Blog Posts
Computer says “No.” Whatever happened to flexibility and common sense?
There has to be a certain amount of flexibility in customer service in order to meet a variety of different needs. Every customer is different and likewise, every customer service situation. With this in mind, although company policies are all well and good, if they...
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5 reasons to brave the January sales
Have you braved the sales yet? Despite all the doom and gloom of high street prophecies regarding the future of the high street, sales are well underway with some stores are offering lots of great discounts so if you missed out on Boxing Day like me then there’s still...
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Mystery Shopping- what skills do you need and is it worth your while?
There are many ways in which companies can effectively evaluate the standard of Customer Service they deliver, one of them being Mystery Shopping. Its popularity as a moneymaking side hustle has increased over the years and there are now a wealth of companies, which...
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Breakfast with Helen Pettifer Customer Service Consultant and Trainer
Happy New Year everyone! Not sure when it’s etiquette to stop saying that but as this is the first breakfast of 2020, I’m saying it anyway. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and are surviving the return to work period. It’s back to business today too as I kick off...
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My year in review: Looking back at 2019 and forward to 2020
Wow what a year! I didn’t think that anything could possibly top 2018 especially when it culminated in a fabulous LIVE TV debut on BBC Breakfast and 2019 kicked off the same way but this has most definitely been another year to remember. It’s hard to believe that just...
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Merry Christmas! Is regifting Christmas presents really that bad?
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Santa brings everything on your list this year. Well no worries if not because nowadays it seems that regifting has become quite a ‘thing’. What do you think about it? Are you a regifter? Is regifting Christmas presents really that...
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WIN: 101 Habits of an Effective Complainer by Helen Dewdney The Complaining Cow
“If complaining is an art form, Helen Dewdney is Rembrandt” Robert Rinder. When it comes to making a complaint, this is quite possibly the best kind of analogy I have ever come across. To be an effective complainer who successfully achieves redress, refunds and...
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Whatever happened to Christmas spirit? How to be a better customer this Christmas!
Spitting at elves and throwing rocks and wood! Whatever happened to Christmas spirit? A Worcester newspaper recently reported that rocks, wood and drinks cans had been thrown at staff at a local convenience store. Another story I read last year covered the story of a...
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Heart Heroes: Working with children and their families with heart conditions
At this time of year, it’s more important than ever to look out for others and support charitable organisations devoted to their cause. Heart Heroes is one such charity and when I caught up with its founder and trustee Kelly Cornish last month, I was just blown away...
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Breakfast with Author, Blogger and Course Creator Deborah Stansil
What a year! Who would have thought back in January that I would now be a published author! I have a number of people to thank for this, one of them being today’s fabulous Breakfast guest. My word for this year was inspired and in the world of writing and blogging,...
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7 ways to save money & be a happier and savvier shopper this Christmas
It’s Christmas, let’s spend, spend, spend! Or maybe not. Although ‘tis the season and we all want to spoil our loved ones and splash out on lots of extra special treats, should we do so? Debt is at an all time high and we are spending more than ever before but are we...
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How to complain simply but effectively and where to get help when you need it
It’s easy to jump up and down when things go wrong and take to social media to vent those frustrations but will that get you any real redress? Do you need to be a human encyclopedia of every single bit of consumer legislation in order to be able to be successful in...
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Black Friday Madness- 7 reasons why I won’t be spending on Black Friday
This year Black Friday season is set to last even longer than ever. According to data by Barclaycard, spending in 2018 saw a modest increase of 1.6% with particularly strong growth in entertainment and experiences but it's an increase nonetheless. In a time where debt...
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Are You Being Served? The story behind the book and the foreword by Lorraine Kelly
“Are you being served, no I don’t think that I am. I’ve been waiting twenty minutes. Please help me if you can.” We’ve all felt like this at times. Frustrated with waiting times and poor service. But it doesn’t stop here. From self-service checkouts to queues,...
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Breakfast with Martyn James Consumer Rights Expert at Resolver
Could this year possibly get any better? My breakfast guest today is none other than Martyn James, Money and Consumer Rights Expert and Head of Media and Marketing for Resolver, the UK’s largest complaint handling and mediation service. With two decades of...
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Reverse Advent Calendar Campaign – Will you be taking part?
I find it quite hard to believe that we live in what is widely regarded as a first world country and yet there are still people who frequently go hungry and worry about how they will feed their families. Over the last few years and particularly since the introduction...
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Death of the High Street- Are we to blame for this retail crisis?
Over the last few years, the High Street has suffered turbulent times and things are only set to get tougher for retail with the number of people visiting Britain's high streets falling by 20% in the last decade. Why is this happening and are we to blame for the...
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Breakfast with Chris Choi Consumer Editor ITV News
There can surely be no greater accolade to what I do as a Consumer Champion than the fact that today’s ‘Breakfast with….’ guest accepted my invitation to take part in this series. In fact I think this could quite well be my biggest and best scoop yet! Please welcome...
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Grenfell Tower- Will we ever hear the truth and get justice for Grenfell?
On the 14th June 2017, just before 1am, a fire broke out in the kitchen of a 4th floor flat at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in North Kensington. 72 people died, countless others were injured and all of the residents lost their homes. Unbelievably, it’s well over...
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Dunkertons Cider Apple Day Tour & Tasting – A Lady Janey Review
National Apple Day is an event, which traditionally promotes environmental awareness whilst celebrating the autumn season. This year Dunkertons Cider in Cheltenham decided to mark the occasion by offering not just one but three fabulous Apple Day Tours. His Lordship...
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Are you paying too much for your insurance? Does it ever pay to be loyal?
Recent figures released showed that some UK customers are overpaying a combined £1.2 billion on annual insurance premiums with approximately 6 million home and motor policyholders begin charged about £200 too much for their insurance. This is a loyalty penalty with...
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