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.

With the DJ spouting profanities at the pool lies the definition of a "family-friendly" resort. No one seems to agree. Maybe it's time we did.

Do hotels lie about being “family friendly”?

January 23, 2024August 3, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Somewhere between a booster stool at the check-in desk and a DJ spouting profanities at the kids’ pool lies the definition of a “family-friendly” resort. No one seems to agree. Maybe it’s time we did.

After a canceled flight, a merged airline, she is the proud owner of a worthless airline ticket. Where is her ticket credit?

That’s not the ticket credit you promised me

January 23, 2024August 2, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

After a canceled flight, a merged airline and crossed wires with Expedia, Anoop Ramaswamy is the proud owner of a worthless airline ticket. Now what?

Steve Schuster signs up for Verizon service after it offers a bonus of $200 in prepaid Visa gift cards. Verizon is refusing to pay. What now?

Verizon won’t honor its “Triple Play” gift card offer

January 23, 2024August 1, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Steve Schuster signs up for Verizon service after it offers a bonus of $200 in prepaid Visa gift cards. But the plastic is never delivered, and now Verizon is refusing to pay. What now?

You're surrounded by fakes. The clothes you wear could be fake. The money you use? Your "friends" on social media are sometimes fake

Surrounded by impostors, what’s a consumer to do?

January 23, 2024July 31, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

You’re surrounded by fakes. The clothes you wear could be fake. The money you use? Not real, maybe. Even your “friends” on social media are sometimes fake. What’s a consumer to do?

A stay at the Driftwood Inn was supposed to cost Bruce $138 through a Website called HotelPlus Destination Portal.

Don’t forget to confirm your hotel reservation

January 23, 2024July 28, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

A two-night stay at the Driftwood Inn in Chestertown, Md., was supposed to cost Bruce Romano $138 through a Web site called HotelPlus Destination Portal, as long as he prepaid for his accommodations. That seemed like a good deal. After all, it was Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year.