Not everything goes the way you want it to. You may go to a restaurant and order a nice meal. But your order is wrong or not cooked properly. You may buy a product that breaks the next day. These kinds of experiences make you want to complain. However, if you speak angrily to people, they will become defensive. Then they are less likely to help you. A more effective way to get what you want is to stay calm. Use polite language and a friendly tone of voice. Start with phrases such as, “I’m sorry to bother you, but …” or “Excuse me, but could you …?” For example, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I ordered potato soup, not vegetable.” Phrasing your complaint as a question also helps. People like to be asked rather than told! “Could you help me? I just bought this phone case yesterday, but it’s cracked.”