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Business Communication

How to write a complaint email

Writing a complaint email well is mostly about order and restraint. This guide covers what to include, what to leave out, and how to raise a problem firmly and factually without sounding aggressive. There is a tool at the end if you would rather start from a draft.

The structure of a complaint that gets results

1. State the facts: what happened, when, and any reference numbers. 2. Explain the impact: what the issue cost you in time, money, or work. 3. Request a specific resolution: a correction, a refund, a callback, with a reasonable deadline. 4. Keep the tone factual. Anger is easy to dismiss; a clear record is not. 5. Keep a copy. If the issue escalates, this email becomes part of the record.

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Example

Worked example · Input
The engineer was supposed to come on March 4 and never showed up. We took a day off for nothing.
Result
Subject: Missed Service Visit on March 4

Dear [Company] Customer Service,

I am writing regarding the service visit scheduled for March 4 at [Address]. I took a day of leave to be present, but no engineer arrived and I received no notification of a cancellation.

I would appreciate it if you could reschedule the visit as a priority and confirm how you will prevent a repeat of this situation.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

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