Reporter's Notebook

-Megan Patrick-Vaughn can be reached at mpatrick@vbjusa.com

COMMUNICATION MAKES US STRONGER

We Washingtonians are a vocal bunch. Last year, we flooded the Attorney General’s Office with 25,197 written complaints about businesses – the most since 2002. Telecommunications companies once again secured their No. 1 spot of the most complained about, but health care and commercial banks broke into the top 10.

The AG’s office had expected complaints about collection agencies to bump telecommunications out of the top spot, but complaints about collection agencies dropped to the No. 3 spot, allowing retailers to move to No. 2.

Sure, no one is vying for these “honors,” but I don’t see a reason to panic. Communication from the people we serve is rarely a bad thing – it generally makes business stronger and more successful.

Vancouver-based online technology company Dotster has taken to addressing customer complaints and concern via Twitter, and told the VBJ this practice is leading to improved products and boosted customer morale.

Read more about how local companies are getting hip to social networking in Friday’s VBJ.