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.

The late model Hyundai Elantra that Joe Gershman rented from Dollar in Charleston, SC, recently looked fine from the outside.

What will your next rental car know about you? Everything

January 23, 2024August 14, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

I had a chance to see the car rental of the future yesterday, and it’s a smart set of wheels.

They say the devil is in the details. Moyosore Otepola would probably agree. Check the terms of her reservation, the employee scolded.

Errors of omission: 3 tips on how to avoid a disclosure scam

January 23, 2024August 14, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

They say the devil is in the details. Moyosore Otepola would probably agree.

Is this Priceline “missing button” case a lost cause?

January 23, 2024August 13, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Brook Demmerle’s problem is not uncommon, but it’s usually unsolvable.

The proposed Cruise Passenger Protection Act require cruise lines to publicly report all alleged crimes and disclose passenger contracts.

Will a new law force cruise lines to better report onboard crime?

January 23, 2024August 11, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

The remarkable thing about the proposed Cruise Passenger Protection Act is that on its face, it looks entirely unremarkable. The law would require cruise lines to publicly report all alleged crimes on a ship and to disclose their passenger contracts in plain English.

If shelling out $10 for a small bag of M&Ms makes you feel a little scammed, then you'll not love the in-room minibars.

It’s time to ban the hotel minibar once and for all

January 23, 2024August 10, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

If shelling out $10 for a small bag of M&Ms makes you feel a little scammed, then you’ll love the hotel industry’s latest trend: closing its in-room minibars.

Pat Morin’s vacation rental in Aruba is a disaster -- and she hasn’t even left yet. She’s trying to get her money back, but the owner refuses. Is there any hope?

I canceled my vacation rental, but they’re keeping my deposit

January 23, 2024August 9, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Pat Morin’s vacation rental in Aruba is a disaster — and she hasn’t even left yet. She’s trying to get her money back, but the owner refuses. Is there any hope?

Steve Lipscomb upgrades to a DirecTV Genie set-top box. But it doesn't work right, and now the company won't let him out of his contract.

Maybe DirecTV let this Genie out of the bottle too soon

January 23, 2024August 8, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Steve Lipscomb upgrades to a DirecTV Genie set-top box. But it doesn’t work right, and now the company won’t let him out of his contract or allow him to downgrade to his old box. What now?

Watch your wallet while you're on vacation. You've heard that advice before. The summer travel season and scams are in full swing.

5 summer travel scams no one warned you about — but should have

January 23, 2024August 7, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Watch your wallet while you’re on vacation.

Your child is stranded at the airport and won't be able to fly home unless he forks over thousands of dollars for a new ticket.

Lufthansa stranded my 16-year-old son in Detroit

January 23, 2024August 6, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

It’s something out of every mother’s worst nightmare: Your child is stranded at the airport and won’t be able to fly home unless he forks over thousands of dollars for a new ticket.

Time to get real about real-time airfares

January 23, 2024August 4, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Sue Marcus was looking for a flight from Washington to Tulsa. Instead, she found trouble.

Christopher Elliott

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