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You can complain when something you've bought or a service you've used isn't as good as you expected it to be. You can do this in writing or by speaking directly to the person or company.
In English, we tend to soften our language (often by apologising for disturbing the person we're talking or writing to) before we start complaining. Then we make our complaint and finally we ask for some kind of compensation for our inconvenience or help with our problem.
Here's some language to help you complain:
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Usually written complaints use quite formal English:
I'm writing to complain about the poor quality of service we received in your hotel recently.
I'm writing to complain about the poor quality of service we received in your hotel recently.
I wish to complain about the inconvenience and delay I experienced on my recent train journey from London to Brighton.
I was very disappointed when, after only two weeks, my washing machine broke down.
We ordered a blue sofa however you sent us a green one.
The first problem was that there weren't enough seats for our party to sit together and the second problem was that
we had to wait more than an hour to be served.
We were promised a non-smoking room but when we arrived, we were told that your hotel didn't have any non-smoking rooms.
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Usually spoken complaints are less formal than written ones.
It's about this stereo.
I'm really not happy with this shirt.
It just broke down a few days ago.
I'm not satisfied with the service here.
Well, first the radio didn't work and then the CD stopped working.
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to break - glass, china, pottery
I dropped my mum's crystal vase and broke it. She was really angry with me.
to break down - a lift, a car, a machine
I was stuck between the 3rd and 4th floor for 20 minutes when the lift broke down yesterday.
to be out of order - a communal or public machine (e.g. a photo-copier, a lift)
Don't put your money in that ticket machine. It's out of order. You won't get a ticket or your money back.
to stop working - anything with batteries or that uses power
She wore her watch in the pool and then was surprised when it stopped working!
to crash - a computer
My computer's crashed. All the applications have stopped working. I'll need to phone the help-line to see if they can fix it.
to jam - a machine where something (e.g. paper) moves through it
I want to print a card for my friend but there's something wrong with the printer. It jams if you put anything thicker than a piece of paper through it.
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I'd like a refund please.
I'd be grateful if you would replace this
stereo
immediately.
I would appreciate your sending me a replacement as soon as possible.
Please let me know what you intend to do about this situation.
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under guarantee:
if something you buy breaks or stops working soon after you buy it, a shop or company promises to fix it or give you your money back
a refund:
money that a shop or company gives back to you if you return something you bought from them
in no time at all:
soon
replace:
change for another similar one
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