Here to help
These are the answers to the most troubling and often shocking problems consumers have asked our mediation team. The Elliott Advocacy team covers airline, cruise line, hotel, and vacation rental problems among other topics.
You can fix your own consumer problem. If you’re having trouble with a product or service, there is a way out — and you don’t have to hire an expensive lawyer or call the cops.
Yes, you can do it yourself. Read more “How to fix your own consumer problem”
Hang on! That’s what I told Laureen McCluen when she contacted me about her Airbnb reservation in Washington, D.C. She wanted to know how long to wait for her coronavirus refund.
McCluen plunked down $8,457 for her rental. She looked forward to a week in the nation’s capital, enjoying the museums and monuments and the cherry blossoms. And then coronavirus hit. You know the rest. Read more “How long should I wait for my coronavirus refund?”
The cruise itinerary changes on Iris Fennel’s recent Baltic Sea journey completely ruined her trip. She says Norwegian’s Breakaway sailed right past three out of five of its scheduled ports of call. Based on that ratio, Fennel has calculated NCL should give her a 60 percent cash refund.
But does the cruise line owe Fennel anything for these changes to the itinerary? Read more “These cruise itinerary changes ruined my trip! I want a refund”
What if you don’t want to tip on your cruise? Or maybe you’re not against cruise gratuities, but prefer to give on a person by person basis. Can the cruise line force you to pay a set amount for the crew’s bonus?
That’s the question Laurie May wants answered. She says Oceania recently blindsided her by adding $320 to the cost of her 10-day European cruise. The reason? Automatically added gratuities.
Now she wants the Elliott Advocacy team to retrieve the crew bonus and put it back in her wallet. But is that something we can do? (Reprint/Sept. 2019/updated June 2020)
Read more “This is what happens when you don’t want to tip on your cruise”
What happens if you skip parts of your flight itinerary? Charlie Williams will tell you — nothing good.
On the way to their Hawaiian getaway, Williams and his wife missed their connecting flight to the islands. Hawaiian Airlines moved the couple to the next available flight. But the duo decided to skip that flight and book a more convenient one — without informing the airline. That mistake ended up creating a travel fiasco that cost the Williams over $1,200. However, the couple wouldn’t find out anything was wrong until they tried to fly home.
Read more “You should never skip parts of your flight. This is why”
What happens if you book an international flight and the name on your ticket does not match your passport?
Ralph Lantz found out the answer in a devastating way. He booked his friend, Jackie, a ticket to meet him on a dream vacation to Greece. But his generous gesture went all wrong at the check-in counter. That’s where Jackie’s Mediterranean plans came to an abrupt end when a Virgin Atlantic agent pointed out that the name on her ticket was not the same as the one on her passport.
Now Lantz wants to know how he can get his money back for the flight. Read more “This is what happens when the name on your ticket does not match your passport”
