Warm-Up 2 is all about complaining. 'The Hire Car from Hell' is all about really bad treatment when renting a car in the USA. The idea for this Warm-Up came from the wonderful film,"Trains and Planes and Automobiles", with Steve Martin and John Candy. The task is set up so that you don't have any other option than to write a well-composed letter to the company in the USA - and hope for the best. The sum of money involved is too small to make it worth your while starting a legal action (at least from this side of the Atlantic - it'd be different if you were living in the USA, where they have Small Claims Courts). There's also a lot of scope for 'he said-she said' situations (which is how they describe situations where one person says one thing, and the other person says something different in American English).
The task itself is quite limited: you only have to write FIVE sentences from the letter you'd write (i.e. NOT the entire letter). The point is to see whether you can calibrate your language, so that you express yourself firmly, but refrain from insults and gratuitous comments that will just result in your letter being filed in the trash can! Once again, there's a link to the Send-In Task which comes next.
You submit your Warm-Up Task 2 by copying your text into a comment. Remember to includeFIVE sentences only - and to include your name in the submission.
By the way, if you don't know what the 'redeye' is, take a look at the first comment on this post.
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The 'redeye' is a long-distance flight where you get on it in the evening (your time), fly all night (i.e. without the chance of getting much sleep) and land at the beginning of the business day at your destination. You have to start working … having missed a night's sleep … with people who've slept well, showered, breakfasted and are raring to go!
ReplyDeleteIf you still haven't worked out where the 'redeye' comes from, it's what your eyes look like when you look in the mirror just after you've landed!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis is not a question concerning Warm up 2. It's just something I realized I have a problem with in english writing. When should I use "in to" and when "into". I can make up the difference most of the time, but if there's some kind of general rule, I think that would help me a lot.
Yours,
Karin
And another question. When I'm writing in Word the grammar check always want me to put a , before which or suggest that I should change which to that. Why is that?
ReplyDeleteagain,
Karin
Ok … let me try to take these questions in turn …
ReplyDelete'in to' and 'into' are actually two subtly different prepositions. 'Into' is the commonest one, which denotes movement into a place or a condition ("the wizard turned him into a frog").
'In' and 'to' can 'coexist', in situations where the 'in' belongs to one expression and the 'to' to another. E.g. "He turned himself in to face the punishment which he'd deserved".
Did you notice that I used a comma before the 'which' in the first example, but not before the second?
The first is called a 'non-defining relative clause' and the second is 'a defining relative clause'. You use a comma before the former, but not before the latter. The difference is that the first relative clause just adds extra, but inessential information, whilst the second one defines which punishment I'm talking about.
The 'which/that' difference is also a difficult one because each word is used in so many different contexts. I recommend a good grammar book, such as CoBuild English Grammar, if you really want to get to the bottom of things.
By the way, if it's any consolation, I've never yet agreed with a judgement of my English made by Microsoft Word's grammar checker … so I switched it off!
Here comes a part of my letter of complaint:
ReplyDelete...
Furthermore the car broke down on the freeway and a tow truck was engaged to solve the situation.
Your office was contacted by phone and according to instructions from your representative the callout charge of $ 50 was paid in cash to the tow truck driver.
It was agreed to be refunded in addition to a 50% discount of the hire charge due to the inconvenience occurred.
The car was returned on September 7 at 9 pm as agreed and since your airport office was closed the necessary information was provided on a note and left in the returns box.
I’m sure there is a misunderstanding regarding the charges to my credit card and I’m confident that adjustments will be made accordingly.
...
Pernilla Bengtsson
My name is X and I write you to complain
ReplyDeleteabout a car rental I did last week at one of your offices in New York.
I am sorry to say that I was very disappointed on the condition of the car since it was very dirty and had several serious malfunctions such as
engine stops and no washer fluid.
The Car suddenly stopped at the free way and I had to pay the tow truck driver 50 dollar to manage the situation.
I was promised to get a refund by your company but they now deny this and have instead charged me for the full amount.
I have great hopes that we can solve this together and that I can get my full money back.
Kind regards
Robert G
Warm up 2 ¬--Yun Zhu
ReplyDeleteAfter my first phone call, I am so angry about your actions. When I paid for hire car by credit card, there is a courtesy bus to car park and then raining. But I can’t find washer fluid to clean the dirty car. Then it breaks down on freeway and I paid the tow truck fee in cash, and the company promise to refund money. But when I return the car there are “red eye” and no one at desk and no keys left in box. They debited for full amount and there is no refund of expenses. I think your company do not have the good faith .So I think you must solve the problem.
