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.

I have a concern that I tried addressing with a specific Days Inn and with Wyndham, which owns Days Inn, but have not received a response.

Smoked out of the Days Inn

January 23, 2024May 11, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Debbie Rosenkranz books a non-smoking room at a Days Inn hotel. But when she arrives, she’s offered a smoking room. Does the hotel owe her anything?

TripAdvisor is a regrettable by-product of the information revolution whose user-generated ratings too often hurt travelers.

Is TripAdvisor still letting hotels rig their reviews?

January 23, 2024May 10, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

The customer received a poor-quality item from SmartBargains, contacted them multiple times for a return authorization with no response.

I’m really steamed about a quilt I can’t return

January 23, 2024May 9, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

SmartBargains.com won’t respond to Peter Zapalo’s request for a refund on a quilt he purchased through the site. How do you get the company to listen?

A road hazard you might not expect: a checkpoint staffed by Transportation Security Administration workers.

Summer road hazards your government won’t warn you about

January 23, 2024May 8, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

With the frenetic summer travel season just around the corner, here’s a little warning about a road hazard you might not expect: a checkpoint staffed by Transportation Security Administration workers.

Rod and Carol Mourant recently flew from Seattle. Amid their list of complaints is one that stuck, and do they have a case?

Delta Economy “Comfort” fell short — can we get a refund?

January 23, 2024May 7, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Rod and Carol Mourant recently flew from Seattle. Amid their list of complaints is one that stuck, and do they have a case?

We were recently scheduled to sail on a seven-day cruise. A few minutes after we boarded in Long Beach, Calif., I had horrible kidney pains.

Kicked off my cruise for getting sick

January 23, 2024May 4, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Shortly before her cruise to Mexico sets sail, Regina Hatfield and her family are ushered off the ship. The reason? She’s experiencing sharp pains in her kidney. Now her cruise line wants to keep her money. Is it allowed to do that?

Lisa and Wayne Roccaforte felt lucky to have premium economy class seats on their recent Air France flight from Paris to Houston.

Downgraded on Air France, but where’s their refund?

January 23, 2024May 3, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

I regularly purchased Starbucks gift cards on eBay at a discount and simply transferred the balance to my loyalty card.

“I feel like Starbucks is stealing money from me”

January 23, 2024May 2, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Peter Volpe’s Starbucks account is frozen, and he doesn’t understand why. Is the company allowed to just confiscate his credits?

Today's tale of TSA inefficiency comes from the Atlantic Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, NY. Who's afraid of the TSA?

Who’s afraid of the TSA?

January 15, 2025May 1, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Today’s tale of TSA inefficiency comes from the Atlantic Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, NY. Who’s afraid of the TSA?

Nothing extraordinary happened when Paul rented a car from Budge. There's no frivolous damage claim, no extra fee.

Can I fix this Avis “fantasy” rental charge?

May 15, 2025April 30, 2013 by Christopher Elliott