Being "pushy and rude" with dodgy solicitors, builders and car dealers gets you nowhere, claims a book published by Which? today. The book, entitled 160 Letters That Get Results, offers "template" letters and urges people to give up tutting and write a letter of complaint instead.

Ajay Patel, the author, said: "Only a very small percentage of problems generate a complaint in Britain. We'd rather have a bad meal than make a fuss. But being pushy and rude is not an effective way to get what you want. Being levelheaded and firm will."

The letter samples include what to do if your builder disappears and how to get your money back if your new carpet is the wrong shade. How to effectively query solicitors' fees, how to get cash back on damaged goods, and what to do if your holiday was nothing like that promised by the brochure, are included. There are restaurant letters including one on food poisoning.

How to sack estate agents without owing them a commission and how to get a refund on a ropey secondhand car are tackled. There is guidance for problems with neighbours too.

Mr Patel warned that trying other routes first was a good idea: "Have a cup of tea with [neighbours] before you launch a legal action."

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a consumer behaviour expert from Goldsmiths College, London, said the stereotypical Briton did not complain much "but might write letters afterwards".