QUESTION: - Is there any point complaining to large companies about their goods and services?

Much depends upon the company and the nature of the complaint.

Following my response to the question on 25 November I wrote to Marks & Spencer Customer Service Dept, as follows: -

Dear Sir /Madam,

I write to raise a concern (from a potential Health & Safety angle) with regards to one of your products.

I recently purchased a pair of men's slippers with memory foam, from my local store having been tempted by the description on your website -

"These slippers are made of deep, heat-sensitive memory foam, the inners soles mould
perfectly around every contour of your feet, and "remember" the exact shape of your feet, every time that you put them on."

My concern relates to the "memory" element of the foam. It appears that another (apparently somewhat disfigured) customer had already tried on the slippers in the store, and had chosen not to buy them.

However, the slippers "remembered" the contours of this person's feet.

It appears as though the individual had only three toes on one foot and four on the other, and walked with a pronounced limp, which I now replicate every time I put the slippers on at home, looking somewhat like John Cleese in the Ministry of Funny Walks sketch.

Please could you consider attaching a health warning to this product to inform other customers of the potential dangers.

I look forward to you reply."

With amazing speed, the M&S Customer Service Dept. responded thus: -

" Dear "Psychiatrist's Chair" ,

Thanks for your email.

We take any Health and Safety issues very seriously and we will look into this further. Please return the slippers to the store you bought them from and we will be happy to exchange for a new, Hopefully unused pair.

I am very sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us by email or call on 0845 609 0200.

Kind Regards"

Expect to see Health Safety notices all over M&S slipper departments across the land, any time soon!!!!