I’ve been known for bashing companies that exhibit poor customer service, but I also make sure I praise those that go above and beyond the call of duty, even in simple things. Recently I’ve had cause to have a chat with two customer service departments - I can’t say complaint because at the time I really wasn’t complaining, however the response received was above and beyond the expected for the issues I’d raised.

The first is Diageo whom are producers of many an alcoholic drink and also of a quarterly free newsletter / magazine called “The Quaich” - which you can get by visiting The Malts and becoming a friend. In almost every edition they enclose vouchers for money off various malts or Whisk(e)ys but equally each time the magazine lands on my doormat the vouchers have long since expired. Anyway, I’ve never bothered to take this up with them until they offered money off one of my favourite Whiskys - Cardhu.

So take them up I did via email asking if in future they could ensure any enclosed vouchers would be usable by all whenever the magazine arrived. Within one week they had investigated and sent me, by way of an apology, £6 in vouchers valid until the end of 2009. Top dollar.

The second company is Ronseal of “Does what it says on the tin” fame. In short I had problems with their “Perfect Decking Stain” and as with Diageo I had a reply almost by return of post apologising whilst politely defending their products honour and offering me a free tin of decking stain if I wished to take up their offer. Also they enclosed a pre-paid return envelope.

In both cases I took up the offer of compensation and again stressed that I wasn’t really complaining as I genuinely love my freebie from Diageo and I like Ronseal products.

I salute you Diageo and Ronseal. Well done.

Have you had any good examples of customer service?