How to Complain About Bad Business Practices: Part II
by: Developed from materials provided by Consumer Action
Second Steps: If at first you don't succeed
If at First You Do Not Succeed . . . .
If you have done the things listed in How To Complain: First Steps and still cannot get your problem fixed, there are other things you can do
Ask an organization for help . . . .
If you have done all you can on your own, an organization might be able to help you. These are called Consumer Groups. When someone else complains for you, it may help to get your problem fixed.
Asking the Government for Help . . . .
To ask for help send a letter. Describe your problem. Tell the office what you want done. Explain happened when you tried to get the problem fixed. Send copies of any complaint letters plus a note stating what you want the government office to do.
You can ask it tell you about the law. You can ask it to check out the business you are complaining about.
To find the name, phone number and address of a government office, look in your phone book. You might have to make a call or two to find the office that handles your type of complaint.
Go To Small Claims Court . . . .
Small Claims Court is a good place to settle many cases. [Click here for tips on going to Small Claims Court].
Hold a Protest . . . .
Hold a protest. When you protest you stand on the street outside the business that is giving you trouble. You carry signs that tell what the company did.
You can hand out flyers telling the what the company did. Be careful not to block traffic, break any laws or say anything in your flyers that you cannot prove. It may be worth asking a lawyer if anything you wrote on your flyers can get you in legal trouble.
You can also ask the public to do things. They can stop buying from the business or write complaint letters. When you ask the public to stop buying things it is called a "boycott."
Protests work best when the company has done the same thing to many people and many people want change.
Stop Payment . . . .
When you stop payment on a check, the person you gave it to will not be able to cash it. Your bank will charge you a fee for this. If you do this, return the item. If the business tells you not to, go ahead and stop payment if the check has not been cashed.
Other Tips . . . .
If you sue in court you will need proof. This can include receipts, letters, canceled checks, billing statements, repair orders and warranties. Keep these things until you are sure you will not need them. If you go to court, the other side can make you prove that you bought and paid for the item or service you are complaining about.
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See[MakingYourselfHeard] [Getting A Lawyer To Help]
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