A letter of complaint

A letter of complaint

Learn how to write a letter of complaint.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my dismay at the service at your Eden Hill branch on Saturday 14 January.

I often collect prescriptions from the pharmacy on behalf of my grandmother, Mrs Elaine Bingham. On this occasion there were two prescriptions: one for 10 x 50 mg Kendomol and one for 50 x 100 mg Leoprone. I was served quickly even though there appeared to be only one pharmacist on duty. However, as I was leaving I saw that I had been given 500 mg tablets of Kendomol. This is ten times stronger than the prescription called for.

If I hadn't noticed the difference between the prescription and the actual tablets, my grandmother could have taken a dangerous overdose of Kendomol. I would be worried about getting any future prescriptions at Eden Hill.

The pharmacist apologised and corrected the mistake but I wanted to bring it to your attention. I think it happened because there were not enough staff on duty. I understand that mistakes happen but there needs to be a minimum of two pharmacists at all times so all prescriptions can be checked.

I hope you can take steps to make sure this mistake does not happen again.

Yours faithfully,

Roger Bingham

Tips

  1. Focus on the most important facts. Don't give unnecessary background information.
  2. Make sure you include:
    • the reason for writing (e.g. I am writing to ...)
    • what went wrong
    • what you would like to happen now.
  3. Complaint letters are usually written in a formal style.
  4. Use passives to be less direct and more formal, e.g. I was served quickly.
  5. Use Yours faithfully to sign off if you don't know the name of the person you're writing to.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

Download
Worksheet100.2 KB

Language level

Topics

Average: 3.9 (47 votes)

Submitted by Mrs. Cox on Tue, 10/09/2024 - 03:16

Permalink

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my dismay at the product at your Intikom head office on Monday 9 September.

I usually buy the latest devices from your company for your affordability and durability. On this occasion, I bought a new HP laptop complete with the charger and warranty letter. The IT said it was one of the best laptops with the newest features. However, when I used it on the first day, the laptop was unresponsive and powered off  unexpectedly which led to significant delay in my work. 

If I had continued using this laptop, It could have only gotten worse. The IT man apologized and fixed the laptop but I wanted to bring it to your attention and would like to have a full refund due to the insufficient number of qualified staff to address these issues promptly. 

I hope you can take steps to make sure this mistake does not happen again.

Yours faithfully,

Siska Cox

Profile picture for user abby_extra

Submitted by abby_extra on Fri, 16/08/2024 - 02:23

Permalink

Dear Sir, 

I am writing to express my dimay about your serviced that I was received yesterday on Thursday, 15th. 

As usually I do when I am really hungry, I prefer your efficient service, but unfortunately I hadn't been sadisfied this time. 

When I checked that item at my home, I found that It had been mine order! 

I consider something was a clear mistake, and I would like the next time, it ought to take the necessary time to check the items, before they are given to the customers.

Yours faithfully. 

Profile picture for user Leandro18_

Submitted by Leandro18_ on Thu, 01/08/2024 - 00:13

Permalink

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received at your company on Wednesday, November 17th.

I have always preferred your mobile company over others because you sell high-quality mobile phones. I have been a regular customer of your shop for many years. On this occasion, after purchasing a new phone on behalf of my mother and returning home, I realized that the phone would not turn on. To make matters worse, apart from having a high cost, it was not even the phone I wanted.

As my mother's birthday is today, I urgently request a refund for the faulty phone. This was supposed to be a special gift from me, and the current situation is very disappointing. I also suggest that your shop could benefit from additional staff to prevent such issues in the future.

Please take steps to ensure this mistake does not happen again.

Yours faithfully,

Leandro Berrocal

Submitted by MarcoSg24 on Sun, 07/07/2024 - 20:21

Permalink

No, I haven´t done one yet. But, now I know how to make them I will start complaining a lot haha. 
In my country we are not used to complaint through formal letters, we make the complaint in person. 
But it doesn´t matter, I will try it. 

Submitted by oisoueuatina on Wed, 06/03/2024 - 15:07

Permalink

Yes, I wrote a complaint about the availability of left-handed tables during an exam. While making the registration in the website I had the option to demand for the table, but when I arrived there I had to ask again. I was lucky and happily got mine, but I know a few people who had to use right-handed tables. 

Submitted by lkhagvasuren on Mon, 23/10/2023 - 17:32

Permalink

I never made any formal complaint before. Since I now learned how to write one, I might make it if any reasonable dissatisfaction arises.

Submitted by Ensiye on Mon, 11/09/2023 - 20:33

Permalink

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my dismay at the internet service at Ghanat Kosar Boulevard on wensday12 January. It took a lot of time to give me services. There appeared to be only one clerk on duty and It is never enough for such a big branch. There were a lot of people in the queue.

I waited for about one hour to get my turn. I was supposed to fill out a form to register a phone line. This service wouldn't be done online because of some server repairs for a while.

when I was leaving the building, I realized that the phone number on the receipt was wrong. If I hadn't realized the typo mistake, the Phone line activation process would have been done for another line and this matter would probably have been known after three days. As a result, I would have been forced to go through the whole process again.

The clerk apologised and corrected the mistake but I wanted to bring it to your attention.

I think it happened because there were not enough staff on duty. I understand that mistakes happen but in this situation where the site is unavailable, enough staff should have been considered.

I hope you can take steps to make sure there is enough staff on duty when online services are unavailable.

Yours faithfully,
Ensiye Karimi

Submitted by I.es91 on Mon, 01/05/2023 - 23:48

Permalink

Yes, I have.
Yesterday when I went to get my meals from the box, I did not found it. So, I called the driver to make sure if he put it inside the box and he say yes. I was so confused because I told him more than once call me before you arrived. After I checked with the security, I found it outside the box. I was happy but still confuse from the driver and tell him again to call me before he arrived.

Submitted by inaki07 on Tue, 28/02/2023 - 18:41

Permalink

Yes, when in a restaurant the attention was so bad, we had to make a complaint against the encharged person.