Letter of Claim Example and Specimen | How to Write a Claim Letter

Imagine ordering a set of branded office chairs for your company and receiving half of them broken. What would you do? You would probably write a claim letter to the supplier, right? That’s exactly what this topic is about.

A letter of claim is a formal message written by a buyer to a seller, pointing out a problem with goods or services and requesting a solution. It is one of the most common forms of business correspondence, especially in trade and customer service.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn what a claim letter is, how to write it effectively, and how to maintain a polite tone even when you are disappointed. You’ll also find sample letters and tips from business communication experts.

Meaning and Purpose of a Claim Letter

A claim letter is a written request sent to a company to demand compensation, correction, or adjustment for an unsatisfactory product or service.

It’s used when something goes wrong, like receiving damaged goods, delayed delivery, incorrect billing, or poor-quality service.

The purpose of writing a claim letter is not to complain, but to resolve the issue professionally. A well-written letter helps the business correct its mistake without damaging the relationship with the customer.

If you’re curious about how claim letters fit into the overall world of business communication, check out this post on the Purpose of Business Letter for a quick overview.

Essential Features of a Good Claim Letter

A professional claim letter follows certain principles. It must be polite, clear, and factual. Let’s explore the key features below:

1. Politeness and Courtesy: Keep your tone professional, even when you are frustrated. Remember, your goal is resolution, not argument.
2. Clarity: State exactly what went wrong. Vague statements like “your service was poor” don’t help. Instead, describe what happened.
3. Evidence and Details: Include supporting details such as order number, date, or invoice reference.
4. Conciseness: Don’t write long emotional paragraphs. Keep it simple and factual.
5. Positive Language: Focus on solving the problem rather than blaming.

For a refresher on professional tone and structure, you might enjoy reading How to Write a Business Letter Step-by-Step which offers a strong foundation for all types of business letters.

Structure and Format of a Claim Letter

A claim letter should look like any other formal business letter. The structure is simple and easy to follow:

1. Sender’s Address: The address of the person making the claim.
2. Date: The day the letter is written.
3. Receiver’s Address: The company or person receiving the claim.
4. Subject Line: A short, clear description like Claim for Damaged Goods.
5. Salutation: A polite greeting, e.g., Dear Sir/Madam.
6. Body Paragraphs: The main part of your letter explaining the issue and your request.
7. Closing: Polite sign-off such as Yours sincerely.
8. Signature: Include your name and position if applicable.

If you want to brush up on letter components, take a look at Parts of Business Letter where everything is clearly explained.

Types of Claim Letters

Depending on the purpose, claim letters can be of different types. Here are the most common ones:

1. Product Claim Letter: Written when goods arrive damaged, defective, or incomplete.
2. Service Claim Letter: Used when the promised service fails to meet expectations, like a delayed hotel booking or poor catering service.
3. Transport Claim Letter: Sent when goods are lost or damaged in transit.
4. Insurance Claim Letter: Requests compensation for losses due to accidents or natural causes.
5. Adjustment Claim Letter: A follow-up letter seeking correction or replacement. You can explore more about this in Specimen of Adjustment Letter for clarity.

Each type should maintain a professional and polite tone regardless of the problem.

Steps to Write an Effective Claim Letter

Writing an effective claim letter isn’t rocket science. You just need to be factual, polite, and organized. Here’s a simple step-by-step approach:

1. Start with the Facts: Begin by stating what the problem is and how it occurred.
2. Give Evidence: Mention invoice numbers, order details, or photographs.
3. Explain the Impact: Briefly describe how the issue affected you or your business.
4. Request a Solution: State exactly what you want—replacement, refund, or correction.
5. Stay Polite: A respectful tone increases the chance of a positive response.
6. Close Positively: End the letter by expressing hope for prompt action.

For improving your clarity and tone, read the article on You Attitude in Business Letter which explains how to make your writing more reader-friendly and polite.

Tone and Language of Claim Letters

Your tone is everything. If your letter sounds angry or threatening, the receiver might respond defensively. Instead, write like a calm professional.

Do this:

“I believe there has been a mistake in the invoice dated May 4.”

Not this:

“You charged me wrongly again!”

See the difference? One gets attention, the other gets ignored.

If you want to learn more about tone and expression, you might also find Letter of Complaint helpful—it explains how to express dissatisfaction without sounding rude.

Sample Claim Letter (Specimen Example)

Here’s a real-world example you can use as a reference.

Subject: Claim for Defective Air Conditioners Supplied

Dear Mr. Ali,

I am writing to bring to your attention that the five air conditioners supplied by your company under Invoice No. 7543, dated March 2, were found defective. Two units did not cool at all, while the others made loud noise during operation.

We request that you replace the defective units or issue a full refund within seven working days. Enclosed are copies of the invoice and delivery receipt for your reference.

We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter and value our business relationship.

Yours sincerely,
Rahim Hossain
Purchase Manager
CoolWave Trading Co.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced business writers make mistakes when drafting claim letters. Here are a few you should steer clear of:

• Being emotional or harsh.
• Forgetting to mention important order details.
• Writing too much background story.
• Skipping attachments like receipts or invoices.
• Using unprofessional or casual language.

For more on what not to do, check your post on Mistakes in Writing Circular Letters—the same principles apply to all business writing.

Difference Between Claim Letter and Complaint Letter

Aspect	Claim Letter	Complaint Letter
Purpose	Requests adjustment, replacement, or refund	Expresses dissatisfaction about a product or service
Tone	Polite, solution-focused	Assertive, problem-focused
Outcome	Leads to resolution or compensation	Leads to acknowledgment or apology
Example	Claim for damaged goods	Complaint about rude staff behavior

So, while both are formal letters, the claim letter focuses on correction, while the complaint letter focuses on dissatisfaction.

Effectiveness of a Claim Letter

A claim letter is only effective when it leads to the desired outcome. That means it must be timely, clear, and backed by facts.

The success of your claim letter depends on how you present your issue. A well-structured and polite letter gets attention faster than a long emotional one.

If you want to understand the impact of writing style on communication, explore Effectiveness of Claim Letter which gives insights into what makes a business letter truly effective.

Follow-Up After Sending a Claim Letter

Sometimes companies delay responses. That’s when a follow-up letter comes in handy.

You can send a polite reminder like this:

“I would like to follow up on my previous claim letter dated May 5 regarding invoice number 7543. I would appreciate your update on the matter.”

Simple, polite, and effective.

To ensure your follow-ups are documented correctly, learn from Acknowledgement Letter Format and Samples—it shows how professional communication builds trust.

Connection with Report Writing

Claim letters are an essential part of business documentation and report writing. For instance, if your company submits a monthly performance report, details of claims and refunds should be included there.

When preparing such reports, clarity and structure matter most. Your related guide on Arrangement of Contents in Letter, Report, and Memo explains how to present information in a professional and logical way.

Conclusion

Writing a letter of claim is not just about asking for a refund. It’s about communicating effectively, maintaining professionalism, and protecting your business interests.

A polite and well-written claim letter can turn a bad situation into an opportunity for better understanding between buyer and seller.

So, the next time your order doesn’t go as planned, don’t fume in silence. Pick up your pen or open your email editor and write a thoughtful, fact-based claim letter. It’s your professional voice in the world of business communication.