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.

Robert seeks assistance with Target as an electronic gift card for their grandson is delayed for three weeks despite multiple inquiries.

Help! My Target gift card has gone missing

January 22, 2024August 8, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

The Target gift card Robert Brown ordered for his grandson is missing in action, and the store isn’t saying when it will send the scrip. Can anyone help him find it?

All Ed Lawrence wanted was a little rest. He was on an overnight flight from San Francisco to Boston, which offered him six hours of sleep.

Do kids belong on an overnight flight?

January 22, 2024August 7, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

All Ed Lawrence wanted was a little rest.

I asked Teresa Laraba, the airline's senior vice president for customers, to explain what customers should do if they're affected.

Southwest’s Laraba says booking glitch “neither the experience nor the impression we hope to leave with our customers”

January 22, 2024August 6, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

At this hour, the likely culprit in this weekend’s Southwest Airlines fare-sale drama is a faulty database, which triggered an excess of 10,000 double-bookings. You’ve read the horror stories. I asked Teresa Laraba, the airline’s senior vice president for customers, to explain what went wrong and what customers should do if they’re affected.

The Pensione Nichols looks like the kind of bed and breakfast I'd want to stay in the next time I'm in Seattle.

B&B confirmed the wrong rate — do they have to honor the price?

January 22, 2024August 6, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

The Pensione Nichols looks like the kind of bed and breakfast I’d want to stay in the next time I’m in Seattle. It’s charming, historical and it’s even recommended by my own magazine.

Two TSA agents who reportedly thwarted a passenger kidnapping in Miami recently are being hailed as heroes by the mainstream media.

Are TSA agents heroes?

January 22, 2024August 5, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Two TSA agents who reportedly thwarted a passenger kidnapping in Miami recently are being hailed as heroes by the mainstream media.

The emergency operations center at United Airlines’ new headquarters in Chicago’s Willis Tower looks like an average conference room.

5 fascinating facts about the new United Airlines

January 22, 2024August 4, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

This is the emergency operations center at United Airlines’ new headquarters in Chicago’s Willis Tower. Looks like an average conference room, doesn’t it?

What’s your biggest airline problem? It’s coincidentally one that a new Transportation Department panel is trying to answer.

What’s wrong with air travel?

January 22, 2024August 4, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

What’s your biggest airline problem?

Frustrated with Alamo in Kona, Hawaii; reported pre-existing damage, got no form, told "golf ball size" doesn't matter.

Do car rental companies make it too hard to report pre-existing damage?

January 22, 2024August 3, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

When Renee Tyler returns from her Hawaiian vacation, she gets an unwanted surprise: A bill for damage to her rental car — damage for which she isn’t responsible. What should she do now?

One of the most memorable trips of my life was seeing Denali National Park years ago when I edited the Alaska section for Travel Weekly.

“We feel we need a vacation from this vacation”

January 22, 2024August 2, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

One of the most memorable trips of my life was seeing Denali National Park years ago when I edited the Alaska pages for Travel Weekly.

The bank plans to issue a 1099 for forgiven debt in 2012 instead of 2011, jeopardizing protection under Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.

My bank sent me the wrong tax form — and now it’s ignoring me

January 22, 2024August 1, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Dante Lee needs an important tax form from his bank. Without it, he could could face a significantly higher bill from the IRS. But his financial institution won’t help him. What should he do?

Christopher Elliott

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