NA" in or subsequently the name).
Legal Services Corporation: Find legal assistance for depression-income individuals and families.
National Association of Attorneys General (AGs): Observe your land AG'due south office to brand a complaint of fraud or unfair business practices.
National Association for Customs Mediation: Notice a local mediation organization.
National Association of Consumer Advocates: Search by location and specialty to notice a consumer attorney.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Find your country insurance regulator to submit insurance-related complaints.
National Motor Vehicle Title Data System (NMVTIS): Access important vehicle history information.
Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC): Submit investment-related complaints.
Consumer Action Handbook: Get this free resource for helping you complain finer.

Sample complaint letter of the alphabet

Your name
Address
Phone number

Company official
Company proper noun
Visitor accost

Appointment

Dear (title) ____:

I wish to mutter about ____ (name of product or service, with serial number or account number) that I purchased on ____ (engagement and location of transaction).

I am lament because ____ (the reason you are dissatisfied). To resolve this problem, I would like you to ____ (what yous want the business to do).

When I first learned of this problem, I contacted ____ (proper name of the person, appointment of the telephone call) at your company and was told that nothing could be done about my problem. I believe that this response is unfair considering ____ (the reason you lot feel the company has an obligation to you). I would similar a written statement explaining your visitor'southward position and what y'all will do about my complaint.

I await forrad to hearing from you as soon as possible to resolve this problem. If I do not hear from you within ____ days, I will file complaints with the appropriate consumer agencies and consider my legal alternatives. I am enclosing copies of my_____ (receipt or other proof of payment or documentation of complaint).

I may be contacted at the above accost/phone number.

Sincerely,

(Sign and blazon your proper name)

CC: (local consumer grouping) (advisable government agencies)
ATT: (attach and list documentation of your complaint, if whatsoever)

Sample complaint e-mail

From: (your name: [email protected])
Bailiwick: (short clarification of your complaint)
Date: (most electronic mail programs enter this field automatically)
To: (the email address of the person you are contacting)
CC: (local consumer group) (advisable government agencies)

Dear (title) ____:

I wish to complain about ____ (name of product or service, with serial number or business relationship number) that I purchased on ____ (date and location of transaction).

I am complaining because ____ (the reason y'all are dissatisfied). To resolve this trouble, I would like you to ____ (what y'all want the business to do).

When I kickoff learned of this problem, I contacted ____ (name of the person, date of the phone call) at your visitor and was told that zippo could exist done about my problem. I believe that this response is unfair because ____ (the reason you feel the company has an obligation to yous). I would like a written statement explaining your company'due south position and what you will exercise about my complaint.

I look frontwards to hearing from you as soon as possible to resolve this trouble. If I do non hear from you inside ____ days, I volition file complaints with the appropriate consumer agencies and consider my legal alternatives. I am attaching copies of my_____ (receipt or other proof of payment or documentation of complaint).

Yous may reply to me at this email address or telephone call me at (phone number).

Sincerely,

(your full name)

Notation: You can download text files for the sample letter and email on our website.

Nigh Consumer Action

Consumer Action is a not-profit organization that has championed the rights of underrepresented consumers nationwide since 1971. Throughout its history, the organisation has dedicated its resources to promoting financial literacy and advocating for consumer rights in both the media and before lawmakers to promote economic justice for all. With the resources and infrastructure to attain millions of consumers, Consumer Activeness is one of the most recognized, effective, and trusted consumer organizations in the nation.

Financial Education. To empower consumers to assert their rights in the market place, Consumer Activity provides a range of educational resources. The system's all-encompassing library of complimentary publications offers in-depth financial information, while its hotline provides non-legal advice and referrals. Consumer Action also publishes unbiased surveys of financial and consumer services that exposes excessive prices and anti-consumer practices to help consumers make informed buying choices and arm-twist change from big business organisation.

Community Outreach. With a special focus on serving depression- and moderate-income and limited-English-speaking consumers, Consumer Action maintains strong ties to a national network of nearly 7,500 community-based organizations. Outreach services include preparation and costless mailings of fiscal education materials in many languages, including English language, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Consumer Action'southward network is the largest and most diverse of its kind.

Advocacy. Consumer Action is deeply committed to ensuring that underrepresented consumers are represented in the national media and in front of lawmakers. The organization promotes pro-consumer policy, regulation and legislation by taking positions on dozens of bills at the state and national levels and submitting comments and testimony on a host of consumer protection bug. Additionally, its diverse staff provides the media with expert commentary on key consumer problems supported by solid data and victim testimony.

Click here to larn more than about our staff.

Published / Reviewed Engagement

Reviewed: February 22, 2017

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