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.
61 to 118 of 118
All IELTS complaint letter samples
- Letter to a neighbour regarding persistent dog noiseYour next-door neighbour owns a small dog that barks throughout the day and the night.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to Airline Complaining About Missed FlightYou missed a flight due to a problem at the airport.formal · complaint
- Letter to an online retailer regarding damaged goodsYou ordered an item from an online store and it has arrived damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to bank manager complaining about a chequebook ordered by appYou ordered a new chequebook from your bank two weeks ago but you have received nothing.formal · complaint
- Letter to bank manager complaining about a chequebook ordered onlineYou ordered a new cheque book from your bank two weeks ago, but you have received nothing.formal · complaint
- Letter to bank manager complaining about missing chequebookYou ordered a new chequebook from your bank two weeks ago but you have received nothing.formal · complaint
- Letter to bank manager regarding incorrect account deductionYou Have Received a Bank Statement Showing that The Bank Has Deducted Some Money from Your Account. You Think That They Have Made a Mistake.formal · complaint
- Letter to bank manager regarding missing bank cardYou have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope.formal · complaint
- Letter to building manager regarding bicycle parking issuesYou recently started commuting to work by bicycle and discovered that there is a problem with bicycle parking near the building where you work.formal · complaint
- Letter to City Councillor Opposing Proposed Shopping CentreYou have learned from a news article that a real estate company is going to build a shopping centre near your home. However, you think that the shopping centre should not be built there.formal · complaint
- Letter to College Magazine Suggesting Cafeteria Improvements (complaint)You eat in your college cafeteria everyday lunchtime. However, you think it needs some improvements.formal · complaint
- Letter to computer shop manager regarding unsatisfactory repairYou recently sent your computer to be repaired at a shop. However, you are not satisfied with the repair.formal · complaint
- Letter to course provider regarding substandard accommodation issuesYou are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.formal · complaint
- Letter to Customer Service regarding a damaged orderYou recently ordered a small item online but when it arrived, it was damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to former landlord requesting deposit returnYou paid a refundable deposit when you rented an apartment a year ago. You left the apartment last month in good condition but the landlord won't return your deposit.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to furniture company regarding damaged orderYou recently ordered some wooden furniture online for your new apartment. However, when it arrived, several pieces were badly damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to Hotel Manager Regarding Poor Lunch ServiceYou recently organized an all-day meeting for your company, which took place in a local hotel. In their feedback, participants at the meeting said that they liked the hotel, but they were unhappy about the food that was served for lunch.formal · complaint
- Letter to hotel manager regarding unresolved compensationYou recently spent a night in a hotel and had to put up with a great deal of noise very early in the morning because of a faulty central heating system. The manager promised to contact you regarding compensation but you still haven't heard from him.formal · complaint
- Letter to insurance provider contesting premium increaseYour car insurance company has told you that they are going to increase the insurance amount you have to pay for your car each month. You are not happy about this.formal · complaint
- Letter to landlord regarding a proposed rent increaseYour landlord is asking to increase the rent.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to Landlord Regarding Apartment Maintenance IssuesYou and your family have just rented an apartment and one or two problems occurred.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to 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 landlord regarding ongoing apartment maintenance issuesYou have been living in an apartment for the last three years. A few problems have emerged in your apartment since the last repair.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to landlord regarding unreturned rental depositYou paid a refundable deposit when you rented an apartment. You left the apartment in good condition but the Landlord won't return your deposit.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to landlord regarding unsatisfactory apartment repair workThe apartment that you have rented was repaired recently. Later you discovered some defects in repairs.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to Landlord Regarding Urgent Apartment RepairsYou have recently shifted to a rental apartment with your family. However, there are some problems with the apartment.formal · complaint
- Letter to landlord regarding urgent heating repairsThe heating system in your rented apartment is broken.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to local council opposing new airport constructionYou recently discovered that there are plans to build a new airport in your area, and you are not happy with it.formal · complaint
- Letter to local council regarding lake pollutionYou have discovered a lot of rubbish in a lake near where you live. In the past, the lake had always been clean.formal · complaint
- Letter to local council regarding new airport projectThe government plans to construct an airport in your locality.formal · complaint
