Letter Sample #154 – During a journey, your suitcase was damaged

GT Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) Sample # 154

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently travelled by a long-distance bus, and during this journey, your suitcase was damaged.

Write a letter to the bus company. In your letter,

• inform the bus company of when and to where you travelled
• describe your suitcase and what happened to it
• explain why the company should pay for a new suitcase

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

---

Model Answer 1:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to draw your attention to an issue which, I think, needs to be addressed if you ought to preserve the reputation of a successful bus operating agency like yours. Let me explain to you what really happened.

I recently travelled from Hanoi to Sapa on a long-distance journey on the 25th of October when I was also carrying my large suitcase with me. But after arriving at my final destination, I found out to my horror that my suitcase had got damaged. And it was not any kind of minor damage, that could be fixed or something, rather it was some major damage that didn’t only involve scratches all over its body, but also some broken wheels.

Now, I am not really sure as to what exactly happened, or who was exactly in charge of handling it, but I would really appreciate it if your company pays me for a new suitcase. After all, this suitcase is not only beyond any repair but also because I think that negligence on the part of your company also played a huge role in damaging it.

I would really appreciate it if I hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Ha Linh

---

Model Answer 2:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to bring to your attention an unfortunate incident that occurred during my recent journey on one of your long-distance buses. On 07th July 2023, I travelled from Hampshire to Bradford, and I regret to inform you that my suitcase was damaged during the course of the journey.

My suitcase is a medium-sized, black, hard-shell suitcase with distinctive white stripes along the sides. It was securely stowed in the luggage compartment underneath the bus. However, upon reaching my destination and collecting my belongings, I discovered that the outer shell of my suitcase had sustained considerable damage. The impact was evident, with cracks and dents that rendered the suitcase unusable for future travels.

I am deeply disappointed by this occurrence, as I had entrusted your company with the safe transport of my belongings. I strongly believe that the damage was a result of mishandling or improper care of the luggage during transit. As a result, I kindly request that your company bear responsibility for the cost of replacing my suitcase with a new one of similar quality.

I believe that compensating for the damaged suitcase would demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and maintaining a high standard of service.

I would appreciate a prompt response to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Mathew Peat