Structure and tone
How to write an IELTS complaint letter
The tone comes from the reader, not the purpose. In this set: 100 formal, 18 semi-formal.
The outline every sample here follows
- 1.Salutation: Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname. Write to a friend or relative by first name and close with Best wishes, Love or See you soon.
- 2.Opening: State the purpose of the letter in the first one or two sentences.
- 3.Body: One paragraph per bullet point, in the order given, each with a specific detail (a date, a name, a reason).
- 4.Closing line: Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
- 5.Sign-off: A sign-off that matches the salutation, then your name.
1 to 60 of 118
All IELTS complaint letter samples
- Formal complaint letter regarding a faulty camera repairYou have bought a new camera but when you got it home you found it had some problems. You returned the camera and spoke to the company representative a week ago but the camera has still not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding a faulty television purchaseYou bought a new HD television last week. At first, it seemed to work perfectly but after a few hours a line appeared across the TV and the sound seemed a little strange. You cannot take the TV back to the shop so you have decided to write to them.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding damaged household goodsYou recently moved house and you used a removal company to help you move your belongings. However, some of your things were damaged in the move.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding faulty office equipmentYou work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter regarding poor hotel serviceYou stayed at a hotel recently and were unhappy with the service.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to head office regarding faulty laptopYou recently bought a laptop computer. A few days later the laptop stopped working. When you took it back to the shop, they refused to deal with the problem.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to internet service providerYour internet connection has been slow and intermittent for the last couple of days, and it affects your work.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to internet service provider (request a reduction in your bill)Your internet connection has been slow and intermittent.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to manager regarding poor serviceYou are not happy about a service you received a couple of days ago from a company and you have decided to complain about it.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to restaurant manager regarding poor mealYou took your family to a nearby restaurant. You were disappointed with the meal and wish to complain to the manager.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to school director regarding courseYou are attending a course at an evening school.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to supermarket manager regarding accidentYou were hurt in a minor accident inside a supermarket, and you wish to complain to the supermarket.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint letter to travel agency regarding poor accommodationYou have just returned from a holiday. You are unhappy with the quality of the hotel you stayed in and want to complain to the travel agency that arranged the holiday.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding a delayed radio repair serviceTwo weeks ago you bought a radio from a local branch of a well-known chain shop. It did not work properly. The shop took it back and said they would repair it. You have waited a week and still, it is not ready.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding emergency department waiting timesYou went to the local hospital's Emergency Department with your young child who had severe stomach pains. You had to wait for almost four hours before your daughter was treated by a doctor.formal · complaint
- Formal Complaint Regarding Incorrect Billing Address DeliveryYour telephone company made a mistake in sending your bill to the wrong address.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding invalid train tickets and staffYou recently bought some train tickets for a journey a week in advance. When you went to the station to catch the train, you were told you could not use the tickets and the staff were very unhelpful to you.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding unprofessional taxi service and silenceYou recently took a trip with a taxi company. The driver behaved in an unacceptable way and you had a lot of problems. You complained to the company but no-one has replied to your complaint.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint regarding unresolved car rental AC issueYou rented a car from a car rental company. The air conditioner has stopped working. You phoned the company a week ago but it still has not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to airline regarding lost luggageYou traveled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing from the airline company.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to building manager regarding noiseYou live in an apartment building and for the past few weeks, your new neighbors have been making a lot of noise late at night, preventing you from sleeping.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to cruise provider regarding holiday disappointmentYou have taken a cruise on a holiday and have been disappointed with the experience.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to local council regarding construction noiseSome construction work is being done on the street where you live for the last couple of days. The noise from the work is loud and it disturbs you.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to local council regarding dangerous dogsYou live in a house opposite a park. Every day a man brings large dogs to the park and lets them run free.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to mobile company regarding faulty deviceYou have bought a new mobile phone and in a few days of purchase, it has stopped working. You spoke to the company representative a week ago but it has still not been repaired.formal · complaint
- Formal complaint to the British Council regarding testingYou recently took an IELTS test and there were some problems that you believe affected your score.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter Complaining to Transport Manager about ServiceThere have been some problems with the public transport you use to commute daily.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint regarding damaged luggageYou recently traveled by a long-distance bus, and during this journey, your suitcase was damaged.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint Regarding Defective Online PurchaseYou have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint Regarding Hotel Stay ExperienceYou recently stayed at a hotel and were unhappy with the service.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint regarding reduced train serviceTrain service in your area is reduced.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint regarding substandard hospital careYou were recently treated at a hospital but the care was substandard.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint to bus company about lost property serviceYou have lost something on a bus and called customer service to get help. You weren't happy with their response.formal · complaint
