No one likes a whiner, but complaining intelligently makes you a better customer – and makes you better with money. If a product or service does not live up to your expectations, you are essentially wasting your money on it. By complaining and getting a refund or replacement, you get your money’s worth. Getting what you pay for is a good way to avoid wasting money. Complaining also offers the company important feedback, which they can use to improve their services or products.
Generally, you will want to complain starting from the bottom up. This means that you begin with the sales associate, waiter, or person who served or sold you the offending product or service. If this does not get results, complain to a manager or the director of the company. Contact your local Better Business Bureau if this does not produce results. If you used a personal loan to pay off a defective product or service, keep in mind that you need to keep pursuing this, as you are paying interest as well as the asking price on the product. However, a personal loan does give you leverage. You can threaten default on the loan, in some cases, if the company does not follow through and offer you help. If you paid with a credit card, your credit card company may allow you to dispute the charges. This can be a very effective way to get your money back or to get a replacement.