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We live in a society where everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and everyone certainly has the right to express it. Verbally or in writing, complaints come trickling in to the big corporations customer service departments, and often, those letters get tossed aside along with junk mail. But it is our right to complain that often gets organizations to change their less-than-fair practices or to notice our dismay and do something about it. And if a complaint letter that is written exceptionally effectively reaches the hands of the right person, positive changes can benefit not just one person but an entire array of customers.

Before deciding on the exact content of a complaint letter, it is important to remember a few rules of how not to complain. An unreasonable, overly hostile or threatening letter will never achieve the desired results and may even cause some problems for a complainer, if overly vile threats against a company or an organization are specified in writing. A complaint letter can become a binding document and a hefty piece of evidence - it cannot be rewritten, once sent, not can it be revoked.

Make sure you use a firm, but courteous tone - do not, under any circumstances, use any threats or foul language. A letter loses its formality once the language becomes abrasive. If you feel like you just have to let your frustrations out in the first draft, reread the letter a few minutes later and make adjustments as you see necessary. It is okay to let it all out during the first try, but the second go-at-it needs to be full of professional touch.

Be sure to make a list of all the facts and clearly set the stage of the situation you are complaining about in your letter. You have to present your case in a reasonable light to convince those who will be reading it that your complaint is legitimate and not irrational. Facts, numbers, other attention-grabbing evidence can all be briefly presented in a letter without making the length of it too overbearing. Names of witnesses are useful to list to show that you can back up your claims with the words of others. If you are including any circumstantial evidence that can help the case you are stating in your letter, be sure to include copies of those documents instead of sending the originals.

After stating the initial problem with a product or a service, explain what an organization needs to do to repair its reputation with you and have you continue using its services. Specify how long you are willing

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