customer service

Meaning

This term refers to the assistance and advice provided by a company to those people who buy or use its products or services. It also represents the department that handles these inquiries. It is used in professional contexts to discuss customer satisfaction and support quality.

Examples

• If you have any issues with your order, please contact customer service.

  If you have any issues with your order, please contact customer service.

• Our company is known for providing excellent customer service.

  Our company is known for providing excellent customer service.

• She decided to apply for a job in the customer service department.

  She decided to apply for a job in the customer service department.

• I had to wait on hold for twenty minutes just to speak to customer service.

  I had to wait on hold for twenty minutes just to speak to customer service.

• Improving our customer service is our top priority for this quarter.

  Improving our customer service is our top priority for this quarter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to call the client service to get a refund.

  ✓ I need to call customer service to get a refund.

  While 'client' is similar to 'customer', standard business English uses the fixed term 'customer service' for general consumer support.

• ✗ The customer service of this shop is very bad.

  ✓ The customer service at this shop is very bad.

  We typically use the preposition 'at' or 'in' when referring to the customer service of a specific business, or simply use the possessive form 'this shop's customer service'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If your new laptop doesn't work, you should call ___.

  💡 The department that helps buyers with product issues.

  Show answer

  customer service

• We are training our new staff to improve our ___.

  💡 The support and assistance provided to clients.

  Show answer

  customer service