The idea that the Brits are too polite to complain is contradicted by a quick survey of the volume of grievances made against local councils. It is undoubtedly the impact that local authority services have on the personal lives of residents that drives these complaints but very often complaining doesn't seem to bring about the desired change.

Part of the problem, as the philosopher, Julian Baggini says, in his book Complaints: from minor moans to principles protests is rather than complain about things that should change, ‘people complain about the wrong things for the wrong reasons'. Common mistakes include making ‘too many assumptions with too little information'; or, the false thinking that mistakes the ‘loudness of a complaint for its seriousness'.