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.

Couple's honeymoon turns sour after being pressured into a $10,699 Palladium membership that wasn't as promised. Can they get their money back?

Tricked into a Palladium membership: My honeymoon nightmare

August 19, 2025August 18, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Angela Reiffer and her husband thought they were getting a free couples massage after they checked into a Palladium resort in the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon.

That seemingly harmless drink could lead to days of illness! Discover the top beverages to avoid on vacation to protect your health and trip.

The one drink that can ruin your next trip (and how to avoid it)

August 19, 2025August 17, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

The water in Slovenia’s Lake Bled looked so crystal-clear that you could drink it. Which is exactly what one of Alyson Chadwick’s travel companions did. It was the drink that ruined her trip.

Sydney's impressive sustainability initiatives, from green infrastructure to Aboriginal-led eco-tours, shaping a greener future for tourism.

Sustainable Sydney: How Australia’s tourism industry is leaning into the green

November 24, 2025August 16, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Margret Campbell stands at the edge of Sydney’s Harbor foreshore, her hand brushing the leaves of a seasonal wattle tree.

Ticketmaster customer locked out of her Braves tickets before the game and denied a refund. See how she challenged Ticketmaster's inaction.

Ticketmaster fraud: Locked out of Braves tickets, no refund!

August 24, 2025August 15, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Toni Bowick buys tickets to an Atlanta Braves game through Ticketmaster but then can’t access them before the event. Ticketmaster claims she doesn’t have an account. And then it keeps her money. Can Ticketmaster do that?

Michelle Marshall's Turo rental got repossessed, the company offers her a partial refund. But what about her son's expensive epilepsy medication?

My Turo rental was repossessed. Can you help me get my son’s epilepsy medication back?

August 14, 2025August 14, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Michelle Marshall’s Turo rental gets repossessed, the car-sharing company offers her a partial refund. But what about her son’s expensive epilepsy medication? Is Turo responsible for that?

Turo renter gets hit with a $500 bill for cracked paint she believes was already there. See how she challenged Turo's damage claim.

Help! Turo is charging me $500 for cracked paint on my rental car

August 14, 2025August 13, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Latisha Thompson rents a car through Turo and is charged $500 for a paint job that she says was defective to begin with. Can she get a refund?

Guest shocked by buggy Airbnb finds her negative review deleted! Did the host manipulate the system? Learn about Airbnb review fairness.

Airbnb exterminated my review of a buggy apartment. Is that allowed?

November 24, 2025August 11, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Tawnia Wise checked into her Airbnb rental in Austin recently, she was shocked by what she found: a bug-infested property that was far from the squeaky-clean apartment she thought she’d booked.

From space cakes to street food, travelers are eating risky things on vacation. Experts warn what to avoid to prevent illness and ruined trips.

The things you should never eat when you’re on vacation

September 23, 2025August 10, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Meg Wubbenhorst didn’t think twice before ordering a space cake at a coffee shop in Amsterdam recently. But maybe she should have. As she was about to discover, it was something she should never have eaten on vacation.

Forget the back of the plane! Experts reveal the surprisingly dangerous and uncomfortable seats you should avoid on your next flight.

This is the worst seat on the plane — and it’s not what you think

August 12, 2025August 9, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Every time I board a flight, I think about safety. But am I worrying about the wrong thing?

Loyal Subaru owner frustrated by ongoing starting problems with her 2020 Forester seeks help after the company refuses further assistance.

Will Subaru take responsibility for this “fatally flawed” Forester?

August 22, 2025August 8, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Despite repeated repairs, Anita Smith’s 2020 Subaru Forester won’t start and is “fatally flawed.” Why won’t Subaru help her get it fixed?