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.

Is Glenn Monroe’s bed and breakfast really a “horrible” place? Let’s ask TripAdvisor

January 22, 2024August 23, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Glenn Monroe and his wife own the Westbrook Inn, in Connecticut, which he describes as the “perfect” place to “step back in time to the romantic Victorian era.”

Oh no! I bought the laptop from hell at Best Buy

May 24, 2024August 22, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Giovanna Bettoli’s laptop computer shuts down randomly. It’s been sent back to the manufacturer multiple times, but it’s still not working. Now her warranty is almst at its end. Can this PC be saved?

Whose responsibility are those unaccompanied minors?

January 22, 2024August 21, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Christina Welsch is young, dresses conservatively, and is usually alone when she flies.

5 things you should never say to a TSA screener

January 22, 2024August 19, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

It happened to Ann Holley again last week. As she passed through the security checkpoint at Atlanta’s busy airport, she asked a TSA agent to “opt out” of being screened by a full-body scanner.

Should travel companies be allowed to practice age discrimination?

January 22, 2024August 18, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Gordon White is 79. Kevin Chang is 24. Both recently tried to rent cars but ran into trouble because of their age.

Hang on — are you sure your hotel’s closed for the season?

January 22, 2024August 17, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

When Steve Broman tries to check in to his hotel, he finds that it’s closed for the season. Now Hotels.com won’t give him a refund until it can confirm the hotel is closed. How long should he have to wait?

So you canceled your hotel reservation — prove it!

January 22, 2024August 16, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

When Michele Buescher reserved a room at the Super 8 property in Frankfort, Ind., through Priceline, she knew she had a limited time to cancel her stay.

Can United Airlines fix itself?

November 29, 2023August 14, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

It’s hard to find anyone who likes the new United Airlines. Even at United Airlines.

Her plans changed, but now her travel agent wants her to pay up

January 22, 2024August 13, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Any day now, I’m expecting a call from Heather Barksdale’s travel agent. That’s because she owes the agency for a plane ticket to Europe — or at least, that’s what they claim.

Are you one of the TSA’s unwitting accomplices?

January 22, 2024August 12, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

I would have given anything to be a fly on the wall at the Gallup Organization last week after it released a poll that suggested more than half of all Americans believe the TSA is doing a “good” or “excellent” job.