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How To Complain to Customer Service & Receive Positive Results

Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.
Donald Porter V.P., British Airways

As bloggers, sometimes it is so easy to bitch and rant when something displeases us. I myself, am sorely tempted to blog whenever bad service or experience hits me. As a rule, I blog only after I exhausted every means to resolve an issue or resolve it amicably with the person concerned. Wearing the hat of a small business owner with an online business, I’m going to be unhappy if my customer blogged about my services without having gone through the help desk or given me a chance to resolve the issue in a timely manner. It is one reason I am patient with customer service because I know how it feels to be on the other end.

Now, I also know my consumer rights and am quite assertive. My daughter calls it my bitch powers. Don’t think bitch power is about being mean or demanding. I’ve used it before with MERALCO. It means knowing my rights and being assertive. Let me cite three recent examples that started with a complaint and ended with a positive resolution.

1. Amazon purchase and DHL

Last December 2008, I ordered two sacred songs CDs and a DVD for the Candle Light ceremonies of my grief support group. Since I wanted it to arrive within 5 days, I chose the express mail.

1 CD Angel Voices (Libera) $13.99
1 DVD Angel Voices: Libera in Concert $14.99
1 CD New Dawn (Libera) $16.98

Item Subtotal: $45.96
Shipping and handling: $41.96
Total: $87.92

Here is that Custom duties statement


As you can see, my bill was $87.92 where half of it went to express mail expenses. Sure enough, the package arrived in 3 days but I couldn’t get it unless I paid the custom duties of 1,976.60 pesos or roughly $41.16.. I turned livid. Why would I pay 100% taxes? I pleaded my case to DHL to reduce the taxes. Nothing could persuade them to reduce it because that’s how Customs tax Amazon purchase. Not about to give up, I turned to Amazon and submitted this request:

1. I am not satisfied with your choice of courier.

2. I expected to use it at least 1 week upon arrival in the Philippines.

3. I call DHL daily to followup the custom re-assessment and until now, there is no word.

4. The checkout did not clearly state that I would pay a possibility of 100% duties and taxes

I love the CDs and DVDs. These contain sacred songs that I wish to use during the holidays but it is useless if I don’t use it now. I paid over $40 dollars in shipment because I wanted to use the product asap.

My final request is a refund. Talking to DHL is useless. I hope you will grant me this request.

That was my third email to them since my first request was to help me reduce the taxes which was beyond their powers.

What do you know? Amazon agreed to refund me and the good news was I could get the CDs and DVD but I would have to pay the custom duties.

Guess what? I didn’t get the CDs and DVDs because I refused to pay the custom duties which would just go to the pockets of corrupt custom officers. Last I heard, DHL returned my package to Amazon.

As to the CDs and DVD, I will buy them once again and have it sent through a relative in time for the Candle light ceremony on December.

I love Amazon! and as to DHL, goodbye, I am never going to avail of your services.

2. Globe Telecom and Data/3G Billing problems

Globe has been my cellphone provider since April 1999. I don’t rely on globe gprs as my internet connection. I am subscribed to 3 major ISP: Globe Broadband (2mbps), PLDT Mydsl (1 mbps), Smart Bro and another mobile internet connection from Smart 3g. Yes, my internet connection is very redundant. Another thing is I am also their landlord in one of their cell sites in Cebu. In all those years, I never encountered a billing problem with them. I pay my usage as they appear in my bill because I know I actually used them. One day, I got my statement of account and my eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

GPRS usage of 11 thousand pesos for two billing period from February to March. I called Customer service immediately and I explained that their statement was impossible. In one bill, it shows that that I used 24,000 minutes in one month, equivalent to 13 hours a day. napakaimpossible naman. Another thing worth mentioning is that I know how to use my iPhone and prevent the internet from going live. I even edit out the APN just so my internet connection won’t activate.

They tried to pacify me by saying that they will just charge me half the bill or 5,500 pesos. I refused. I told them that my past 6 months of GPRS usage averaged at 700 pesos and my highest bill was 1,000 pesos.

My final request: I CONTEST THE BILL.

I also requested for an extraction of usage to prove that it was impossible for me to use 13 hours of internet a day. They gave me an extraction of usage and my gut feeling was right! The number of hours is legitimate but something went wrong with the billing. Take a look at this example.

on the date January 11, I connected at 13:00 and was charged 870 minutes (14.5 hours) costing 258.68 pesos.

