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.

Hertz hits Joseph Meisinger with an $850 bill six months after he returns his rental car. Wait, six months? Yes, six months. Does he still have to pay?

Help! Hertz hit me with an $850 repair bill six months after I returned my rental car

November 11, 2024December 27, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Hertz hits Joseph Meisinger with an $850 bill six months after he returns his rental car. Wait, six months? Yes, six months. Does he still have to pay?

Michael Lavender faced a frustrating ordeal with Barcelo Maya Palace Resort over a nonrefundable hotel booking. After canceling his original reservation and rebooking a cheaper room, he struggled for four months to get a refund of $1,692. Despite promises from various agents, the refund process proved lengthy and complex, highlighting the risks of nonrefundable hotel reservations and the importance of persistence and self-advocacy in resolving such issues.

Oh no! Will I ever get my money back from Barcelo?

December 27, 2023December 26, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

It’s been four months since Barcelo Maya Palace Resort promised Michael Lavender a refund for his nonrefundable $1,692 hotel reservation, and he’s beginning to think he may never get it.

Airline mergers often lead to higher fares and reduced service quality. As major carriers like Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines consider merging, passengers like Eloisa Hife express deep concerns. With the government stepping in and consumer groups rallying, there's a growing call for public action to protect competition and consumer rights.

Yes, you can stop these airline mergers. Here’s how

January 7, 2024December 23, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Want to block the latest airline mergers? Here’s how your voice can challenge the turbulence of airline mergers and protect passenger rights.

Andrew Bottorff's return of a surge protector to Amazon via Whole Foods led to a baffling double charge. A system glitch and a lost email receipt escalated the issue, requiring intervention for resolution.

Amazon lost return: What happened to my surge protector?

June 19, 2024December 21, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

After Andrew Bottorff returns his surge protector to Amazon through a Whole Foods store, Amazon tries to charge him again. How can he get his money back?

When Dale Cerney checks into his resort in Kauai, it doesn't have a reservation for him. Will Booking.com pay for the mistake?

Booking.com lost my reservation! Can you make it pay?

January 3, 2024December 20, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Dale Cerney checks into his resort in Kauai, it doesn’t have a reservation for him. Will Booking.com pay for the mistake?

More disability pretenders are flying and staying in hotels than ever. But do these fakers have a valid point about the state of travel?

Disability pretenders are traveling again. But do they have a point?

January 18, 2024December 19, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

More disability pretenders are flying and staying in hotels than ever. But do these fakers have a valid point about the state of travel?

Lynn Best had the absolute worst time when she flew from Seattle to Rome on Condor Airlines recently. Her airline made her pay for her plane tickets twice. Now she's trying to get a refund and wants to know: Is it legal for an airline to charge you twice for the same ticket and then keep your money?

Can an airline charge you twice for the same ticket?

December 19, 2023December 18, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Lynn Best had the absolute worst time when she flew from Seattle to Rome on Condor Airlines recently. Her airline made her pay for her plane tickets twice. Now she’s trying to get a refund and wants to know: Is it legal for an airline to charge you twice for the same ticket and then keep your money?

Erin Mahoney, banned by Airbnb without explanation, faces the opaque world of customer blacklists. Discover how to navigate and resolve such bans in the secretive travel industry, and what happened when she appealed...

Blacklisted by a travel company? Here’s how to avoid it — and what to do if you’re banned

February 5, 2024December 16, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re banned by a travel company, how do you get unbanned? It’s happening to more people than ever. Here’s what to do.

Cunard cancels Jacque Ewing-Taylor's transatlantic cruise and promises to reimburse her expenses. But it doesn't. Can she make Cunard give her a refund?

Cunard canceled my cruise, but it won’t give me a full refund!

January 18, 2024December 14, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Cunard cancels Jacque Ewing-Taylor’s transatlantic cruise and promises to reimburse her expenses. But it doesn’t. Can she make Cunard give her a refund?

Jeffrey Schiff's Carrier air conditioner stops working during a heat wave. The manufacturer tells him to wait for the repair. But how long is too long?

It’s hot out there! How long until my Carrier air conditioner gets repaired?

January 18, 2024December 13, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Read the frustrating tale of Jeffrey Schiff’s months-long battle to get his Carrier air conditioner repaired, and how he finally found relief with the help of a consumer advocate. Learn tips and strategies for navigating warranty issues and customer service frustrations in this all-too-relatable story.

Christopher Elliott

Don't Miss a Story!