• After being dropped of by the car, I realized the vehicle was in a horrible condition.
ReplyDelete• Cigarette buts, pizza leftovers, no washer fluid – and as if that was not enough the car suddenly broke down while I was driving on the freeway.
• Your office was closed when I arrived at 9 pm, and therefore I dropped the keys together with my details in the returns box.
• I was charged the full amount as opposed to what we agreed upon, and I have not yet received the $50 paid to the tow truck driver, even though your agent ensured I would get it back immediately.
• Despite the agreement, your agent at the JFK airport office denies even having had the phone conversation and consequently I turn to you in hope of reaching a solution as soon as possible.
-I rented a car from you last week witch I paid with my credit card and the car didn’t live up to my expectation.
ReplyDelete-First of all there was a half eaten pizza in the back seat, the ashtray was full, the car smelt of beer and sweat, there was no washer fluid and the car brooked down on the freeway.
-The last time I phoned you promised me that I would get the $50 back for the tow truck and that I would receive a 50% discount on the hire charge for the inconvenience.
-On my latest credit card statement you have debited for full amount.
-I am sure that we can sort this out as I would like to do business with you again.
/Natali B
I am sorry to have to notify you that I had a quit unpleasant business trip recently in New York and the reason is that I had some difficulties with a rental car from your company.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate I had another inconvenient situation when I found your rental car full of leftovers as well with a scent of sweat when I picked it up at the parking lot.
There appears that there were a misunderstanding between me and your staff at New York airport because when arrived at the agreed time your office was closed.
I am sad to say that the refund of expense (50% and the fee of 50$ for the tow –car), which I was promised to receive from your employees, has not appeared at my account yet.
I am sure that we can solve this unfortunate occurrence amicably and you are welcome to contact me for suggestions of solutions.
/Felicia Duvringe
Suddenly, on the highway, the car stopped working - I phoned your office right way and got in contact with your representative who told me to pay the callout charge of $ 50 to the tow truck driver and that you, the hire car company, will pay back my outlays once I return the car.
ReplyDeleteIt was agreed I would get a 50 % discount on the hire charge as well as a compensation for the inconvenience that had happened.
Despite our agreement on the settled time to leave back the car and at that same time get the charges adjusted I found your airport office being closed.
Still there has not been any adjustment made regarding the charges to my credit card neither any compensation as promised.
I await your reply and presuppose that adjustments will be made within shortly.
/Kamilla Ullberg
A problem has occurred which I hope 'Car from Hell' can help me with; the car I rented in New York was in a bad condition, a lot of food scraps were on the car seats, an unpleasant smell in the vehicle and the washer fluid was empty, but the biggest problem was that the car stopped on the freeway because of an engine problem.
ReplyDeleteDay after first renting day I was in touch with your office in New York and we reached an oral agreement that the charges would be adjusted when I drop off the car on my way home i.e. I would get the $50 back, and receive a 50% discount to compensate me for the car troubles.
On my way home from New York I discovered that the office was closed so I wrote a note of my story and the complaints I had, and also that the repayment should be made to my bank account.
To my surprise I noticed on my account that the full amount had been debited for the car rent.
I hope 'Car from Hell' will keep the promise and refund me my $50, moreover it would be pleasant to have compensation (as promised) for the problems that this caused me.
Yours sincerely
Ranko Velagic
Warm-Up 2 from Berit Josefsson
ReplyDelete1. I’m writing to you since I unfortunately have had an inconvenient experience with your branch at the airport office.
2. I was assured that the charges would be adjusted and that I would be reimbursed for my expenses.
3. When I got my credit card statement I discovered that I have been debited for the full amount without the promised compensation.
4. Now I’m contacting you since the representative at the airport office denies having any knowledge of the assurance that was made to me.
5. They suggested that I should write to you instead. I’m sorry to say but I really feel maltreated and now I set my hope to you in the arisen situation.
Dear Mr _______,
ReplyDeleteI’m writing to you in hope to solve a misunderstanding that arose between me and your office in the New York airport where I took a hire car on October, 18th, as there appears to be a mistake in the billing.
First of all the condition of the car that was given to me was far different from the description presented in the contract in terms of cars’ general condition and level of resources available in it. After the car had broken in the middle of the road it not only took me to pay for repair by myself but also took 2 hours of my time to deal with this problem. Next day I was assured by Mr_____, manager in your airport office, that I would get the expenses refund and a 50% discount on the hire charge as a compensation for the inconvenience. However, after checking my account balance I was surprised that I had been charged in full and haven’t gotten the refund, which, I’m sure, is a kind of problem we can solve amicably.
