Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter.

Car rental companies now use AI-powered imaging systems to scan vehicles before and after rentals—but don’t put your phone away just yet. Experts say renters should still take their own time-stamped photos of the car’s condition to avoid false damage charges. Here’s what to photograph and why manual proof still matters.

Do I still need to take photos of my rental car?

November 29, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Matt Murray wants to know if he should still take pictures of his rental car before he drives it off the lot. The answer is complicated.

When Karen Plaskon’s refrigerator broke, her Sears Master Protection Agreement promised a replacement. But six months later—after delays, canceled models, and endless phone calls—she was still living without a fridge. With no cash payout option and no delivery in sight, she turned to a consumer advocate for help—and finally got her refund.

Sears left me without a refrigerator for six months — how do I fix this?

November 28, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Karen Plaskon’s refrigerator breaks under her Sears Master Protection Agreement, and Sears approves a replacement. But after months of delays, canceled orders, and endless excuses, she’s still without a working fridge. Can a consumer advocate end her six-month wait for a resolution?

After a stay at Holiday Inn Express, Millie Crawford was surprised to find a $59 charge for a damaged lamp she says she never touched. With conflicting stories from hotel staff and no clear evidence, she escalated the dispute, filed a chargeback—and won. Here’s how travelers can fight back against bogus hotel damage fees.

Holiday Inn surprise charge: a $59 bill for a lamp I didn’t damage!

November 17, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Millie Crawford didn’t think much about the lamp in her Holiday Inn Express room. Not until a $59 charge appeared on her credit card days after she checked out.

Leaving a vacation early is no longer unusual. Whether it’s stress, homesickness, or job pressure, more travelers are calling it quits mid-trip. But early exits often mean big change fees—unless you plan ahead. Here’s why people are quitting their getaways and how to avoid the financial and emotional fallout of going home early.

Americans are quitting their vacations. Here’s how to leave your trip early

November 16, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

It was supposed to be his first real vacation in years — a hiking trip to the Canadian Rockies. And then Erwin Gutenkunst got a call from the office.

Holiday travel in 2025 is more unpredictable than ever. From flight delays and border confusion to cybersecurity threats and lost bags, this season demands extra vigilance. Learn what steps travelers are taking—from smart planning to expanded travel insurance—to stay safe and protect their investment.

Holiday travel safety: Here’s what could go wrong — and how you can avoid it

November 15, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

What are you afraid of this holiday travel season? Missing your flight? Losing your luggage? Getting stuck in bad weather?

Bonnie Roeder-Burns tracked her delayed bag with an AirTag. When it finally arrived, valuables were missing—but Iberia Airlines denied her claim, citing no visible damage. With help from a travel advocate and strong documentation, she pushed back—and won. Here's what travelers must know about proving loss and fighting back after pilfered luggage.

Pilfered luggage problem: Why won’t Iberia help me?

November 10, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When items vanish from your luggage, can you trust your airline to make it right?

Tokyo’s pace is intense—but so is its wellness culture. From the sleep-optimized Westin Yokohama to forest bathing in Yoyogi Park, visitors are discovering new ways to reset after long flights. Whether it's spa rituals, onsen baths, or SmartBeds at capsule hotels, Tokyo is proving that self-care here is both serious and accessible.

Travelers to Tokyo are fighting jet lag and stress. Here’s what they’ll find.

November 8, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

No city in the world stresses you out quite like Tokyo. With its narrow streets, densely packed subways and frenetic pace, it’s no wonder the Japanese capital also has a famous wellness culture to treat the inevitable anxiety.

When Cory Belkov canceled his Carnival cruise, he expected a partial refund — not a surprise $500 penalty. The fee was never disclosed at booking, and both Carnival and the travel agency deflected responsibility. But under consumer protection laws, hidden cancellation terms may not be enforceable. After months of finger-pointing, here's how Cory got his money back — and what every cruise passenger needs to check before booking.

Carnival charged me a $500 cancellation fee I didn’t know about. Can I get it back?

October 29, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Cory Belkov cancels his Carnival cruise, he gets a refund — minus a $500 cancellation fee. It’s the first he’s heard of the fee. Does he have to pay?

Rhonda Bryant’s trip to San Francisco was ruined when American Airlines canceled her connecting flight. Despite a new federal rule requiring automatic refunds, she spent nearly seven months chasing down $403 the airline withheld. Her case reveals how major carriers sidestep refund rules—and what you must do when they do. From “trip in vain” policies to DOT complaints, here’s what travelers need to know when the refund isn’t automatic.

Are airline refunds automatic now? For this canceled American Airlines flight, they weren’t

October 27, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

All Rhonda Bryant wanted was a refund for her airline ticket. She’d booked three tickets with American Airlines for a trip from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco. But when American canceled her connecting flight from Charlotte to San Francisco after hours of delays, her plans fell apart.

Tokyo isn’t reinventing sustainability—it’s refining it. From Blueground’s eco-conscious apartments to the Palace Hotel’s circular kitchen model and kintsugi workshops, the city is quietly embedding green values into everyday tourism. Rooted in mottainai, Japan’s centuries-old waste-not philosophy, these efforts blend cultural heritage with climate-conscious design to make Tokyo a global model of responsible travel.

Green apartments, carbon-neutral hotels: How Tokyo is becoming a sustainable destination

October 25, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

In an oversized, wood-paneled boardroom with a view of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, Tsubasa Yokote is trying to explain the city’s approach to sustainable tourism. And it’s not easy.