3 steps to get your money back on anything you buy

I also believe the old saying that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. No matter how frustrated you may be, I've learned you're best off starting the process with

honey. There will be time enough for vinegar if your issue doesn't get resolved. PREPARE FOR A WAIT. When you're dealing with a large company, chances are your starting point will

be a toll-free customer service number — one that a lot of other people are likely to be calling, too. You have a few options for not going crazy as you wait to talk to a human. Try calling

Wednesday or Thursday mornings, which typically have the shortest wait times, according to Talkdesk, a provider of contact centers. Many companies now have an auto-callback option: You can

choose for them to reach out to you within a stated time frame, without your losing your place in line. If that's not an option, I suggest doing what I do: Put your phone on speaker

mode and do something else, like reading a book or watching TV, until someone answers. GET ORGANIZED. Be ready to explain your problem as concisely as possible to the customer service

representative who takes your call. Have on hand any documentation you might possess related to your transaction — information like the date of your purchase, a product's model number

and your order number. You don't want to have to call back and start the queue all over again because you didn't have the info the rep needed. And before making the call, have in

mind the resolution you would like for your problem. BE POLITE. Customer service reps want to help, Duke's Ariely says. Get them on your side by being respectful and letting them feel

your quandary. He suggests saying something like, “I don't know what to do. What would you do if you were me?” Then state the outcome you'd like, such as, “I think it would be fair

if I got my $50 back, since the service wasn't what was advertised.” Understand, however, that a rep may not have the authority to grant your request. In that case, avoid the

temptation to get angry; instead, say something like, “I'm grateful for all you've done, but could you please forward me to a manager?” If, as has happened to me more than once, it

turns out that the problem is your mistake, not the company's, consumer advocate Howard advises making an apology such as, “This was completely my fault. I'm really sorry.” Reps

find it refreshing and may still want to help you. At times when I've apologized, an appreciative rep has credited me anyway. REPAY KINDNESS. If you get an easy resolution, reward the

company and the rep by leaving a good review on a site like TripAdvisor or Yelp. Singling out the rep by name can earn that rep recognition and reward. Still, try to get some confirmation of

the resolution in case the promised solution doesn't come through. And in case you don't get the help you seek, document with whom you spoke, when you called and other relevant

details. Unfortunately, playing nice doesn't always work. When it's time for vinegar, not honey, I have three more-aggressive approaches you can take — simultaneously, if you

choose — outside of normal complaint channels. POST A REVIEW ONLINE. Howard suggests using brevity and humor rather than posting a long list of grievances. Since most companies monitor their

social presence, North Dakota State's Wright says to use a company's Twitter handle to get their attention. So a tweet like “@GargantuanBank yet again charged me a fee by mistake.

I still can't reach a rep — when will I learn?” may soon have you hearing from Gargantuan. GO STRAIGHT TO THE TOP. In most cases, it's not that difficult to find online the email

address of a company's CEO or general counsel. (Failing that, try the U.S. mail.) I've found that skipping the chain of command often gets a lot of attention and usually reaches

someone who has the authority to resolve an issue. CONTACT YOUR CREDIT CARD ISSUER. If the problem is with a purchase you made when using a credit card, you can dispute the charge with the

issuer if you are unable to settle the matter with the merchant. Be ready to supply as much documentation as you can. KNOW WHEN TO GIVE UP. This falls under the category of “Do as I say, not

as I do,” since I've often spent an irrational amount of time seeking remedies. Decide for yourself how much effort you'll expend to resolve an issue and at what point you'll

throw in the towel. Over the years, I've learned time is scarcer than money, and I've chosen to give up in certain situations. The only satisfaction I get then is telling others

about how poorly a company treats its customers and, if possible, never patronizing it again. _Allan Roth is a practicing financial planner who has taught finance and behavioral finance at

three universities and has written for national publications including _The Wall Street Journal_. Despite his many credentials (CFP, CPA, MBA), he remains confident that he can still keep

investing simple._ Video: 4 Tips to Lodge a Complaint and Get Results