Speak up to resolve complaints
You’re having a problem with a product or service, and the company says you’re out of luck. Consumer Reports Money Adviser notes that if you simply walk away — and companies hope you’ll do just that — you’ve failed the squeaky wheel test. But if you complain effectively, you could be among those who get satisfaction no matter what the fine print or surly customer service rep says.
ASSERTING YOUR RIGHTS
Many companies have two approaches to customer service: one for the majority of customers, who retreat after a quick brush-off, and another for the “squeaky wheels” — consumers who know their rights and the power their wallets yield.
Companies know most complaints won’t go very far. They figure you probably won’t have the time, patience or know-how to pursue the issue. The runaround that you often get when you have a complaint is deliberate.
START SQUEAKING
Here’s what you should do to become a squeaky wheel:
Examine the details. Your first step to resolving a problem comes before there even is one — when making a purchase. Review the terms, looking beyond the price, warranty or other basics. Companies often make the fine print long and difficult to read, a technique that is known as “shrouding.” Comb through the company’s refund policies, frequently asked questions and terms and conditions.
But don’t give in if companies try to use some bit of the fine print to brush off your complaints. They sometimes include provisions that won’t hold up in court or that they have no intention of enforcing. Nor do they want to deal with complaints to government consumer agencies, courts or the Better Business Bureau.
Understand your rights. The more informed you are, the harder it is for a company to slip one past you. If you have an issue or question, use the Web to find legal resources. Try government sites, such as the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) or your state attorney general or consumer protection department (usa.gov/directory/state consumer/index.shtml).
Try complaining nicely. Be specific about what you want — a refund, a replacement or something else. A company is more likely to try to satisfy good customers, Consumer Reports Money Adviser says, so let it know that you and your family are frequent shoppers. If you go in guns blazing, the company might figure it has already lost you as a customer.
Be persistent. Don’t be discouraged if the first person you contact is unsympathetic or unwilling to help. Ask to speak with a supervisor or retention specialist, or write the chief executive officer (search the Web to find the person’s name). Some companies have teams that respond to persistent complainers. And some have “good will” programs to placate squeaky wheels with expired warranties.
Get serious. If you’re still being rebuffed, let the company know that you’re upset and will tell others — in person and online — of your dissatisfaction. Businesses don’t want you bad-mouthing them, whether it’s to friends and relatives in person or strangers on the Internet.
Don’t settle. Businesses might offer a morsel — perhaps a discount on another product — instead of fixing or replacing the item you’re dissatisfied with. Don’t assume a mediocre offer is the best they’ll do.
Enforce your rights. Follow through with postings on Facebook, message boards and elsewhere, as well as with complaints to government agencies and other third parties, such as the Better Business Bureau. If all else fails and you still think the law is on your side, send a certified demand letter threatening legal action. Be prepared to follow through with a lawsuit in small-claims court. If a lot of money is at stake, contact a consumer attorney.
Report it anyway. Don’t let a positive outcome buy your silence or turn you into a gushy corporate groupie. Consumer Reports Money Adviser recommends posting the issue on product review pages or elsewhere, including details about how you got the company to acquiesce.
2013, Consumers Union Inc.