Yours sincerely,
Ilyas Sadybekov
Dear Sir or Madam,
ReplyDeleteOn the 23rd September 2009, I rented a car from your company at New York Airport. Unfortunately, your car has not performed well because I encountered numerous problems. First, the courtesy bus dropped me in the huge car park and I could not find the car. Secondly, when I managed to get into the car it was dirty inside, the ashtray was full, someone forgot a half of a takeaway pizza inside and when I tried to clean the windscreen there was not washer fluid. I thought that was the worst which can happen, but I was badly surprised when the car stopped. I contacted someone from your company to ask how I can be assist but the person advised me to pull over to the side and I would be pulled over by a tow truck. Besides, I had to pay the tow truck $50 call out. Naturally, the next day I got in touch with your company I have been told that I will get refund of the $50 and of course a 50% discount on the hire charge to compensate me for the inconvenience that I have been through.
The reason I am writing is that today I got my credit card statement I noticed that not only I have not been refund for the tow truck an amount of $50 but also I did not get the discount as promised and when I called to check what was wrong I find out that the person on the phone deny the conversation we had. He advised me to write to you.
I would appreciate if you resolve this problem and refund me. I look forward to your reply and resolution and will wait until before seeking help from a consumer protection agency. Please contact me at the above address or by phone at my office.
Nadège BIBUANGU MASAMBA
I rented a car from your car hire company at Newark L.I. Airport for a business trip to New York, however half way to New York City the car engine broke down.
ReplyDeleteI contacted your company and was asked to pay a tow truck driver the $50 call-out charge to fix the car and was promised by the office representative that this expense were to be refunded. Also, I was told to be compensated for the inconvenience and get a 50 % discount on the hire charge as the car was in a very bad condition.
Although this was promised, the whole amount of the car hire charge was debited my credit card.
I have given the airport office a full statement on the occurrence and expect you to compensate me by immediately refund the $300 as was promised by your company.
Yours sincerely,
Susanne Nilsson
As I mentioned above the main reason for my complaint is that the car broke down on the freeway and a tow truck helped me to solve the situation at the moment. He charged me 50 dollar as I prayed cash since you promised to return it. You also promised me 50% refund on the price I paid for the rental car due to several lack of the cars functionality as well as comfort. With other words, I received unacceptable treatment due to promises not fulfilled from your side. I am sure that you understand the situation and arrange with my refund as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteBest regards
Susanna Gustafsson
Dear Sirs,
ReplyDeleteOn October 10, 2009 I rented a Volvo XC70 from your Company at John F Kennedy Airport. Unfortunately the car was not what I was expecting, not only was dirty, had not washer fluid and smelled bad but it also had an engine failure.
I got in touch with a representative of your company who instructed me to pay $50 call-out charge to a tow truck that pulled up and fixed the car.
To my surprise, on my way home, your office was closed when I arrived to the airport. Moreover the full amount for the rent car has been debited from my account.
Though your company promised that the charges would be adjusted and to compensate me for the inconvenience I have not heard anything from you.
To resolve the problem, I expect a full refund of my rent which I paid in advance plus $50 for the tow truck. Enclosed are copies of my receipts. I am looking forward to your reply. Please contact me by phone at 0938 438439.
Sincerely,
Carla Labarga
There seems to be a mistake in your billing. Because of the inconveniences that occurred when using your services, your representative agreed on a discount of 50% and refund of expences. Nevertheless my account was debited for the full amount, and I ask you kindly to correct this. I am sorry to say that your services did not live up to my expectations, although I hope I will have the chance to improve my image of your company. I am looking forward to your prompt reply.
ReplyDeleteYours sincerely,
Hanna Ulmfelt
• I am writing to you about a nuisance that arose when renting a vehicle at your office located at the JFK airport.
ReplyDelete• The service associated with the courtesy vehicle was inadequate and the condition of the rented vehicle was beneath contempt with the feculent and noxious interior along with malfunctioning washers.
• To make matter worse, the vehicle’s engine failed and one of your representatives informed me to expend $50 call-out fee for the assisting tow truck.
• I had an agreement with one of your representative that I would receive $50 for the call-out fee and 50% discount on the rental payment when returning the rental vehicle, though the office was closed when I arrived at the agreed time.
• Irregardless the agreement, I have been debited for the full amount besides no indication of the assured compensation whence I promptly presume you to reconcile this faux pas.
