Complaint basics
How to complain about a business in Ireland
A practical first route for Irish consumers: organise facts, write clearly, and keep escalation for later.
Check your dispute first
Answer a few questions to see your options before writing your complaint.
Check your optionsThe strongest first complaint is usually calm, short, and evidence-led. It names what happened, what you paid, what remedy you want, and when you expect a response.
TBD turns the story into a complaint plan and message. If managed handling is used, the customer approves the exact message and information before TBD contacts the business.
If the business ignores or refuses the complaint, the next route depends on the category: chargeback, regulator, ombudsman, ECC Ireland, or small claims where suitable.
What to do next
- 1Contact the business first unless an official route says otherwise.
- 2Keep proof of the complaint and any final response.
- 3Escalate only after the first complaint route has been tried or a deadline is urgent.
Before you write
- Purchase proof
- Trader contact details
- Timeline
- Prior messages
- Clear remedy
- Response deadline