This is just one example . How could I possibly be using 14.5 hours internet in a span of 1 hour and 27 minutes.

The same goes on for the improbable usage of gprs at the times allocated.

I asked help from a fellow blogger who knew someone in the customer service to facilitate my case or at least vouch that I am not some lunatic trying to get away with my bills. Every week, I bugged them to update me and two months later, they agreed to waive my fees to just 1,000 pesos.

I really have no idea behind the over-billing. I have a feeling that whenever their GPRS connection dies (which is often), and it reconnects, I get billed 5 pesos once again.

It took them two months to resolve this but still, I was patient. Why? Because I knew I was in the right track and that the truth will set me free.

3. Philamcare refusal to pay for emergency anti-rabies treatment

Customer Care of Philamcare insisted “Vaccines are not covered in Individual Health Plan of Philamcare.”

M was bitten by Lady, her pet cat last March without provocation. Maybe Lady thought her hand dangling from afar was some delicious prey or Lady sniffed a catnip on her palms. Whatever that stupid cat was thinking, M’s right hand got bitten in many places. Our cats are vaccinated against rabies every year but since they are outdoor cats, I am not absolutely sure that they don’t have rabies since a stray cat might have attacked them at some point. I rushed her to the Emergency room of Medical City for wound treatment not thinking that she would need Rabies Emergency treatment. The bite was deep, painful and swollen. I did not want to take my chances. Gian Carlo, a 5 year old boy died of rabies virus last Christmas. It was just a superficial dog scratch on Gian Carlo’s back. Nothing is more unimaginable as suffering than for a parent to watch a child slowly succumb to death from rabies. The victim struggles against the onset of respiratory arrest. Panic shows in his eyes. And you can do nothing. Imagine the helpless parent as he watched his son die

People continue to die from rabies because it is easy to confuse its early flu-like symptoms with ordinary ailments. The subsequent appearance of its distinct symptoms—delirium, hyperactivity, furious agitation, hydrophobia, foaming around the mouth, and gradual paralysis—always signals the advanced stage of the infection.

The doctor’s diagnosis was Cat bite, Category III on the right hand with multiple punctures/abrasions. She prescribed Rabies immunoglobulins and Rabies vaccine. Since the medicines alone cost 15,000 pesos, I needed to get clearance from Philamcare.

But no…they insisted that vaccines were not covered even as I protested that this was an emergency case.

Since I did not have the contract with me and due to the emergency nature, I said I will contest the non-coverage of the anti-rabies medication once I got home.

True, vaccines are not covered by my individual health plan but I believe we are talking of elective vaccines like Hepatitis B, or Influenza virus.

I checked the Philamcare’s Standard Health Care Provisions of the Health Care Agreement of M and and Under Page 5 :

“1. “Emergency” shall mean the sudden, unexpected onset of illness or injury which at the time of contract reasonably appeared as having the potential of causing immediate disability or death requiring the immediate alleviation of severe pain and discomfort.”

I believe that the incident falls squarely within the definition of ““Emergency” which is covered by our health care policy. It is a sudden, unexpected injury which has the potential of causing death if left untreated. It also requires the immediate alleviation of severe pain and discomfort. The victim of an animal bite has no choice but to endure a course of anti-rabies medications to preclude the possibility of developing fatal symptoms. Hence, the anti-rabies medications indicated above was absolutely necessary to prevent death.

The customer service representative said there was nothing she could do. “It is our policy”.

So I told her “I know you can’t do much more at your level so could you please elevate my case to your superiors?”.

I filed my request for reimbursement on April 15 and with the help of friendly Customer service representatives and their superiors, I received the reimbursement a few days ago. The customer service was excellent.

How To Complain then?

I know it can be so disconcerting to file these complaints but the amount is nothing to sneeze at. These are my savings to the above examples:

Amazon: 6,196.00
Globe: 10,000.00
Philamcare: 15,000
Total 31,196.00 pesos or $650.00

I saved $650.00, money that would have gone down the drain if I didn’t act on it diligently.

Before you complain, make sure you are not trying to get away from your obligations or looking for a way out. Be honest with yourself. The truth will set you free.

Now that is clear, these tips are for honest consumers with a valid and justifiable case who need some advice on how to file a customer complaint and aim for a positive resolution. If you are a chronic whiner and just wants to be bitchy and difficult, then you have no business asking for customer service.

