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.

Interesting question raised: When your cruise is nonrefundable, what happens to the upgrade you purchased?

Help! My cruise is gone and so is my upgrade

January 23, 2024August 27, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Here’s an interesting question raised by what is probably an unsolvable problem: When your cruise is nonrefundable, what happens to the upgrade you purchased?

It’s the time of year when the travel industry likes to play the weather card. Couldn’t check into your hotel? Blame that distant tornado.

How travelers can challenge the industry’s “act of God” excuses

January 23, 2024August 25, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

It’s the time of year when the travel industry likes to play the weather card. Couldn’t check into your hotel? Blame it on that distant tornado. Flight canceled? It’s the hurricane’s fault, even though it’s hundreds of miles away. A big repair bill for your rental car? Thank last week’s hailstorm.

Are loyalty programs worth belonging to?

January 23, 2024August 24, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

It’s time to question one of the most basic tenets of travel: Everyone should participate in an airline loyalty program.

Jenny discovers a $260 charge on her credit card. She’s been charged for optional car rental insurance she never wanted, or needed.

Charged for insurance I never wanted — or needed

January 23, 2024August 23, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Jenny Tran discovers a mysterious $260 charge on her credit card and discovers she’s been charged for optional car rental insurance she never wanted, or needed. Can she get a refund?

When Rogers Cable removes two of Ed Kurys's favorite channels from his cable package, he believes the company is violating his contract.

They canceled my favorite cable networks — do they owe me?

January 23, 2024August 22, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

When Rogers Cable removes two of Ed Kurys’s favorite channels from his cable package, he believes the company is violating his contract. But is it?

If you have an intractable problem with a business, you can "utilize our years of experience fighting fraud" to get a fast refund.

Should you hire a consumer advocate? 3 questions to ask

January 23, 2024August 21, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Here’s a familiar come-on: If you have an intractable problem with a business, you can “utilize our years of experience fighting fraud” to get a fast refund.

All Robin Rosner wanted was a little peace and quiet when she checked into the Sheraton Centre hotel in Toronto recently.

What does a hotel owe me for construction noise?

January 23, 2024August 20, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

All Robin Rosner wanted was a little peace and quiet when she checked into the Sheraton Centre in Toronto recently.

The Justice Department’s surprise lawsuit to block the proposed $11 billion consolidation of American Airlines and US Airways

Blocking this airline mega-merger is good for travelers

January 23, 2024August 18, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

The Justice Department’s surprise lawsuit to block the proposed $11 billion consolidation of American Airlines and US Airways appears to doom the latest airline mega-merger, at least in its current form. But for airline passengers, the prospect of two stand-alone airlines is mostly good news.