5 Best Ways to Complain Online
Twitter proved instrumental in helping me clear up a customer service mess last week. After learning that UPS had lost my Gilt.com package, I turned to the Twittersphere to voice my annoyance by tweeting:
Attention @giltgroupe: UPS says they've lost my package. How does this happen??
In less than a minute, Gilt's customer service team responded to my tweet -- and within days, my package had been located and was sitting at my front door.
Consumer Reports agrees that the Internet, in general, is a fantastic place to voice your customer service concerns. At minimum, you inform other potential customers about your poor experience. And sometimes, if the right person is reading, you may receive help or some sort of remedy. Researchers at CR have come up with several web sites -- in addition to social network pages like Twitter and Facebook and corporate web sites -- where you can vent and even receive some help.
Here's a brief round-up:
AirlineComplaints.org
Had a bad airline experience? You'll find a lot of similar experiences recounted here. After posting your comments, the company suggests also getting in touch with the airline -- it lists contact information -- and filing a formal complaint. You may also want to let the airline know that you've addressed your concerns on AirlineComplaints.org. The site provides you with a specific link to your complaint on site.
Angie's List
Bad service from a plumber or dentist? Angie's List collects comments related to service-oriented companies and professionals. The best part is that reviews and complaints on this site are certified and not anonymous. Before posts go live, the company vets all messages -- good and bad -- to ensure they're authentic and unbiased. Angie's List also has a "Complaint Resolution Team" that may get involved if you had a seriously disastrous home repair or a bad health-related service.
MeasuredUp.com
MeasuredUp serves as an intermediary between consumers and many service-oriented companies where you can ask questions, post reviews and ask for help. The site claims that thousands of businesses use it to respond to customers and protect and build their reputation. You can even upload a video in which you explain your frustration. The site suggests users film "on location" and submit live reviews, which could get more attention than the written versions.
My3Cents.com
Since 2000, this website has been a platform for consumers to post reviews about products, companies and services. My3Cents says its site is frequently visited by news reporters looking for story ideas -- definitely one way to get some attention.
RipOffReport.com
Reports here are strictly confidential, but once you submit your complaint, it gets sent to all the search engines. The site suggests you provide as many details as possible about your experience -- including times, places, pictures and witness statements that support your facts.
Farnoosh Torabi is a personal finance journalist and commentator. She is the author of the new bookPsych Yourself Rich, Get the Mindset and Discipline You Need to Build Your Financial Life. Follow her at www.farnoosh.tv and on Twitter/farnoosh
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