IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

IELTS Essay # 83 - How to complain about a product or poor service

Details
Written by IELTS Mentor

IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic. 

When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person.

Which method do you think is more effective? Why?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.


Model Answer 1:
In today's society, there are many ways for consumers to complain about poor service or products. While some people choose to complain in writing, others prefer to voice their complaints in person. In my opinion, complaining in person is a more effective method than writing a complaint.

Firstly, when a customer complains in person, they have the opportunity to explain their situation and describe the problem in detail. They can also provide visual evidence or examples to support their complaint. This can be helpful for the person or business receiving the complaint to fully understand the issue and make the necessary changes to prevent it from happening in the future.

Secondly, complaining in person allows for immediate resolution of the issue. If a customer writes a complaint, it may take some time before the company responds, and the process of back-and-forth communication can be time-consuming. When a customer complains in person, the issue can be resolved on the spot, which can lead to a faster and more satisfactory resolution for both the customer and the company.

There could be some potential drawbacks to complaining in person. For example, a customer may not feel comfortable or confident enough to complain face-to-face. Additionally, if the person receiving the complaint is not trained to handle complaints, the situation could escalate and become confrontational.

In conclusion, while there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, I believe that complaining in person is a more effective way to voice a complaint. It allows for clear communication and immediate resolution, which can lead to a more satisfactory outcome for both parties involved.


Model Answer 2:
We all want to get the best out of the money we pay for a product or service. But in the real world, we do not always get what we wish or pay for, and that is why we need to lodge complaints. Whether written or in-person complaints are more effective is debatable. I believe both have their advantages and should be decided upon based on situations and personal preferences.

On the one hand, complaining in writing has many benefits. First of all, one does not have to spend precious time driving, waiting for his or her turn and talking with a representative. They can just send mail or e-mail and get all explanation they need. Secondly, I think it is the best way to avoid an unpleasant conversation. Finally, sometimes it is impossible to have a face-to-face conversation because a company which provided a poor product or service is too far away. In such situations, written complaints are more effective.

On the other hand, complaining in person has some benefits too. First, this type of complaining provides immediate feedback. So, if I have some complaints about a company's products, I will receive all information and explanation right away. However, sending a company a letter and getting feedback can take more than a week, and in some cases, more than a month. Secondly, face-to-face conversation is often more effective. People talk to each other and notice facial gestures and body movements, which can tell a lot about a person. In addition to these practical benefits, in case, one can not receive a credible explanation from one representative, he always can require to talk to another person. For instance, one of my cousins recently purchased a product from an online store. Even after writing two times, he was not contacted by the company. When he went to talk to the company in person and took the faulty product with him, he received an immediate replacement with no questions asked.  So in this regard, an in-person complaint was more effective.

In my opinion, we should not stick to a single approach when it comes to complaining and decide which method to use based on the situation, company policy and our personal preference. This way, we will get the best possible results.

In conclusion, I think that if we have to complain about a product or poor service, sometimes we should decide that based on the situation, our preference and company policy rather than following a single approach always. This way we will get the best result.


Model Answer 3:
Many times people need to complain about a product or poor service which is quite common nowadays. It is, therefore, important for one to identify the best medium for your complaints to have the desired effect. Rising complaints both in person or in writing have their pros and cons but I personally prefer to lodge my complaints in writing.

Firstly, putting down your complaints in writing has the advantage of getting to the person intended. That person is usually at the top of the hierarchy. For example, if someone complains to the driver of a bus about over-speeding or reckless driving, the information might not get to the manager of the transport company but may only end up with the driver which might not stop the driver from over speeding in the future and therefore the complaint would not make any impact.

Secondly, writing to the manager about a poor service gives the manager time to understand and assimilate the gravity of the situation and understand how important it was to you the consumer for you to take your time to write about a certain problem. In addition, if one decides to complain in person, emotions may come into play and may lead to the exchange of words and the desired effect is therefore not achieved.  Written complaints also have the advantage of being referred to in the future.

In summary, written complaints have the advantage of getting to the individual in charge, being able to be referred to in the future and giving the receiver ample time to understand the situation and to address it appropriately. As a result, I would prefer to forward my complaints in writing.

( by  - Abdur Rahim )


Model Answer 4:
In day to day life, it is quite common that the daily useful products undergo repair and we are dissatisfied with some services from a provider. To complain about these to the concerned party, some send letters or emails and others complain in person. These two ways differ in resolution time and effectiveness.

The drafted complaint is a lengthy way because the delivery of complaint through courier or postal service takes time. In addition, if the service provider could not understand our complaint then to and fro communication between two parties take additional time. For example, when my microwave oven was damaged, I sent a written complaint to the service centre and it took 2 days to deliver the letter along with the product. Two days later I got a call from the service centre technician for the complaint clarification as he could not understand it clearly. Finally, I got back my micro woven after 7 days. In contrast face to face complaints takes less time.

When we give complaints personally, they are quickly resolved and give effective results. For instance, a few days back I bought Rasagulla sweets and I found them spoiled after opening the container. Immediately I went to the supermarket, complained in person and returned the items. Consequently, they informed the manufacturer to collect back all the boxes of Rasagulla sweets which had the same batch number that I complained. As a result, manufacturer and seller reputation was saved and I got my result.

In short, the above two examples say that an in person complaint is more effective than a pened complaint.

( by  - Ronith )

Rating 3.44 (8 Votes)
RSS
Shiva
IELTS Essay Question: When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person.Which way do you prefer?Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.Sample Answer: Some people prefer to complain in person while others prefer written complaints. In my reckoning, making our complaints face-to-face is a double-edged sword in terms of both advantages and disadvantage but more effective than written complaints. I personally believe that written complaints are sometimes effective, but in most of the cases, they are ignored by the authority. On the one hand, placing our complaint in person has a profound impact. As a matter of fact, when a person is not satisfied with a special product, food or service, to name a few, it is better to express it in person. Nevertheless, people who are associated with this dispute try to persuade us immediately. Furthermore, they try to compensate their mistake instead of denying it. In contrast, when people write their complaints, the authorities may not pay attention, or even read it. Without any doubt, having more than influence is one of the main reasons of why I complain in person. On the other hand, sometimes, complaining in person is not a good idea as people often find it weird when someone expresses his complaint. For instance, last year, one of our professors arranged a very hard exam even though he was not quite successful in teaching us in his classes. All of my classmates were not satisfied with this exam and I decided to confront him and complain about the difficult exam. Although I talked very politely and tried to convince him to be less tough while marking our papers, he became angry and gave me the worst mark in the class. Thus, it is not deniable, complaints in person, sometimes, may have the reverse effects on other people and anonymously written complaints, in this case, is far better.In conclusion, whether a complaint should be written or in person vary based on the parties involved, situation and so on. Thus, though I prefer to complain in person most of the time, written complaints are also effective sometimes.