The airline lost your baggage. The hotel laundry ruined your favorite shirt. The taxi driver overcharged you. When you're abroad, sometimes things go wrong. Now you can do something about it! Use these tips when you want to express an effective complaint in English. HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 No matter how unfair the situation, it's best to phrase your complaint politely. In English, you'll sound more polite if you use indirect language. Here are some examples: HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 I'm sorry to bother you ...HvE中国英语学习网 Starting a complaint with "I'm sorry to bother you" puts the listener ?who may have heard many complaints that day ?at ease. Use this phrase if the situation isn't that serious. For example, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted a baked potato, not fries."HvE中国英语学习网 Can you help me with this?HvE中国英语学习网 Everyone would much rather be asked to do something than told! So try phrasing your complaint as a request for help: "Can you help me with this? My shirt came back from the laundry missing buttons."HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 I'm afraid there may be a misunderstanding.HvE中国英语学习网 This is a polite way of saying, "Your information is wrong. Please fix it now." You'll most likely use this phrase if you made reservations for a flight, hotel or restaurant, and when you arrive, it's not what you expected. For instance, "I'm afraid there may be a misunderstanding. I requested a non-smoking room."HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 I understand it's not your fault ...HvE中国英语学习网 Often when you make a complaint, you deal with a person who was not directly responsible for the problem. But the problem isn't your fault, either! This phrase is helpful when you need swift action. Tell the person you're dealing with you understand they're not at fault and then directly state the problem: "I understand it's not your fault, but the airline promised they would deliver my baggage yesterday."HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 Excuse me, but I understood that ...HvE中国英语学习网 Using this phrase lets the person know you're well-informed and are suspicious they might be trying to take advantage of you. Don't say, "Hey! You're trying to cheat me!" Instead, start indirectly by stating what you know to be true: "I understood that the taxi ride to the airport was only 25 dollars." Then give them an opportunity to respond.HvE中国英语学习网 HvE中国英语学习网 All that said, sometimes you're treated so badly that there's no time for being polite! You can use these very direct phrases when a problem is beyond compromise: "I need to speak with a manager," "This is unacceptable," "Please fix the situation immediately," or "I demand a refund." HvE中国英语学习网
