Have you ever stormed out of a store infuriated with the way a clerk treated you? Have you felt at a loss because of a failure, error of negligence committed at a store? Have you ever faced abusive or contradictory pricing? If the answer to any of these is yes, then you have every reason to understand what complaint forms are.

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In general terms, complaint forms are tools for consumers to file objections and complaints on issues related to the good or services they use. All stores and public facilities are obliged to have them and give them to customers without asking for an explanation.

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In stores in which these forms are mandatory, there must be a sign displayed which says: There are complaint forms available to customers. Naturally, these forms are free and available to any consumer of any age. But the person who requests such a document must fill it out in the store itself.

What are the complaint forms like?�
They should feature three carbon-copy sheets (a white one for the government, a yellow one for the store or service provider, and a green one for the consumer). The sheets must state correctly the name and address of the business and any other necessary data about it. Besides the date and time, the form must include complete identification of the any of these is yes, then you have every reason to understand what complaint forms are plaintiff, with name, national identity number, address and a space for them to explain their complaint.

How to file a complaint
A report of the events in question should be made chronologically in Castilian Spanish or another official language of the place where the complaint is being filed. As much as possible, the account of what happened should stay clear of subjective evaluations. It is also a good idea to state what it is you are seeking to offset the offence suffered. The account of the events should be backed up with documents that prove them, as well as bills, receipts, contracts or advertising brochures.
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If for example a clerk insults or offends a customer, the complaint should be filed through the police in a civil channel no more than 24 hours after the events transpire.
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But it is not enough to ask for a complaint form, fill it out and give one of the copies to the store. You must also give a copy to the municipal consumer affairs office. Depending on what it is you care complaining about, the place to file may be the consumer affairs or information office closest to where the alleged offence took place, or the consumer affairs office of the regional government. It may even be in the consumer affairs arbitration panel if the complaint involves returning the product purchased or payment of damages.

Weeks or even months after the complaint is filed, the consumer will receive a letter from the city hall corresponding to the commercial establishment against which the complaint was filed, and if necessary an investigation will be opened with an eye to possible punishment of the offender or offenders.