Now that is clear, let’s move on. Please note that this is applicable to private companies as Government entities is a force to reckon with.

1. Read up on their Service or Help Desk procedure.

It’s important that you follow these steps so that your query is documented. Avoid using text messages to follow-up on your complaint unless it is standard operating procedure.

2. Get the reference number or confirmation email that your complaint has been filed.

If calling by phone, jot down the reference number.
If via email, keep a copy of the confirmation email.

3. Never, ever lost your cool.

You can sound angry, dissatisfied and assertive but keep your voice down. Customer reps have feelings too and if you appeal to them nicely, you will receive the same gentle treatment.

4. Appeal your case to higher authorities of the company.

I believe not everything is black and white. Take the case of my Philamcare example, it is clear that rabies vaccine is not covered. Customer reps have no authority to decide on gray areas like that. I appealed and sent a letter of reconsideration. Not all cases may be like mine and I was granted this refund because of good track record as a customer who did not abuse their services.

5. Be patient.

If you notice, it took two months for a positive resolution of my complaints. I knew that may case was being worked on and it was just a matter of time. I could wait. It also pays to follow up every now and then to see where the progress is.

I was not patient with the TV Patrol Copyright violation because not one of them replied to my query except for a blogger/friend working there and who did it outside of her official duties. I am patient once the complaint is processed because somehow I know there is progress.

What a long entry but I didn’t want to blog each case separately. The important thing to remember is that if you try hard enough, positive results are possible.

See. I am one happy customer.

Amazon, thank you.

Globe Telecoms, thank you (but your 3G connection still sucks).

Philamcare, Thank you.

DHL, Boo (though I know it is not entirely your fault)

If I had blogged about this without going through the proper steps, you would have read my rants with NO positive outcome.

Now what good will that do to you, my dear readers?

Where to get Rabies Treatment in Metro Manila

Thought I’d like to inform you about places to get anti-rabies treatment in case your Health Care provider does not cover it.

You don’t have to go far to PGH or San Lazaro to get rabies treatment, there are clinics in Metro Manila that can give emergency treatment for Animal Bites.

1. Animal Bite Center (Sanofi)– check their website at Animal Bite Center or call Emergency Hotline , call +632-816-1111

2. Family Vaccines and Specialty Clinics– Check their website at Family Vaccines and Specialty Clinic or Call ++63 2 976-4784

27 thoughts on “How To Complain to Customer Service & Receive Positive Results”

  1. great job there!

    I was a call center agent, where i received hundreds of rant calls, complaints from U.S. customers. And though there are few “crazy” callers, I’ve learned a valuable lesson in dealing with them: They know how to complain, and they know what they want.

    So, whenever necessary to complain, I try to be calm, and just get straight to the point. And if it still doesn’t work, I bug them with calls/emails until I get results. Some call it “bitching”. But I believe “the customer is always right.”

  2. Thanks for sharing this! I am still learning how to hold my tongue and not immediately rant when I am dissatisfied with a service provided to me. Reading this reminded me that being assertive does not need to equate to arrogance or aggression. One thing I’ve realized lately is that at times, by focusing too much on my rants, all I succeed in doing is get myself even more annoyed and angry and in the end nothing gets resolved. Number 3 is a point well taken: often times CSR’s bear the brunt of our rants. To all CSR’s I may have raised my voice at or said hurtful things to, I sincerely apologize.

  3. I remember getting a package from UPS. It was a complimentary video game from a US-based company that was sent to me for review since I was maintaining an anime and video game website at the time. The game disc was free but I was asked by UPS to pay P1k in taxes. I was livid as I protested that the game was FREE and was declared with no commercial value but they said something about Philippine law etc etc. I ended up paying the P1k, now that I think about it I should’ve complained somewhere…

  4. Great tips you have there on how to complain. We have to help companies give us good customer service or help them resolve our issues with them. Being irate or going head on with hot temper won’t solve anything. This is a story worth telling as many people can learn from them. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂

  5. I agree po with “Be Patient.” Because we are not their only customers. But following up will always work because they tend to ‘forget’ sometimes. I almost always have problems with Smart myself but I always call their customer service hotline to clear things out. And dealing with things calmly is the way to go din talaga kasi nara-rattle din yung mga CSRs nila. Kawawa naman. But if you’re cool lang they help you if they can. 🙂

  6. I love Amazon too! You can use forwarding services like Johnny Air Cargo next time so you don’t have to deal with some corrupt customs officials.

