You rented a car from a car rental company. The air conditioner has stopped working. You phoned the company a week ago but it still has not been repaired. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: - introduce yourself - explain the situation - say what action you would like the company to take
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to draw your attention to a problem with the car I hired from your company, Phillip Car Rental, City Center branch in Colombo, on 24th November. I rented it for a month and paid fifteen days' rent upfront. The cooling system of the car stopped working the day after I rented it and even after my written complaint, it has not been sorted out. I am hoping that you would either fix it or replace it with a good one. I am a regular customer of Phillip Car Rental company - registered customer number CCR321 and this time I took a Toyota Corolla car. During the time of hiring, the car was working fine. However, on the next day, while travelling to the airport to drop off my uncle, I felt the air condition was not working properly and now it is completely dead. I brought this issue to your office a week ago and was promised an immediate solution. Nevertheless, the issue is yet to be resolved. According to the rental agreement, I am entitled to have a solution to this problem. I would be grateful if you could repair the air conditioning system of the car within the next 24 hours or replace it with another one. Otherwise, I would have to register a complaint to the consumer rights authority. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Janak Senevirathne
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Line break needed Original: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing Suggested revision: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing Why it matters: Separate the salutation from the body.
- 2. Complaint phrase Original: draw your attention to a problem Suggested revision: complain about a problem Why it matters: This is more direct for the task purpose.
- 3. Date style Original: on 24th November Suggested revision: on 24 November Why it matters: This is a cleaner formal date style.
- 4. Specific term Original: The cooling system Suggested revision: The air conditioning system Why it matters: This directly matches the problem in the task.
- 5. Complaint method Original: even after my written complaint Suggested revision: even after I complained in writing Why it matters: This is clearer and more natural.
- 6. Precise replacement Original: replace it with a good one Suggested revision: replace it with a vehicle in good working order Why it matters: Good one is too vague for a formal complaint.
- 7. Article and name Original: Phillip Car Rental company Suggested revision: Phillip Car Rental Why it matters: The company name does not need company after it.
- 8. Wrong noun Original: the air condition was not working Suggested revision: the air conditioner was not working Why it matters: Air conditioner names the device; air condition is not correct here.
- 9. Formal wording Original: it is completely dead Suggested revision: it has stopped working completely Why it matters: Dead is understandable but too informal for this complaint.
- 10. Preposition error Original: I brought this issue to your office Suggested revision: I brought this issue to the attention of your office Why it matters: The phrase needs attention of to be idiomatic.
- 11. Entitlement phrase Original: have a solution to this problem Suggested revision: receive a solution to this problem Why it matters: Receive is more precise in this formal context.
- 12. Wrong preposition Original: register a complaint to Suggested revision: file a complaint with Why it matters: The usual phrase is file a complaint with an authority.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing
- draw your attention to a problem complain about a problem
- on 24th November on 24 November
- The cooling system The air conditioning system
- even after my written complaint even after I complained in writing
- replace it with a good one replace it with a vehicle in good working order
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter introduces the customer, explains the failed air conditioner and previous complaint, and requests repair or replacement with a deadline. The purpose is strong and appropriate.
Keep the clear request, but refine some language so the complaint remains firm and professional.
Coherence and Cohesion
The order is clear, moving from rental details to problem history and requested action. However, the response is formatted as one block, which reduces readability.
Use paragraph breaks after the opening complaint, customer details, problem history, and requested action.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is suitable for a formal complaint, with clear terms such as rental agreement and consumer rights authority. Some phrases are unnatural, including air condition and good one.
Use precise complaint vocabulary such as air conditioner, replacement vehicle, and file a complaint with.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is generally clear, but there are errors with tense, articles, conditionals, and prepositions.
Check formal complaint structures such as I would be grateful if you could and I will file a complaint with.