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.

Honesty. Respect. And a little space. That's all travelers want in 2019. It doesn't seem like too much to ask -- but is it?

What do travelers really want this year?

January 29, 2024January 20, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Honesty. Respect. And a little space. That’s all travelers want in 2019. Are they asking for too much?

If you think vacation rental management companies aren't worth using, then I have a story for you. Well, two, actually.

Think vacation rental management companies aren’t worth it? You’re wrong

October 26, 2024January 19, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

If you think vacation rental management companies aren’t worth using, then I have a story for you. Two, actually.

Why would a company send its customer a worthless promotion code? The Popcorn Factory promised a 25% discount to Sandy Diggins. So where is it?

What is the reason for this worthless promotion code?

January 29, 2024January 19, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

When the Popcorn Factory promises to honor Sandy Diggins’ promotion code for a $104 order, she waits. And waits. And waits. Where’s her $25 credit — and can this consumer advocate help her get it?

No sooner had the ice thawed from last winter's ferocious storms than the disaster repair scams appeared like spring weeds.

Here’s how to avoid disaster repair scams

January 29, 2024January 17, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

No sooner had the ice thawed from last winter’s ferocious storms than the disaster repair scams appeared like spring weeds. They promised a speedy and painless recovery but delivered little — or nothing.

Silvia Restelli wants to know if car rental insurance is mandatory. She recently got blindsided by $300 of additional insurance fees at Dollar.

Was this car rental insurance really mandatory? I want a refund!

February 19, 2024January 16, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Silvia Restelli rented a car from Dollar in Frankfurt. But when she arrived in Germany, her $213 bill became $723, thanks to two surprise insurance charges. Now she wants to know if this car rental insurance was mandatory and if not, can she get a refund?

When Mary Herring's Thanksgiving flight was canceled, she assumed the change fee she had to pay was just a misunderstanding. It wasn't

My flight was canceled. Can I get a refund on the change fees?

January 29, 2024January 15, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

When Mary Herring’s Thanksgiving flight was canceled, she assumed the change fee she had to pay was a misunderstanding between her and the airline.

It wasn’t.

There's almost nothing I wouldn't do to keep my kids from getting bored on vacation. I've learned a lot from living on the road. Here are some of my tips.

Don’t get bored on vacation: Tips to keep the kids engaged

April 29, 2024January 12, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Climbing to the top of Sugarloaf Loop Trail in Sedona, Ariz., for a round of Uno easily ranks as one of the strangest things we’ve done as a family. Then again, there’s almost nothing I wouldn’t do to keep the kids from getting bored on vacation.

Did Tom Cunard just get snagged by a car rental scam? He reserved a car through Hertz via Expedia, but discovered the price had almost doubled at pick-up.

Did he just get snagged in a car rental scam?

January 29, 2024January 12, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Did Tom Cunard just get snagged by a car rental scam? He wants to know after he reserved an Audi A4 through Hertz via Expedia. When he picked up the car in Edinburgh, Scotland, he discovered that the price had almost doubled from the original quote.

Here's yet another WOW lost luggage case -- and by "WOW" I mean WOW Airlines, the discount Icelandic carrier. "Wow, I can't believe I'm reading this again!"

Help! WOW lost my luggage — and my claim

June 19, 2024January 9, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

If I’ve seen Darcy Sansbury’s email once, I’ve seen it a thousand times. It’s a WOW lost luggage case — and by “WOW” I mean WOW Airlines, the discount Icelandic carrier. I also mean “Wow, I can’t believe I’m reading this again!”

Last year an enormous landslide closed part of the California Central Coast's main tourist attraction, an iconic stretch of U.S. Highway 1.

Highway 1 is reopened. Here’s how to see it

January 29, 2024January 8, 2019 by Christopher Elliott

Michelle Carlen knows about road blocks. She started her job as president of Central Coast Tourism Council at about the same time an enormous landslide closed part of the California Central Coast’s main tourist attraction, the iconic stretch of U.S. Highway 1 that winds along the coastline from Ventura to Santa Cruz.

Christopher Elliott

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