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.

Elly Kinsella was charged $740 by Quest Diagnostics for miscoded tests. Learn how advocacy resolved this billing issue and secured a refund.

Quest has sent my bill to collections — but I don’t owe anything!

January 19, 2024August 17, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

After getting strong-armed into paying a medical bill she doesn’t owe, Elly Kinsella tries to get a refund from her physician’s office. Can she get her $740 back?

Here's a lost Pixel puzzle: UPS misplaced our reader's Amazon return. Can he get his $518 back from Amazon? Or will he lose his money?

Help! Amazon lost my Pixel phone and now it won’t refund me

August 26, 2024August 16, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Jack Price tries to return his Google Pixel 6 phone to Amazon through UPS, the phone gets lost. Will he ever get his $518 back?

Travel prices are falling like leaves on a late October afternoon in Martha's Vineyard. No question about it, autumn will be a great time to travel -- it always has been.

Here’s your ultimate guide to fall travel

October 25, 2024August 15, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Travel prices are falling like leaves on a late October afternoon in Martha’s Vineyard. No question about it, this autumn will be a great time to travel — it always has been.

Noah Finkel thinks he might be on Alamo's dreaded Do Not Rent list, but he can't get a straight answer -- or rent a car. How do you find out?

I might be on Alamo’s Do Not Rent list. Can you find out?

December 16, 2024August 14, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Noah Finkel thinks he might be on Alamo’s dreaded Do Not Rent list, but he can’t get a straight answer — or rent a car. How do you find out?

Should we finally allow phone calls on planes? European regulators think so. This summer, the EU quietly cleared in-flight calls.

Phone calls on planes: Is it time to allow them?

January 19, 2024August 13, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Should we finally allow phone calls on planes? European regulators think so. This summer, the EU quietly cleared in-flight cell phones for takeoff, saying that allowing cell phones on planes would allow for more technological innovation.

When Patricia Peticolas received an urgent call from Chase Bank warning her that someone had stolen her identity on Zelle, she wanted to do everything she could to help.

Chase said her identity had been stolen, but it was a Zelle callback scam

January 21, 2025August 10, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Patricia Peticolas received an urgent call from Chase Bank warning her that someone had stolen her identity on Zelle, she wanted to do everything she could to help.

Engine failure after Jiffy Lube's oil change led Ian Culhane to a complex claim battle. Thorough documentation won the day.

Why won’t Jiffy Lube pay for my engine repair? Isn’t it responsible?

April 13, 2024August 9, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

After getting an oil change at Jiffy Lube, the engine on Ian Culhane’s Subaru stops working. The likely culprit is a botched oil change, he says. Why won’t Jiffy repair his car?

Canceled flight, unreturned funds. Julie Schumer battled Princess Cruises over a $983 refund and triumphed with consumer advocacy help.

Why won’t Princess Cruises refund our canceled flight? They have my money.

December 7, 2023August 7, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Julie Schumer’s return flight gets canceled during the Southwest Airlines meltdown in December. Southwest sends the money to her cruise line, but her cruise line won’t refund her. What’s going on?

The only way to escape hidden hotel fees is to get creative about fighting them. Here's how to do it.

How to avoid hidden hotel fees on your next trip

May 26, 2024August 6, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

The only way to escape hidden hotel fees is to get creative about fighting them. Here’s how to do it.

Annoying hotel charges were supposed to disappear after the government declared war on junk fees. Instead, hotels fought back.

Hidden hotel fees are back with a vengeance. Here’s how to avoid them.

June 19, 2024August 6, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Annoying hotel charges were supposed to disappear after the government declared war on junk fees. Instead, hotels fought back.