Customer Complaint Management Policy

Policy Statement

Plum Heating and Cooling is dedicated to upholding our reputation for delivering top-notch services. We highly value complaints as they play a crucial role in helping us enhance our products, services, and overall customer experience. Our commitment lies in being responsive to our customers’ needs and concerns, with a strong focus on resolving complaints swiftly.

This policy has been crafted to offer clear guidance to both our customers and employees regarding how Plum Heating and Cooling receives and handles complaints. Our commitment is to maintain consistency, fairness, and impartiality when addressing grievances.

The primary goals of this policy are as follows:

  • Ensuring that customers are well-informed about our procedures for lodging and managing complaints.
  • Ensuring that both customers and our staff have a thorough understanding of the complaint-handling process.
  • Investigating complaints in an impartial manner, considering all available information and evidence.
  • Taking reasonable measures to actively safeguard personal information.
  • Evaluating complaints based on their individual circumstances and unique needs

Definitions

Complaint: An expression of dissatisfaction that is conveyed to or concerning Plum Heating and Cooling, specifically related to its services, staff, or the manner in which a complaint is being handled, with the anticipation, whether directly or indirectly, of receiving a response or resolution.

Complainant: A person or organization that initiates or makes the complaint. The complainant is the individual or entity expressing dissatisfaction and seeking redress or resolution from Plum Heating and Cooling.

How a complaint can be made

To initiate a complaint with Plum Heating and Cooling, there are several methods available for you to choose from:

  1. Direct Communication: Initially, it is recommended to discuss your dissatisfaction directly with the staff member or members you have been dealing with. Express your concerns to them and seek resolution through dialogue.
  2. Alternative Methods:
    • Website: You can submit your complaint on our website, located at www.plumheatcool.com.au/contact-us
    • Phone: Feel free to contact us by phone at 03 8360 9622 to voice your complaint and seek assistance.
    • Written Correspondence: You can send a written complaint to the following address: PO Box 6014, Point Cook, VIC 3030.
    • Email: Send your complaint via email to feedback@plumheatcool.com.au

 

In some cases, if a verbal complaint is received and it is deemed suitable, we may request that you formalise your complaint in writing for further evaluation and resolution.

Information required

When investigating a complaint, Plum Heating and Cooling relies on both the information you, the customer, provide and the data we already possess. To expedite and streamline the investigation process, we kindly request the following information from you:

  1. Your Name and Contact Details: Please provide your full name and up-to-date contact information.
  2. Job’s UR (Unique Reference) Number: If applicable, include the unique reference number associated with your job or service.
  3. Name of the Plum Heating and Cooling Representative: Mention the name of the representative you have been interacting with.
  4. Nature of the Complaint: Clearly describe the nature of your complaint, outlining the specific issues you have encountered.
  5. Steps Taken to Resolve: Share details of any actions you have already taken in an attempt to resolve the complaint.
  6. Relevant Conversations: Provide information about any conversations you’ve had that might be pertinent to your complaint.
  7. Documentation Copies: If available, include copies of any documents that can assist us in understanding and addressing your complaint.

 

Plum Heating and Cooling is dedicated to resolving issues at the initial contact point whenever possible. However, in certain situations, a more formal complaint process may be required.

Upon receiving your complaint, we will send you an acknowledgment within five (5) business days. Following this, we will conduct an initial review. During this phase, there may be occasions when we need to seek clarification on certain aspects of the complaint or request additional documentation. If this happens, we will clearly explain the purpose of such requests and provide you with updates on the status of your complaint.

Our commitment is to resolve complaints within 20 business days of receiving them, though there may be exceptions where this timeline cannot be met. In cases where we are unable to resolve your complaint within the 20 business days, we will inform you of the reason for the delay and specify a new date by which we expect to provide a resolution. If we are awaiting clarification or additional documentation from you, meeting the 20-business day target may be impacted. In such instances, once we receive the necessary information, we will communicate an expected resolution date.

Upon completing our investigation, we will share our findings and any actions taken with you. This communication will be in writing, unless both parties have mutually agreed to receive it verbally. You have the right to inquire about the current status of your complaint at any time.

Complaints about our employees

When you raise a complaint regarding one of our employees, Plum Heating and Cooling is committed to handling it with the utmost confidentiality, impartiality, and equality, ensuring fair treatment for all parties involved. Our approach to complaints about our staff members includes the following principles:

  1. Confidentiality: Your complaint will be kept confidential, and we will maintain the privacy of all parties concerned.
  2. Impartiality: We will conduct a fair and unbiased investigation, seeking to determine the relevant facts surrounding the complaint.
  3. Equality: We will treat all individuals equally, providing the same level of attention and consideration to every complaint.

 

Our investigation process involves the following steps:

  • Gathering Relevant Information: We will collect all pertinent information related to the complaint, including speaking with relevant individuals and verifying explanations whenever possible.
  • Staff Member Notification: The staff member who is the subject of the complaint will be promptly informed about the complaint regarding their performance.
  • Opportunity to Explain: The concerned staff member will be given the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the complaint. We value their perspective and input.
  • Support: We will provide appropriate support to the staff member during the complaint investigation process.
  • Regular Updates: Throughout the investigation, we will keep the staff member informed about the progress of the complaint investigation and its eventual outcome.

 

Our objective is to ensure a fair and transparent process for handling complaints about our employees, ultimately aiming for resolution and improvement in service delivery.

Our complaint escalation process

If you find the resolution of your complaint unsatisfactory and wish to escalate the matter further, you have the option to contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Here are the contact details and links to reach out to the ACCC:

Contact Information:

  • To Make an Enquiry: ACCC Enquiry
  • To Report a Consumer Issue: ACCC Consumer Issue Report
  • Phone Number: 1300 302 502 (Operational Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm AEST/AEDT, closed on national public holidays)

Plum Heating and Cooling is committed to collaborating with you and providing any necessary information to facilitate the resolution of your issue. If you decide to escalate your complaint to the ACCC, we will continue to cooperate in the pursuit of a satisfactory resolution.

Environmental Incentive Programs

If your complaint is related to an activity carried out under a state or federal environmental incentive program, please refer to the following information for assistance: Victorian Energy Upgrades:
  • For inquiries or complaints regarding the Victorian Energy Upgrades program or its code, please contact the commission via email at veu@esc.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9032 1310 during business hours.
  • You can find additional information about the Victorian Energy Upgrades program on their website: Victorian Energy Upgrades program
  • If your complaint remains unresolved, you can also contact Consumer Affairs Victoria for further assistance: Consumer Affairs Victoria

Clean Energy Regulator Renewable Energy Target:

  • For questions or complaints related to the Renewable Energy Target program, please reach out to the Clean Energy Regulator via email at cer-complaints@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au or call 1300 553 542 during business hours.
  • You can access the Clean Energy Regulator’s complaints handling policy here: Clean Energy Regulator Complaints Handling Policy
  These contact details and resources are provided to assist you in addressing concerns or complaints related to environmental incentive programs and ensuring your issues are appropriately addressed.