- Letter to local councillor regarding new parking regulationsYou live in an area where the local council has made some changes to regulations. You believe these changes are not good for the residents.formal · complaint
- Letter to Manager Regarding Recent Employment IssuesYou recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks, you realized there were some problems with the job.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to manager regarding staff uniform dissatisfactionYour company has recently introduced a new uniform for the staff. But you have learned that the staff members are not happy about it.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to meeting organizer regarding unsatisfactory hotel accommodationYou Have a Complaint About the Hotel You Stayed at While Attending a Meeting that The Organizer of A Company Meeting Booked.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to Museum Manager regarding accessibility concernsYou visited a museum recently with an elderly relative. However, he or she had difficulty walking around the museum.formal · complaint
- Letter to Museum Manager Regarding Accessibility IssuesYou took an elderly member of your family, who was not able to walk properly, to a museum and he/she faced a few problems.formal · complaint
- Letter to neighbors regarding shared parking area concernsYou share a parking area with several neighbors and have recently started having problems.semi-formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor protesting park saleThere is a public park near where you live. You have heard that the local council wants to sell this park.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding bus service changesThe local government is planning to change the bus timetable. You are not happy about the proposed changes. You have decided to write about it to the editor of a local newspaper.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding television program reviewA reporter complained about a new TV program that you like.formal · complaint
- Letter to newspaper editor regarding unreceived competition prizeYou Have Not Received the Prize Which You Have Won at A Newspaper.formal · complaint
- Letter to Online Retailer Regarding Incomplete DeliveryYou recently ordered something online. When the delivery came it was not complete.formal · complaint
- Letter to real estate agency regarding house maintenanceYou have rented a four-bedroom house, which you share with two other students. However, there are several problems with this house that need fixing. You also find it expensive and would like to find another student to share the spare bedroom.formal · complaint
- Letter to Restaurant Manager Regarding Poor Group Dining ExperienceYou are a member of an organization that meets regularly at a particular restaurant. The most recent meal you had there was not satisfactory.formal · complaint
- Letter to school principal on a cancelled work placement and summer budgetYou are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English. Part of the course is a summer work placement programme. Unfortunately, you have just learnt from the school that this programme has now been cancelled.formal · complaint
- Letter to School Principal regarding cancelled work placementYou are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English. Part of the course is a summer work placement program. Unfortunately, you have just learned from the school that this program has now been canceled.formal · complaint
- Letter to shipping company regarding damaged household goodsYou relocated to an overseas country recently and shipped your furniture and other possessions through a shipping company. When you received them, you found some of them got damaged.formal · complaint
- Letter to shop manager regarding faulty kitchen equipmentYou recently bought a piece of equipment for your kitchen but it did not work. You called the shop but no action was taken.formal · complaint
- Letter to store manager regarding faulty clothing itemYou recently bought an item of clothing from a shop. You discovered that it had a fault and returned it to the shop for replacement or refund. However, the assistant told you that this was against the store's policy.formal · complaint
- Letter to store manager regarding faulty television purchaseYou bought a new television, but it stopped working after a week.formal · complaint
- Letter to store manager regarding unsatisfactory computer repairsYou recently had your computer fixed at a local computer store; however, you are not pleased with the service you received.formal · complaint
- Letter to store representative regarding incomplete camera packageYou recently bought a camera while travelling overseas. When you got to your destination you discovered that some important items were missing from the box.formal · complaint
- Letter to television station manager regarding programming qualityYou feel the evening programs on a local television station are uninteresting.formal · complaint
- Letter to the Editor Opposing Airport Expansion PlansYou are unhappy about a plan to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport.formal · complaint
- Letter to the editor regarding inaccurate city reportingRecently you saw an article in a newspaper/journal about a city/town you know and some of the information in the article was incorrect.formal · complaint
- Letter to the editor regarding public transportYou read an article in a local newspaper that you strongly disagree with.formal · complaint
- Letter to the local newspaper regarding shopping facilitiesYou normally go shopping in the area where you live. However, you think some of the facilities for shoppers could be improved there.formal · complaint
- Letter to the Sports Center Manager regarding changing roomsYou are not satisfied with the changing rooms in the sports center that you visit.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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