Is it worth complaining?
By Bellapop
@Bellapop (1281)
November 30, 2010 2:35pm CST
I received terrible customer service today - the staff member was just criticising every possible aspect and almost ranting at me. I was polite to her and there was really nothing to provoke her into the way she was. Is it worth filing a complaint? I told my mum and she said it was probably down to the snowy cold weather that has suddenly come on. This was st the post office. First when I arrived at the desk, she asked to check my queue ticket - she said so in such a tone of voice as if I had jumped the queue. She then criticised the way y stamps were attached to the parcel. And then says that I don't have enough stamps on the parcel. I was sure I had, and it turns out that her scales were not balanced properly. She then apologises to the lady behind me, saying that she was only called as I had walked up too slowly - goodness! I took only a maximum of 5 seconds to walk up to the counter. I know worse things could have happened, but I can't believe that I went in there to go through that bad experience. What has happened to civil customer service? I had a similar experience at the doctor's surgery today, the nurse on duty was so on edge. I had only questioned her about some procedures that I didn't realise had been carried out, and she was so defensive and acting as if I was accusing her of making a mistake. I was merely only trying to understand the situation and get my facts right. Again, as a patient I only wanted to make sure what was happening to me and what had or had not been done. Does the cold snowy weather really make people more agitated??!! I know I am now!
4 people like this
10 responses
@Memnon (2173)
•
30 Nov 10
It is always worth complaining. Not to the organisation that you are complaining about, as they will ignore it. But to the government body which oversees them.
@Memnon (2173)
•
30 Nov 10
It does sound extreme, but if I complain to my local train operator I get a pleasant letter telling me, not in so many words, to shove off and mind my own business, and nothing changes. The same lazy staff stand by watching foreign students struggle with ticket machines that are only for the English speaking, and refuse to help when asked as it's 'not their job'.
That sort of attitude will never be changed by using the existing structure for complaints. It is only there as an excuse for a complaints department. Try complaining about a service provided by a bank. The only apology that I have ever heard them issue has had to be wrung out of them as a result of a court case.
Complaints departments in UK companies are lip service to fulfil the minimum requirement of the law, and nothing more.
@sweetloveforeve (12693)
• Portugal
30 Nov 10
im sorry for it bella^^ isnt you neither the weather is just some people that are angry with the world and just discount in innocent people that didnt do nothing wrong to them. just ignore those people they were just acting stupid. and there isnt excuse for that the only reason is that they are unhappy and so want to make others too. just try to cheer up and forget those bad situations^^ afterall is almost christmas so lets all be happy 
@sender621 (14956)
• United States
1 Dec 10
Good customer service is always something that is worth complaining about. If nobody is told about how bad customer service has been, it will continue. it can't get better unless it is addressed.
@JudgeIronFist (2483)
• Singapore
1 Dec 10
It's not the weather which makes them so irrational and so erratic. It's their attitude and behavior which they must reflect on. I think you have to make a complaint, at least to the head, because if this goes on, they will have no business and worst, because of those staff, their reputation gets ruined. The weather cannot be an excuse for their bad customer service. I suggest that you lodge a complaint to the government or write to the newspaper and make sure to let it direct at those people. Let them reflect on themselves.
@wongchoiyee (7443)
• Malaysia
1 Dec 10
I m glad to know you are working outside. However there are difficulties working outside like relationships but I guess you can solve it later. GOOD LUCK !
@sid556 (31003)
• United States
1 Dec 10
Hi Bellapop,
The weather is no excuse for someone to be rude to you. I deal with customers all the time. I have my days when they do grate on my nerves whether it is me having a bad day or them just being irritating. It really doesn't matter. My job is to deal with them in a polite and friendly way regardless of what I am feeling or why. I have even had customers that are over the top rude. Even in those circumstances it is not ok for me to be rude in return. If they are having an issue that I can't help them with then I politely direct them to my boss. I've been in the business for years and I really can't think of a situation that might justify me being rude to a customer and certainly not the weather. I would issue a complaint about these people just to save others from having to deal with it. Even if it did take you a long time to get to the counter and even if you did have the wrong postage...still no excuse. I deal with customers that hold up the line for real and for very annoying reasons and even at that, I would never disrespect them or humiliate them by apologize to the person behind them for it.
@maezee (33941)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Yes! Complain! Please do! Bad weather is no excuse. If anything, bad weather seems to make people friendlier than ever, at least at most places, because it gives you something to talk about - a source of (small talk) conversation if you will. At any rate, I've had problems with RUDE workers at the post office... Although it's a government job/place, they still survive off of sales. So, you could definitely write a supervisor or a letter with ATTN to the manager or customer service manager (check online, they might even have an email..So you don't have to waste a stamp lol) and let them know about your experience. I would say most definitely it's worth it. If people are terrible to me in customer service..I make SURE their supervisors know about it, and I usually get a letter back thanking me for my feedback.
@MagicalBubbles (5111)
• Canada
30 Nov 10
Im really sorry you had to put up with such bad treatment.
I was reading this and thinking that we're having the exact same thing happening here now. Rude workers, rude nurses or doctors because they're being overworked. Your power can be cut off if a civil servant is not in a good mood. You can be left to die in the ER if some nurse is unhappy that day.
We expect professionals to be above this or adult enough to know they're not feeling too good and be doubly careful about their decisions.
We live in a strange society right now that has no respect for the people paying their salaries.
Im not sure what the solution is. Complaining will only have your name on a black list and who knows what else they might do to you in the future.
The only thing that can be done is to avoid those people who sound like they have NO control on their feelings and answer to the weather, the food they eat or the air they breathe.
If the cold is the only reason to have everybody on edge.. I might have to move and go somewhere warm as we're heading into winter here and soon it should get cold and snowy.
I can only hope you can stay clear from those people.
@hardworkinggurl (37233)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Customers as well as employees have their bad days, however it is no one fault to emanate it towards others. It is no ones fault that a person is such a grouch why on earth do they choose to make everyone around them so miserable.
We do not have to be perky and cheering every single moment on a daily basis, however manners is something we must always uphold as why on earth is it okay to mistreat others.
