生活英語(yǔ)對(duì)話 Episode 58: A complaint

本單元是關(guān)于投訴的對(duì)話

Tim: How can I help you sir?

Customer: It's about this watch.

Tim: What seems to be the problem?

Customer: The alarm doesn't work and the strap leaves a green mark on my wrist when I take it off.

Tim: Have you worn the watch in the shower perhaps sir?

Customer: No and I only bought it two weeks ago. It's still under guarantee but I must say, for the amount of money I paid for it, I'm very disappointed.

Tim: I'm so sorry you've been inconvenienced. Would you like a refund?

Customer: No, I'd rather have the watch replaced please.

Tim: Right, well, I'll just take down your purchasing details and we'll get this watch changed for you in no time at all.

Vocabulary (詞匯):

under guarantee (在擔(dān)保期內(nèi)):

if something you buy breaks or stops working soon after you buy it, a shop or company promises to fix it or give you your money back

a refund (退款):

money that a shop or company gives back to you if you return something you bought from them

in no time at all (立刻):

soon

replace (更換):

change for another similar one

本單元的語(yǔ)言點(diǎn)是關(guān)于投訴，當(dāng)你買的東西不盡人意或?qū)Λ@得的服務(wù)不滿時(shí)，你可以投訴;你可以書面投訴，或直接致電有關(guān)個(gè)人或公司時(shí)口頭投訴，用英語(yǔ)投訴時(shí)，我們?cè)谕对V前一般會(huì)使用溫和的語(yǔ)言，比如我們通常會(huì)直接致函或致電投訴人表示歉意，因?yàn)榇驍嚵怂麄?。然后，我們開(kāi)始投訴。最后，我們 要求對(duì)有關(guān)投訴進(jìn)行處理，或要求得到賠償.

Complaining

You can complain when something you've bought or a service you've used isn't as good as you expected it to be. You can do this in writing or by speaking directly to the person or company

In English, we tend to soften our language (often by apologising for disturbing the person we're talking or writing to) before we start complaining. Then we make our complaint and finally we ask for some kind of compensation for our inconvenience or help with our problem

Here's some language to help you complain (以下是可以用于投訴的一些表達(dá)方式):

Written complaints (書面投訴):

Usually written complaints use quite formal English:

I'm writing to complain about the poor quality of service we received in your hotel recently.

I wish to complain about the inconvenience and delay I experienced on my recent train journey from London to Brighton.

I was very disappointed when, after only two weeks, my washing machine broke down.

We ordered a blue sofa however you sent us a green one.

The first problem was that there weren't enough seats for our party to sit together and the second problem was that we had to wait more than an hour to be served.

We were promised a non-smoking room but when we arrived, we were told that your hotel didn't have any non-smoking rooms.

Spoken complaints (口頭投訴):

Usually spoken complaints are less formal than written ones.

It's about this stereo.

I'm really not happy with this shirt.

It just broke down a few days ago.

I'm not satisfied with the service here.

Well, first the radio didn't work and then the CD stopped working.

Ways of saying something's not working or not in good condition(東西壞了或狀況不好時(shí)的表達(dá)方式):

to break - glass, china, pottery

I dropped my mum's crystal vase and broke it. She was really angry with me.

to break down - a lift, a car, a machine

I was stuck between the 3rd and 4th floor for 20 minutes when the lift broke down yesterday.

to be out of order - a communal or public machine (e.g. a photo-copier, a lift)

Don't put your money in that ticket machine. It's out of order. You won't get a ticket or your money back.

to stop working - anything with batteries or that uses power

She wore her watch in the pool and then was surprised when it stopped working!

to crash - a computer

My computer's crashed. All the applications have stopped working. I'll need to phone the help-line to see if they can fix it.

to jam - a machine where something (e.g. paper) moves through it.

I want to print a card for my friend but there's something wrong with the printer. It jams if you put anything thicker than a piece of paper through it.

Asking for action (要求得到處理):

I'd like a refund please.

I'd be grateful if you would replace this stereo immediately.

I would appreciate your sending me a replacement as soon as possible.

Please let me know what you intend to do about this situation.