- Formal letter of complaint to bus company managerThere have been some problems with the bus service, especially its reliability, in your area over the last two weeks.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint to Local Council Regarding NoiseWork is being done on the street where you live. The noise is disturbing you.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter of Complaint to Tourist Information ManagerYou recently visited a foreign country and got some information at the Tourist Information Centre. The information given to you was wrong.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter Regarding Excessive Noise from RestaurantYou are living in an English-speaking country and the restaurant near you is making a lot of noise.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to airline regarding lost luggageYou lost a piece of luggage during a recent flight.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Bank Manager Regarding Fraudulent ChargesYou have just received a credit card statement from your bank. The statement lists a number of expensive purchases that you are sure you did not make.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Building Manager Regarding Noise ComplaintYour next-door neighbour likes to listen to music late at night. Because of the loud music, you often lose sleep.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Council Opposing Historic Building DemolitionThe Local Council in the area where you live has decided to demolish an old historical building to build a shopping centre.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to council opposing sports center closureYour local council is considering closing a sports and leisure center that it runs, in order to save money.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to hotel manager regarding positive staff feedbackYou had a problem while staying at a hotel, and the receptionist was very helpful.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to HR Regarding Employee Conduct IssuesYou Have a Problem with A Recently Hired Employee in Your Workplace.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to landlord regarding heating and waterYou are a student at an English language school in Brighton and are living in private accommodation with other flatmates. You have not had hot water or heating for some time. The landlord's workmen have tried to fix the problem but without success.formal · complaint
- Formal letter to landlord regarding neighbour noise disturbanceYou have been living in a rental apartment for the past year. Recently a new neighbor moved in and has been making a lot of noise, which disturbs you.semi-formal · complaint
- Formal letter to local council regarding rubbish collectionThere is a problem with the rubbish collection in your neighborhood.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Local Council Regarding Waste ManagementThe system used for rubbish/garbage collection in your local area is not working properly. This is causing problems for you and your neighbors.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Changing Room IssuesYou visit a sports centre regularly, and there is a problem with the changing rooms in it. You have complained about it several times but with no success.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Incorrect Online OrderYou ordered two items through the internet and you received two different items.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Manager Regarding Parking DifficultiesYour workplace does not have a parking area for cars, and it is causing some problems.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Post Office Manager Regarding Missing MailYou recently sent some documents by post, but they did not arrive at the destination.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to Store Manager Regarding Defective ElectronicsYou recently bought an expensive electronic product from a store and found that the product does not work properly.formal · complaint
- Formal Letter to University Governor Regarding Campus NoiseYou are living in a University residence, and you have a problem with the high levels of noise from a new campus restaurant which is open until midnight.formal · complaint
- Letter to a furniture company regarding damaged goodsYou recently bought a piece of furniture online for your home, but when it arrived, it was damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to a Hotel Manager Regarding Room TemperatureYou recently stayed in a hotel in a large city. The weather was very unusual for the time of year and the heating/cooling system in the hotel was quite inadequate.formal · complaint
- Letter to a landlord regarding damaged rental furnitureYou and your family are living in rented accommodation in an English- speaking country. You are not satisfied with the condition of some of the furniture.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to a neighbor regarding garden pet issuesYour neighbor keeps a pet in the garden, which causes some problems for you. You have decided to write to this neighbor about the problems.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to a neighbor regarding nightly dog barkingYour neighbors have a dog that is noisy at night. You can't sleep due to this.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to a neighbor regarding persistent dog barkingYour neighbor's dog barks constantly and it is disturbing your sleep.semi-formal · complaint
Frequently asked questions
Should an IELTS complaint letter be formal or informal?+
It depends on who you are writing to, not on the purpose. Of the 118 complaint letters here, 100 formal, 18 semi-formal. From the reader named in the prompt. An unnamed organisation or official is formal; a named person you deal with professionally is semi-formal; a friend or family member is informal.
How should I structure an IELTS complaint letter?+
Open with the purpose in one sentence, then one paragraph per bullet point in the order given. Close with the action you want: I would appreciate a reply by Friday, or Let me know when you are free.
How many words and how long for the letter?+
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes; 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How is the letter scored?+
Scored on task achievement (purpose clear, all bullets covered, tone consistent), coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Task 1 is worth half of Task 2.
Keep going
Other IELTS letter types
- Formal letters · 266
- Semi-Formal letters · 88
- Informal letters · 129
- Request letters · 103
- Information letters · 67
- Application letters · 42
- Apology letters · 31
- Advice letters · 28
- Arrangement letters · 25
- Invitation letters · 19
- Thank-You letters · 15
- Landlord letters · 20
- All IELTS letter samples
- IELTS General Training writing practice
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