complaint box

Complaint box ?

If you walk into Kuwaiti offices government or private companies they usually have  complaint box. They are like a part of traditional outlook of the office and without the complaint box offices seem uncompleted. I have many times thought I should try to see the use of complaint box whether it is of any use or these are just part of their deco. I have tried government official complaint emails few times but  never have success to complete due to some unknown reasons but most websites have complaint section to click if you want to. At one instance I bumped into “Kuwaiti citizen advice buro area of Jabar al ali. It was just by chance to ask about local Paaci office location. They gave me instructions and I was impressed by their staff for their effort to explain to me. Before leaving I have asked about their office and their activities. It was big surprise to me  by knowing that Kuwait has citizen advice offices. They told me I have to contact them next time if I have complaint about any company or product. I  took their telephone numbers and left their office with good impression and  continued my journey to the next office.

After few months I came to pay electric bill into Jabar al ali offices. Most Kuwaiti offices have security man. In this office security man was their on his chair and small desk. The customer service desks were empty. All people who supposed to be servicing customers were in sitting in the manager’s office. First I thought their manager is very friendly because he let his staff to sit in his office for tea and chatting. Anyway I have started the the triumph and procedure to pay the bill. Their office is situated on different levels in other words I had few trips up and down in their offices and ended up to managers office for signature. His service counter staff was still in his office and surprise to knew he was absent. This solved my confusion of his friendliness and absence of staff from the counters. Anyway while I was waiting for managers signature I thought I better go to citizen advice buro which is exactly in your front as soon as you come out of electric office. I entered the citizen advice centre and all members of the staff were sitting and socialising.  I have explained to them reason of my arrival by saying that I have complaint about my landlord. After listening to me they have told me to go to local  ministry of trade and Industry office.  Anyway I came out of their office and back in electric office. By now the manager was in his office and staff was back on counters instead of sitting in managers office. I entered with my application for payment of  electric bill and got his signature. Now I am nearly finished my application procedure and went straight to cashiers counter and he wasn’t there because he went for midday prayer.

After half an hour the cashier returned to cashiers desk and got successful in paying electric bill. After finishing this triumph I headed towards local office of ministry of trade and industry. After arriving there I told to them my purpose of arrival into their office. I went through different sections of this office and ended up in their managers office. The manager told me that was right place “Istahlakia” for your complaint and iam failed to understand why they have sent you here instead of helping you out to resolve your complaint.

It wasn’t the only this office of citizen advice buro in Kuwait. Surprisingly most areas of Kuwait has citizen advice buros. The difference between British citizen advice buros you need to wait for your number in Britain and in the Kuwaiti citizen advice buros you can speak as many as you want to their officers as long as you have no complaint. It wasn’t my first time in Kuwaiti citizen advice buro. Actually I came to know this name through “Environmental pollution authority of  Kuwait” after completion of successful complaint against the landlord. Although EPA has full powers to take action against the companies and  traders but they sent me to citizen advice office in the area of  “Jabriah”. Their office is located near old premises  of coop jabriah. At reception I told them  purpose of my arrival and they sent me upstairs to the concerned department. On the first floor of the building I entered to the first room where one their officer was busy on the computer. I told him about purpose of my arrival and he answered why you are here? I explained to him whole story of  EPA Kuwait to his office again then he told me you should go to fahaheel citizen advice office. Anyway I came back to EPA Kuwait again and went to their engineers office. I have manage to speak to one of their young lady officer and she put me to another male officer. Very relaxed and friendly person replied to me in very relaxed manner we don’t like complaints. He then told me you know best thing you could do is make another complaint then they will take action. Iam laughing while iam writing about this trick of  “file another complaint”.

The EPA department who deals with these type of complaints have very nice,  friendly and polite general manager. I have used this term general manager for Arabic  “Raees”.

He is the person that you are feeling that you are talking to a friend instead of officer. Whenever I went there he was always there. If you are suffering from any environmental

Issues you can contact this department which is now in their new building offices. If you plan to visit them as soon you pass road 55 their offices are on your right at ring road 4. Massive big new building written on it “Environment pollution Authority”. You cant miss it. Please visit them for your concerns about environment.