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.

This is what happens when you insure a trip in pieces

by

Charles Mills’ trip to Peru fell to pieces. Why? Because he insured only a piece.

His case is a necessary reminder that travel insurance only covers what it covers, despite any appearance to the contrary. It also exposes our limits as consumer advocates. If the contract doesn’t allow it, we usually can’t advocate for it.

Save money on groceries? Christopher Elliott tells you how.

How to save money on groceries? Timing is everything

by

Everyone has to eat. But not everyone knows how to save money on groceries.

The average American spends $151 per week on food, a figure that includes groceries and restaurant spending. A deep dive into the numbers suggests people are spending less on groceries than they did 20 years ago, when adjusting for inflation.

It's time to travel now.

Why you should travel now — before things start to get crazy

by

Sometimes when you’re traveling, your timing is terrific. Sometimes, it’s just lucky.

On our trip to South Dakota last week, we were just lucky. Temperatures in the mid-70s, almost no visitors. Matt Plank, the assistant curator of reptiles of the Reptile Gardens, a private collection of alligators, snakes, and turtles, just outside Rapid City, described the mayhem of tourist season to me.