Can complaint sites really help you resolve your problems?
Many companies treat customers with disdain and contempt. Let's face it, do you know anybody who hasn’t dialled a customer hotline begging for help only to eventually hang up feeling, well, helpless.
Determined to at least break through to a live person next time? A good place to start might be Gethuman, which offers tips on bypassing the voicemail systems of thousands of companies.
But even then you may hit a dead end – which is why there are so many complaint sites that focus on one type of product or even one seller, such as (name of favourite wireless provider) sucks.
Looking to share their pain, many disgruntled consumers gather online at sites like Squeekywheel, Complaintsboard, Consumeraffairs, my3cents, Pissedconsumer, and Ripoffreport.
These sites – which were recently reviewed by the Consumer Federation of America – have logged thousands of complaints, but are they really useful when it comes to fixing problems?
There’s actually little evidence that these sites help consumers resolve their complaints, which is why several contain a disclaimer to the contrary, the Federation reports. But that doesn’t mean the sites aren't useful. They can help you determine what type of remediation to request, for instance.
Search the sites to see if other people have had similar issues. If everyone’s phone gives out under similar circumstances, the company may have a standard resolution. What about airline problems? When people got results from the very airline that left you hanging, did they get a refund or a voucher? Did someone have better luck with the phone company than you did?
Have you used a complaints site to tell the world about your beef? Did you have any success? Any pointers to offer?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: E O'Sullivan | Mar 21, 2022 9:28:26 AM
I believe these type of sites are helpful.The more people that spread the message about a place or service etc.the better chance they will become accountable.It's like the squeaky wheel syndrome. Recently, I complained to one of Canad's major banks about them charging me interest on interest and interest on insurance on my lines of credit. When I mentioned theft, and litigation, miraculously they refunded my money. Try complaing with text.That way there is always a record.Keep fighting,tell others, united we stand and with technology we have the means!
Posted by: ana | Mar 21, 2022 9:57:21 AM
I don't feel that if we just complain on websites does the companies really see the complaints? When you talk to the people on the phone its only the employees that get the blunt of it, its not reaching the real person that it should. These posts on the websites should be sent to the head guy or maybe they don't care either. All those complaints about hydro bills should go directly to ou MP's office, not sure he will even read them or just delete them but blog up his email, site with all of these complaints and see what he's made of! I really wonder if any of them really care at all or they just support oneanother. They say alot of shit to get in then turn around and screw us all in the end. I would love to see all of them live on what some of us has to live on or not find a job, live on 10.$ on hour and see what its like and try to pay all of these outrages bills that are way too high for what we get in return. Telling us we can only do scertain things at certain times when someone might work all night long, and turn down your heat to where you almost have to wear your coat inside with kids. They all lie through their teeth just to get in, it should be the first lie they tell they get FIRED.
Posted by: WOW! | Mar 21, 2022 11:28:11 AM
@ Gordon Powers. Now you have opened up a can of worms. You know darn well that while Canadians are supposedly laid back, this audience of bloggers simply likes to complain about everything where nothing is their fault. Pass the buck is their motto! They blame everybody from Teachers, to Government Employees to Healthcare, Taxes, to Cell Phone issues and now you are looking for them to see if they think Complaint Sites would resolve problems. This entertainment will be priceless. I suspect at least 150 responses from them attacking my blog and then your question. Don't forget they will likely go off topic and not answer the question at hand. Just like I just did.