//Eleanor Bodling
I hired a car at your desk at Kennedy airport the 4th June 2009 and I paid with my credit card. The car was dirty, had no washer fluid and suddenly it broke down on the freeway. I rang your support and they told me to pay the truck driver $50 for the call-out and they would pay me back. They also promised my I would get 50% discount on the hire charge. Now you have debited my card the full amount without any compensation. I assume, it has been a mistake and that you will correct it immediately.
ReplyDelete/Carina Olsson
Dear Mr/Ms X:
ReplyDeleteI am writing to you on account of a complain concerning the car-rental last week, since it caused me a lot of inconvenience due to the lack of cleanness and that the car in fact brook down on the freeway.
The car did, sorry to say, not stand up to my expectations and I had to pay the tow tuck in cash, I phoned you and I got promised refund of money and discount of the bill because of the trouble with the car.
When agreed I came to your office the next day to return the keys, nevertheless your office was unfortunately closed and I had to leave the keys in your mailbox.
Accordning to the information you gave me last week I was to be given both discount and compensation for the 50$ that the tow tuck cost me.
I would be pleased if you as soon as possible sort out this problem and offer me a solution, since it has lead to financial disadvantage for me during my stay in New York.
Yours truly,
Ida Hallander
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteAugust 5th 2009 I rented a car from your car rental company in Manhattan, New York. I had been recommended your company from my American friends living in Manhattan, but unfortunately my expectation was not fulfilled. During my trip from New York to Philadelphia I experienced one of my worst car trips ever. The car was in poor condition, filthy and bad smelling but the most shocking was when the car broke down and stopped function. I am expecting you to refund all my expenses according to below specification.
//Mia Westman
I hired a car from your company at the airport last week and the car broke down on the freeway on my way to New York.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my agreement with the representative at your company, I would receive a refund of the $50 I paid the tow truck driver. I was also promised a 50 % discount of the hire charge, due to all the trouble I was caused. I have now been debited the full price of $200 and no compensation.
I am sure we can solve this problem amicably, and I require that you transfer the $150 into my account within the next coming days, or contact me for further discussions in this matter.
Sofie Andreasson
Dear Sirs,
ReplyDeleteI have been advised to contact you about a refund for half of the sum paid for a rental car from your office at the Newark airport and a $50 expense that I have paid to a tow truck driver who helped me when I had trouble with the alternator. The rental car that I picked up from your Newark office was not in a very presentable condition: the interior was dirty, the ashtray full and it smelt bad from garbage left in the car by former passengers. When the car broke down on the highway I was being told to seek help by your employees and I was also promised to be compensated for the towing and the bad condition the car was in. While arriving back at the airport the same day at 09.00 PM your office was closed and I left the car keys as instructed in an envelope together with an explanation about my situation and the personnel that I had been in contact with over the phone. Please be kind and refund $ 75 to my credit card number 1234567890 and I will consider to use your company on my future business trips to New York.
Yours faithfully,
Birgitta Hammer
After I paid for the car by credit card, I finded the car with a poor surrounding, leftovers of pizza, full ashtrays, bad smell, no washer fluid, and even the car stopped when I was on the half way to New York City.
ReplyDeleteIn order to mend the car, I paid $50 for the tow truck driver being called out and tapping the alternator.
When I talk to the company the next day, they assured me that I can get $50 back, and receive a 50% discount furthermore.
Before I left, I had wrote the them a note, and dropped it into the returns box with the keys at 11.00 pm local time, but when I went back to Europe, I got full amount billing at last and no promised compensation from them.
I turned to you for help to solve the problem as soon as possible, because when I call back to their office again, their airport office denyed all the promise finally.
Mengshu Hao
// I found the car, smelling of beer and sweat and the previous client had also left the car with a half-eaten pizza and the ashtray full of cigarettes. As I drew of I also discovered that the car lacked washer fluid, a big problem as the rain was pouring down. If that wasn’t enough the engine stopped. The tow truck that pulled up to assist me, wanted to charged me a $50 call-out charge and after having talked to your department for complaint I was reassured that that you would adjust the charges at the airport on my way home. When I dropped the car of at the airport on the 5th of October, no one were to be found and today I got my credit card statement where I establish the fact that you have debited me for the full amount, and there was no sign of the promised compensation. To compensate me for the inconvenience, I first and foremost want to get the $50 back; furthermore I want to receive a 50% discount on the hire charge. // Annica Dahlberg
ReplyDelete1)I am sorry to have inform you that a huge mistake have been done by your company.
