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Vocabulary
Objective: Describe product defects, request a refund or an exchange, and escalate a complaint using the correct register.
| French | English | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| un achat | a purchase | un reçu | a receipt |
| une facture | an invoice | une preuve d'achat | a proof of purchase |
| un défaut | a defect | un produit défectueux | a defective product |
| une réclamation | a complaint | un litige | a dispute |
| un remboursement | a refund | un échange | an exchange |
| un avoir | a credit note | une réparation | a repair |
The polite request uses the conditional voudrais rather than the direct veux, and the verb rembourser already names the money returned, so remboursé de mon argent repeats the object.
The noun phrase is le jour de l'achat, with the definite article before the noun. The sequence jour d'achat omits the article and is not standard French.
Défaut de conformité is the legal term for a product that does not match its description. It triggers the statutory warranty.
Échanger contre introduces the replacement item. The conditional voudrais softens the request.
Both reçu and facture serve as proofs of purchase, though the invoice is the more formal document.
En vertu de introduces the legal basis for the claim. The expression avoir droit à means to be entitled to.
Service client is the first point of contact for any complaint. The verb refuser takes a direct object.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
| a customer service |
| un responsable |
| a manager |
| une association de consommateurs | a consumer association | un médiateur | an ombudsman |
The legal expression for under a law is en vertu de. The phrase selon la loi means according to the law in a general sense, not as a legal basis.
The verb saisir is used when a person refers a matter to an institution. Porter plainte belongs to criminal proceedings and refers to filing a police complaint.
The lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception produces a dated proof of delivery and carries legal weight.
Médiateur de la consommation is the free ombudsman service. The adjective gratuit means free of charge.
Saisir une association means to refer the matter to it. The verb takes a direct object.