Feedback on Warm-Up 2 (1): Keeping focussed

I've just finished marking all the Warm-Up 2s which were posted as Comments on the blog (I'll get round to the few which came in via e-mail later on today). In general, you did really well, keeping your language firm, but courteous, and making realistic demands on the car hire company.

There's one really important principle involved in making these complaints, though: you have to decide whether you're just trying feel better, or whether you want the money! If it's the former, then make as many assertions and score as many points as you like. You need to know, though, that you're largely writing for your own satisfaction - the company will probably just ignore your letter (unless they send it to their lawyers and sue you for defamation!).

If it's the latter, then 'dispassionate' is the key word. Give them a get-out, so that they can concede your demands without losing face (just as important in the English-speaking world as it is in Japan).