Irked by shoddy service but can’t face complaining? Follow these ten steps and it’ll probably be much easier than you think, says Vicky Shaw.

If you’d rather see them quietly than make a complaint when something’s gone wrong, you’re not alone.

According to free complaints service Resolver, common reasons people give for not complaining include: Not thinking they could win, worrying it could take too long, and being put off by the idea that the process might be too complicated.

Here are Resolver founder James Walker’s top tips...

1. Take a deep breath

Bad service, being ripped-off and bureaucracy can make us see red. So it’s vital to take a moment to calm down before making a complaint. Grab a drink, gather your thoughts and channel that anger.

2. Keep it simple

Focus on the key issues. Start with what you wanted or were expecting, explain what went wrong, and finish with what you want to sort out the complaint.

3. Be polite

Even customer service experts trying to be fair can be swayed by rudeness. That can extend to formatting in a complaints letter or emails, like overusing capital letters, making letters bold and underlining text (or worse, all three!).

4. Bullet points help you focus

Even if you hate writing, it can be tempting to start drafting the complaint version of War And Peace when you get going.

Bullet points keep your complaint straightforward and you’re more likely to remember key information.

5. Get help

Not everyone feels comfortable putting their thoughts into writing, and for various reasons, it can be good to get some support. Free help from Citizens Advice and other charities can help you get started.

6. It’s all about communication

Something as simple as writing ‘complaint’ on an email, message or letter makes it unarguably clear what the deal is.

Asking for a straightforward explanation of what the business is going to do to sort things out is another tactic that can help.

7. Photograph your documents

One of the leading reasons people give up on complaints is admin. Often, businesses will ask you to send in documents to support your case.

Firstly, avoid sending originals. Photograph your documents and attach them to a complaint using a smartphone.

8. Do your research

If you’ve got a parking ticket you want to challenge, then it makes sense to snap a few photographs to back up your case. The same goes for many complaints.

If you can gather evidence, even links online to other people who’ve had the same problem with a product or service, it can help.

9. Tell it from the heart

It’s often easy for businesses to miss the personal aspect of problems.

So take a moment to explain the impact an error has had on you. You don’t need to lay it on thick - but if a situation has caused you some distress, it’s important that the business understands why.

10. Don’t give up

And finally, if you don’t get the answer you want at first, ask about escalating your complaint. Many industries have ombudsmen or dispute resolution schemes you can take your complaint to for free.

It shouldn’t take long at all to make a complaint - and you can make a complaint in just a few minutes if you plan a little in advance. Get started today.