The next time you need customer service, consider social media...

If you’re not getting results from a company’s customer service line, find them on social media...

According to Dr. Natalie Petouhoff, author of “Like My Stuff,” customers can often get better and faster results through social media than with a customer service representative on the phone. She says complaints or concerns filed by phone are often only heard by one person, the representative you’re speaking with. Companies with a social media presence are typically much more concerned with public perception. There’s a good chance they’ll notice if you tag them on Twitter or Facebook, state your problem and ask for help. 

Skip the angry rant, just like customer service calls, they’re much more likely to hear you out and fix the problem if mind your social media manners and behave like a good customer they’d like to keep - or at least have a sense of humor.

Here are a few classics from the king of customer service, Richard Branson: 

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/how-to-write-a-complaint-letter