GoKomplain, a new startup from the University of Oxford, looks to crowdsource the art of the complaint.
A startup from the University of Oxford is looking to offer a new avenue for slighted consumers to voice their complaints after official channels have failed.
GoKomplain, which launched out of the Isis Software Incubator (part of Oxford’s tech transfer unit Isis Innovations), will give customers who have lost out to companies another way to resolve their issues by crowdsourcing solutions to help people out of a problem through an online platform.
Leonardo Davoudi, founder of GoKomplain, explained: “GoKomplain is the place to go to if you have tried everything else and have had no success. It gives you a voice when official channels have failed. The strength of our website lies in a link next to each post that says ‘Be a hero suggest a solution!’. Anyone can come to the rescue! goKomplain can help local businesses grow by offering their services and allows anyone to be a good Samaritan which could be as simple as giving comforting advice.”
Roy Azoulay, manager at the Isis Software Incubator, added: “The ISI is always looking for entrepreneurs who break the mold. In this case, Mr Davoudi is a doctoral candidate reading history who brings with him fresh ideas and experience working in the financial sector. That unique background coupled with support from the ISI has resulted in a powerful forum for finding solutions -a valuable tool for the consumer.”
The website has already helped 82 year old Ray Edwards after the UK war veteran tried cancelling a flight after a slot for a cancer operation became available to him. Despite a 5-month notice, the airline refused to refund £150 to the state pensioner. A solution came in the form of a benefactor who sent Mr Edwards the money instead.
Edwards said: “Believe me, I would rather have the holiday than another operation. When I wrote to the airline, they said ‘We are sorry that you would like to cancel your holiday booking… This means that a refund is due to you for the amount of £0.00.’ The compassion shown by the team at GoKomplain and their network has gone a long way to help me.”
