Royal Mail - non service with a smile
It's all very well having a nice voice on the phone, but not good when you just cut customers off.
It's all very well having a nice voice on the phone, but not good when you just cut customers off.
Was it the credit crunch, or two left feet?
Baby goods business Two Left Feet has been forced into administration, but was it the recession or some more systemic problem?
Baby goods business Two Left Feet has been forced into administration, but was it the recession or some more systemic problem?
The bigger they come, the harder they are to call
Why is it that big companies like Paypal are much harder to get service from than small outfits?
Why is it that big companies like Paypal are much harder to get service from than small outfits?
Community shopping. Do you buy it?
A new website where you can buy any colour you like, as long as it's green.
A new website where you can buy any colour you like, as long as it's green.
The Babyworld dilemma - revenue versus community spirit
A look at what can happen when a thriving website decides to charge its customers.
A look at what can happen when a thriving website decides to charge its customers.
Gifts are for returning, not just for Christmas
If you bought something online (not just at Christmas, but at any time) are you aware of your rights over returns?
If you bought something online (not just at Christmas, but at any time) are you aware of your rights over returns?
Child-friendly isn't always what it's cracked up to be
Sometimes, child-friendly eateries can be anything but.
Sometimes, child-friendly eateries can be anything but.
Lapland New Forest? More like Crapland
What can be done to prevent such fiascos as the scam that is Lapland New Forest?
What can be done to prevent such fiascos as the scam that is Lapland New Forest?
Why do Tax Credits bureaucrats waste so much paper?
Tax credits are confusing and not customer friendly, and perhaps it's the endless letters that add to the confusion.
Tax credits are confusing and not customer friendly, and perhaps it's the endless letters that add to the confusion.
Vodafone price increase hit by cancellation terms
Last week a Vodafone price increase was shown to be at odds with its terms of service.
Last week a Vodafone price increase was shown to be at odds with its terms of service.
Does Parcelforce deliver a fair service?
The company's conditions could leave you without a parcel and without anyone to blame.
The company's conditions could leave you without a parcel and without anyone to blame.
Has your Ryanair ticket been cancelled?
Ryanair cancels thousands of flight tickets it says were booked illegally.
Ryanair cancels thousands of flight tickets it says were booked illegally.
Ebay scammers land the "perfect store" with fine
Ebay keeps telling customers it's up to them to be wary of scammers, but now it's been fined for allowing sales of counterfeit goods.
Ebay keeps telling customers it's up to them to be wary of scammers, but now it's been fined for allowing sales of counterfeit goods.
Terminal 5 makes it hard to go anywhere
You'd think for a modern building with all mod cons, they would remember something important.
You'd think for a modern building with all mod cons, they would remember something important.
The Cryinair fun never stops
Is Ryanair unfairly picked on by moaning customers or does it deserve the kicking it gets?
Is Ryanair unfairly picked on by moaning customers or does it deserve the kicking it gets?
Tradesmen you can trust?
If you use a website to find a trustworthy tradesman, how do you know the website is any good?
If you use a website to find a trustworthy tradesman, how do you know the website is any good?
You may win a battle, but who wins the war?
The battles rage on between customers and the people who try to serve them.
The battles rage on between customers and the people who try to serve them.
Your call is important to us...
Fined nearly £6 million for screwing customers - can ITV be taken seriously ever again?
Fined nearly £6 million for screwing customers - can ITV be taken seriously ever again?
From Hotpoint to boiling point
Sarah's story sums up the frustration of anyone who has tried to get a machine serviced by an engineer.
Sarah's story sums up the frustration of anyone who has tried to get a machine serviced by an engineer.
HSBC - the world's local bank you can't talk to
Automated call response systems are as much a curse as they are a solution.
Automated call response systems are as much a curse as they are a solution.
PayPal? My pals don't take money off me without asking
What do you do when PayPal takes YOUR money off you and says they have a right to do it?
What do you do when PayPal takes YOUR money off you and says they have a right to do it?
Those bankers are forcing charges on us
With the furore over illegal penalty charges forced on us by banks, it's time to look more closely at the way the banks manage our accounts.
With the furore over illegal penalty charges forced on us by banks, it's time to look more closely at the way the banks manage our accounts.
Remember children, no running with spoons
A trip to Tesco shows how health and safety, coupled with slack product labelling, do not go together.
A trip to Tesco shows how health and safety, coupled with slack product labelling, do not go together.
Cryinair and family holidays may not go together
How much longer can Ryanair boast about being successful while it continues to treat its customers with disdain?
How much longer can Ryanair boast about being successful while it continues to treat its customers with disdain?
Enough of this bad form, people
Badly designed forms have made me want to send them back with "I can't fill this in" scrawled across them.
Badly designed forms have made me want to send them back with "I can't fill this in" scrawled across them.
This article contains personal opinion of the author. Steve Masters has extensive experience of being a customer attempting to get service. So much so that Vivaldi's Four Seasons brings him out in a sweat.
