How to Complain Effectively on the Phone
How to Complain Effectively on the Phone
to the Indiana Attorney General About Your Rv
If you want to complain about anything related to Rv's or the Rv industry, the Rv industry crossroads is the state of Indiana, so start there. The Office of the Indiana Attorney General helps protect the rights, freedoms, and safety of Rv'ers everywhere because most of the Rv industry is located in Indiana and manufacturers everywhere pay attention to what happens in Indiana.1. Don't expect to speak directly to the Boss - and that's okay. Any politician, a state or federal elected official, is busy. They rely on their staff to handle phone calls and to tell them about anything that matters. So your job when calling the Indiana Attorney General or any politician is to get your message across in a way that makes the Staff Person believe your message matters.
2. Know what you want to ask and say. It can help to create a "bullet point" list, simply a few key words to remind you of what you want to ask about and what you want to say. You may want to write out everything in detail so you can read it to them. Don't. Staff members get calls from everybody and they can tell when someone is just reading something and when they are speaking from their heart. You can use a bullet point list, but speak from your heart. And be ready to make notes on what they say (more about that later).
3. Be kind, calm, respectful, and brief. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Control yourself as you talk. A calm person, who respects the staff member who has answered the politician's phone, who simply and briefly makes their point is far more effective than someone who goes off on a rant. Did you ever argue with someone about politics? Then you know what to avoid. No one likes to be yelled at, verbally abused, or the subject of a ranting talker who won't listen. You may be angry, but showing your anger will not help get them to listen to you.
4. Ask your question. First, write down the name of who you are speaking with. Then remember the rule about questions: make it simple and to the point. If you think you need better quality in the Rv industry or for your Rv brand, then just ask "what is the attorney general doing to protect consumers from getting bad Rv's?" If you want them to investigate shoddy Rv construction practices, then simply ask "what is the attorney general doing to investigate shoddy Rv construction?"
5. Then listen to them. You may want to keep talking - don't. Being silent forces them to answer your question. Don't interrupt them either. Make notes about what they say.
6. Say what you want. After they answer you, ask yourself if they answered your question. If not, then simply say something like "I appreciate that, but …" and ask your question again. If they did say they are doing what you want done, then thank them for listening to you and hang up. If they didn't, then only re-ask your question once. If you still get the same answer, then ask them to tell the attorney general what you want him/her to do. Then thank them for listening to you and hang up. Don't keep them on the phone too long. Be respectful, brief and to the point.
7. Now the most important part - immediately write a short note to the attorney general about your phone call and mail it. Phone calls are the most important thing to any politician. Next, are letters received. Make your letter brief, respectful to the point, and only one page long. First, thank them for their time and their staff member's time (name who answered your call). Second, tell them what you are concerned about again and why, in just a few words. Third, tell them what you want them to do and ask them to let you know what they are doing to accomplish that.
Indiana's state attorney general as of October 2018 is Curtis Hill. His phone number is 1.800.382.5516 or you can use the direct phone number, fax, and street address below for your communications:
302 W. Washington St., 5th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 232-6201
Fax: (317) 232-7979
To file a consumer complaint online with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection department about an Rv company, CLICK HERE.
Remember - life is too short to put up with a bad Rv.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2011, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.