Friday’s Advice: Approaching a Service Manager for a Complaint

Most people are peaceful by nature. We avoid confrontations. We want to live in harmony.

But, all that could be lost when dealing with an auto repair rip-off. Much as we would like to be peaceful, we sometimes have to stand up to those who are taking advantage of us.

However, when it comes to automotive rip-offs, there are still positive ways to approach the issues. When complaining to the management of an auto repair shop, there are some steps to take to make the process as smooth and as peaceful as possible:

Prepare your receipt and paper works. You’d want to be ready and you’d want to have all the proof that you need to back up your complaint, so have everything prepared. Complaining without proof of your complaint is like going to a battle without a sword, so it’s almost always bound to fail.

Be objective. Keep to the facts – what the problem is and what you’re complaining about. Sometimes, you may have the tendency to exaggerate or overreact because of your anger towards what happened, but that won’t help. That will only intensify the argument and the heat. Keep your emotions at bay so that everything will be smooth.

Clearly state what it is that you want. Do you want a refund? Do you want the service to be performed again free of charge? Be direct. Sometimes, all it takes to get what you want is to ask for it. Most auto repair shops would want to make amends and reclaim their destroyed reputation.

Remember: it is your right to complain if you are not satisfied with the service that you get. But, to be sure that your complaint will have a good result, do it the right way – you and the repair shop should be both satisfied at the end of the negotiation.