ReplyDelete2)The following morning I got in touch with one of your representative at the JFK airport office, about the number of complaints.
3)A courtesy bus dropped me off at the car park, no one made sure that the car was in acceptable condition, or provided me a list of the car damages.
4)Before even mention what happened on the freeway, the car was in terrible condition, half eaten pizza on the back seat, ashtrays were full and the car smelt of beer and sweat.
5)After a few days I received my credit card statement, imagine my surprise, when you had debited for the full amount.
/Kristina Fredlund
I am writing to inform you that there appears to be a mistake in your billing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I rented a car by your company in New York it showed that the car was in a very bad condition.
The washer fluid was out, a half eaten pizza occupied the back seat, on top of that the breaks broke down.
I had to pay $50 in cash to a tow truck, which should have been deducted on the bill.
Unfortunately, the office was closed when I arrived at the agreed time, to return the car, at the airport.
/Andreas Grill
1) Although I was promised a 50% discount due to the inconveniences concerning the standard of the car and a refund of the $50 paid by me in cash, after consultancy with you, to the tow truck, my credit card extract shows that your company has overcharged my credit card. 2) I am sure that there has been a missunderstanding and I turn to you so that we can find a solution to the dilemma. 3) Enclosed you can find a copy of the reciept with my credit card details, dates concerning the rental and the amount which I was promised a 59% discount on. 4) I expect the miss-transaction concerning my credit card to be corrected within the next two working weeks. %) If you encounter any problems with the refund, please let me be informed.
ReplyDelete//Karin Karlsson
Dear Mr,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to have to inform you of this but it would seem that I badly experienced your hire car company in New York airport.
The car rented by credit card, was dirty (a half pizza on the back seat, full ashtray), without washer fluid to wash the dirty windscreen, smelled beer and sweat, and after a short time the engine stopped, that constrained me to pay $50 in cash to the tow truck.
Naturally, I got in touch with a representative of your company who assured me to refund my money given to the tow truck and that I will receive 50% discount when I will drop the car off.
However the office was closed when I arrived at the agreed time and although I left a note with the key, your company didn't respect our agreement and debited the full amount of the expenses without any return.
You well understand that the situation is unacceptable to us but I am sure we can solve it amicably with a total or partial indemnification of the expenses.
Yours Sincerely,
Emila OIYCHAYOMI
I am sorry to have to notify you of this but your company has made.
ReplyDeleteI rented a car for my business trip to New York, but the car was so dirty, for example, there were pizzas remained on the back seat and smell was terrible inside of the car.
What is worse, the engine stopped suddenly and I had to call a truck and it cost me 50 dollars to pay the call-out charge, so the next day I called you to complain of this situation.
You promised that you would give me 50 dollars back and 50% discount on the rent pay but I realized that you had charged the full amount money when I get the credit card bill.
I am really looking forward to your answer, so please deal with this problem as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Jihye
Jihye Ahn
1) Your service desk instructed me to pay the $50 call-out charge, in order to be adjusted when returning the car.
ReplyDelete2) Due to the fact that your service desk was closed when I returned the car keys at 9:00 pm, this adjustment was not executed at that time.
3) However, I enclosed a note with information of the mutual verbal agreement we had on having charges adjusted and to receive a 50% discount.
4) According to our agreement, it is quite clear that you should refund me immediately.
5) It is with regret that I must inform you that I would not recommend your services to anybody else.
Erika Wallman:
ReplyDeleteI am not satisfied with the service your company has provided me as a customer. The car I rented at the airport was in a terrible condition when I picked it up, and later on it broke down on the freeway. I had to pay the tow truck driver a call-out charge of $ 50, an expense your representative promised would be repaid when I returned the car. I was also promised a 50 % discount on my hire charge as compensation for my inconvenience. As your office was closed when I arrived to the airport for my departure, I left a note together with the keys in the returns box.
Dear Sirs
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to have to notify you of this but a problem has occurred by your company. When I rented a car from your company, the condition of the car was the worst. There were eaten a half of pizza and a full of ashtray in a car and the car smell was also bad. Moreover I had to pay the tow truck driver the $50 call-out charge because of trouble of the car. When I told the company about this problem, they said that I would receive back the $50 back and obtain 50% discount coupon for compensation. However the company was closed when I arrived in time and I received the full amount of credit card statement. I would welcome your ideas in jointly discussing solutions to this problem.
Yours faithfully
Sunghee Park