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.

Can breast-feeding activists have it both ways on a plane?

January 22, 2024October 9, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

One of the hot discussions this summer centered around the rights of mothers to nurse their babies on a plane.

Is this discount airline ticket a lost cause?

January 22, 2024October 8, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Carole Brown’s airline ticket — or lack of a ticket — is probably a lost cause. But this being Monday, when I present a borderline case, I’m not 100 percent certain of it.

Are airlines unjustly profiting from ticket change fees?

January 22, 2024October 6, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

What’s the best way to correct the name on an airline ticket? If you’re Akshay Malhotra, the answer is: Buy a new one, of course!

Payless denies car rental damage appeal, but did this driver give in too soon?

January 22, 2024October 4, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Payless wanted Shannon Lewis to pay up after it claimed she damaged one of its rental cars in Las Vegas.

We started our current contract with T-Mobile this March, my wife hasn't been able to place or receive calls or text messages at work.

My mobile phone doesn’t work — how about a refund?

January 22, 2024October 3, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Konstantin Goranovic’s wife’s T-Mobile phone doesn’t work. Never has. He wants out of his contract. But T-Mobile won’t let him. Why not?

How passengers exact revenge on fee-happy airlines

January 22, 2024October 2, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Aaron Fox is not the vindictive type. He’s a surfer, which if you look it up in the dictionary, is synonymous with “laid back.”

I couldn’t get a customs stamp — is a refund out of the question?

January 22, 2024October 1, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

What’s an immigration stamp worth? If you said $61.55, you must know Nancy Bestor. She’s been fighting with her credit card over a tax refund after a recent trip to Italy, and she wants me to help.

What TSA’s iPad theft problem means for your next flight

January 22, 2024September 30, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

TSA agents seem to have a thing for iPads.

What should I do about this $50 phone bill?

June 20, 2024September 28, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Tyson Howard has to pay a $50 phone bill at his hotel. But wait — aren’t long-distance calls “free”? Well, kinda.

Looks like United may not be a lost cause after all

January 22, 2024September 27, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

For the better part of the last year, I’ve thought United Airlines was a lost cause.