We’re all about complaining and wheedling to get what you want from businesses. But according to an MSN Money article, you might be bitching your own hole.

Increasingly, businesses are finding ways to discourage highly unprofitable customers, or “bad customers,” those who spend much less than what they cost they company.

Among these are giving unprofitable customers longer hold times on the phone, removing them from promotional mailing lists announcing discounts and savings, or refusing to effect exchanges for chronic returners.

On the flip side, perks, upgrades and expedited service are given to those customers who drop large sums of cash into the company coffer’s.

There’s a difference between standing up for your consumer rights and needlessly abusing the system. Persistent but polite complaining is more effective than a ten-minute harangue. Just think of the signal vs. noise ratio in your communication, am I spending more time explaining the problem’s emotional impact or sticking to the facts of what went wrong?

Then again, you could always just speak softly and carry a big wallet.

“Are you a bad customer?” [MSNmoney]

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