    As to airing your complains, I agree with you to let the shop owner/person concerned to hear the problem first. As with the case of Amazon, they have a good customer service and they act fast, no wonder they are successful in the business because they know how to take care of their clients. I have problems with my Globe Broadband before and talking to their customer service is just a headache and a waste of time. No matter how I remind myself to keep my cool, I can’t do that especially when you know that all you hear are scripted lines and empty promises from their agents. This is where I exhausted all the options possible, I asked for a refund, called their customer service 7 days a week, etc… And when everything failed, I just switched to PLDT and of course, wrote about Globe Broadband’s service just to warn other subscribers and sharing my own experience.

    Sorry for the long post, but as long as it’s good customer service and that they deliver results, I don’t mind waiting. I once waited for exactly one year for a Cebu Pacific refund for a cancelled flight but it’s okay. Minsan nakaka-stress lang talaga especially if it’s hard-earned money. But once I knew na pinapa-ikot ka lang ng customer service, then it’s time to unleash the “bitch powers”. Coz sometimes, they need to be threatened to act fast.

    1. No wonder Amazon is successful. They keep their customers happy.

      When I sense that their response to me came from a script, I tell them to stop it and listen to me. Then I spell out my concerns.

      Regarding refund, I have not tried it out. It takes weeks to process refunds so maybe, it needed more time. I don’t know how long you waited.

      I do agree that if they are just giving me BS, that’s when I unleash my bitch powers!

  7. great blog. I have had to encounter my fair share of customer service people in the past and, for the most part, they all handled my problem professionally and as quickly as possible. the only exception was Diamond Auto Glass who completely looked the otehr way and refused to return calls and emails. In return I, nor any of my friends who I have told my experience, will ever use them and I am sure they will and have shared their experiences with others, so BIG loss for them.

    I applaud companies who understand the importance of good customer service and prompt problem resolution. Thank you for your great examples and helpful tips for future customer service dealings.

  8. That was a very great post, Miss Noemi. Unfortunately, I am not as assertive as you are. Next time, I will be assertive with what is due to me. And yes, patience is indeed a virtue. Perhaps I have too much patience that I am not too keen with substandard service.

  9. I so can relate with your Amazon experience. A friend of mine from the US sent me as CD as a gift thru Amazon and was charged with customs tax of the same amount just like you. My friend was enraged by the fact that I had to be charged for the customs tax when in fact the CD was supposed to be gift and the tax took away the surprise. He didn’t mind paying for the tax, what he didn’t like was that he was not informed directly about the extra charge.

    He called Amazon and complained. At first I told him to just cancel the order since the tax would cost more than a single CD. But Amazon was kind enough to refund him his money and I got to keep the CD. I wasn’t sure if Amazon shouldered the duties though.

    I don’t know why customs tax could cost more than a $15 CD but I think that’s just too much. The guy from DHL even told me that packages were taxed at random. Screw them customs officials!

    Just like you I still order from Amazon but with this experience I am wise enough to have it sent to a relative in the Eastcoast instead of having it directly shipped here. 🙂

  10. Last saturday i received a call from DHL that a package for my husband arrived and i need to pay Php 545 as tax. Since my husband is moving back from Fiji to manila, i assumed it maybe some of his old stuff he wants to send ahead. I need to pick up the package in Pandacan office and pay the dues. Since am not Pandacan savvy, i will wait for hubby since he’s arriving this Jul1st.

    Got an email today from hubby and DHL Fiji is following up why we haven’t received the package yet. I called DHL Makati this morning and according to the customer rep the package is already being delivered to our house. My mother received the package for us and paid the dues. According to my mother, it was just a small package.

    Am not sure if i’ve been duped till i see the package later.

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  12. LOL! Am I the one who will be bringing your precious CDs? I don’t have an arrival date yet but for sure, I need to be there in the last week of August (for recovery time), then leave for Cebu by the 2nd week of September.

    Let me know!

  13. I must admit, I really enjoyed reading this post.

    I’ve had my share of rants in this department. Most of time, I really lose my cool, especially when the customer service representative can’t give logical explanations to my concerns. But you’re right, it pays to be patient and calm if you know you’re right.

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