66 I can express dissatisfaction
A How to complain
• Make sure you know how you want the situation to be resolved after you complain.
• Collect
as much evidence as possible, e.g. photos, guarantees,
etc.
• Expressing dissatisfaction in person can be the
most effective.
• Always keep calm when you complain. There
is no point in losing your temper.
• Back up your claim in writing.
• Consider getting an expert’s opinion to back up your claim.
Glossary
make sure be certain.
resolve sth FML find an answer to a problem. SYN settle sth.
complain (about
sth) say you are not
satisfied with sth. make a complaint
(about sth) N.
guarantee a written promise by a company that it will
repair or replace sth that stops working within a specific period of time.
dissatisfaction the annoyed feeling you get when sth is not as
good as you expected it to be. OPP satisfaction.
dissatisfied ADJ.
in person speaking to sb face to face.
keep calm stay quiet and not get excited, worried, or
angry.
lose your temper be unable to control your anger. OPP keep your temper.
back sth up support sth: say or show that sth is true.
claim a demand for sth, often money, that you think
you have a right to, often from a company or the government. make a claim V.
in writing in a letter, email, etc.
consider doing sth think about doing sth. consideration N.
expert a person who has a lot of knowledge
of a subject.
spotlight point
Point can
mean ‘reason’ or ‘purpose’, and is used in several expressions:
What’s
the point of doing that? (What’s the reason
for doing that?)
There’s no point in doing that. (There’s no reason to do that.)
3 Test yourself. Cover the glossary meanings and look at the words. What are the meanings?
B Having a moan
A I’m
fed up with the painting course this term.
B I’m not happy with it either. The room they’ve
given us is dreadful - it’s too
small.
A Actually, I’m not so bothered about the room. It’s the man who joined the course last month - he
really gets on my nerves. He’s
always moaning.
B Yes, he’s spoilt it for the rest of us, really. And next week someone else is
starting.
A Oh what a nuisance! I don’t think they should let people join the course
late. I might mention it to the
teacher.
Glossary
fed up with sth bored or unhappy with sth.
happy with sth feeling that sth is good or right.
dreadful very bad. SYNS terrible, atrocious, appalling.
join sth become a member of a group such as
a class or club.
get on sb’s nerves
INF irritate sb or
make sb angry.
moan INF keep saying what is wrong or bad about
sth. moan N.
spoil sth PT, PP
spoilt/spoiled change
sth good into sth bad or unpleasant. SYN ruin
sth.
nuisance a person, thing, or situation that
annoys you.
mention sth talk about sth, usually quickly and without
saying much.
spotlight bother
The
verb bother is used in several
expressions:
I’m
not bothered about what I
wear. INF
= I don’t care about what I wear.
(I’m)
sorry to bother you. = I’m
sorry to disturb you. (Used when sb is busy.)
Don’t bother to buy the milk. = Don’t trouble yourself; it’s not necessary.
6 ABOUT YOU Write your answers, or ask
another student.
1 Is there anything you’re fed up with at the
moment? ________
2 Is there anything or anyone that gets on
your nerves? ________
3 Do you moan about anything in particular? ________
4 Can you think of anything in your town that’s
dreadful? ________
5 Are you bothered about the level of your
English at the moment? ________
Answers
from a German person
1 Yes, I’m fed up with the traffic in the
morning when I drive to work; it’s so busy.
2 Sometimes the small child living above us
can be a bit loud and that gets on my nerves.
3 I don’t tend to moan a lot; however, postal
strikes are a real inconvenience to me and others.
4 Shopping in town on a Saturday can be a
real nightmare, as it’s so crowded.
7 Test yourself. Look at the glossary words
and cover the meanings. What are the meanings?
