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 user mistakenly booked a month-long stay at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Colorado Springs, sought a refund due to an emergency.

The strange case of the dog bite and the $2,305 hotel bill

January 22, 2024June 1, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Amy Rossi brings one of the strangest cases the Travel Troubleshooter has ever mediated. It involves a dog bite, an erroneous booking and a $2,305 hotel bill.

If you want to save a little money on your next SeaWorld vacation, booking it all in the same place might be a good move.

His SeaWorld vacation is sunk — where’s his refund?

January 22, 2024May 31, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

If you want to save a little money on your next SeaWorld vacation, booking a package might be a good move. That’s what Jim Strasbaugh thought when he found a two-day package at SeaWorld Orlando through SeaWorld Vacations.

Duncan Fox saw a glimmer of hope when Mexicana Airlines recently announced it would return to the skies back in 2010.

When dead airlines rise, where’s my refund?

January 22, 2024May 30, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Duncan Fox saw a glimmer of hope when Mexicana Airlines recently announced it would return to the skies. Back in 2010, he’d booked a flight from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta, but shortly before his trip, Mexicana filed for bankruptcy protection and then folded.

I recently received two questions from readers of my book, Scammed. I'm interested in your answers. So are they.

Which one’s the scam? Work from home vs. the automatic tip calculator

January 22, 2024May 29, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Which of these two offers is the bigger scam?

In the customer service world, a first-class, roundtrip ticket anywhere the airline flies is United's way of saying, "We're really sorry."

United Airlines promised me two first class tickets — where are they?

January 22, 2024May 28, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

In the customer service world, a first-class, roundtrip ticket anywhere the airline flies is the ultimate mea culpa — an airline’s way of saying, “We’re really sorry.”

As Carnival Corp. announced plans to salvage the Costa Concordia last week, the world’s attention focused again on cruise safety.

How safe is a cruise? Even after new law, it’s hard to say

January 22, 2024May 26, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

As Carnival Corp. announced plans to salvage the Costa Concordia last week, the world’s attention focused again on cruise safety — or rather, lack of it.

I'm writing on behalf of friends who booked a trip to Italy recently. They also purchased trip insurance through Access America.

Is this fair? They saved $74, but they lost $10,074

January 22, 2024May 25, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Jennifer Chilton is outraged because her friends have been denied travel insurance coverage on a technicality. Will they really lose $10,074 because of a clause in the fine print? Find out.

We've talked about vacation club scams in the past -- and I'm on record as saying I've never run across a legitimate travel club.

Is this a scam? Travel To Go leaves one couple disappointed

January 22, 2024May 24, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

We’ve talked about vacation club scams in the past — and I’m on record as saying I’ve never run across a legitimate travel club — but what happens to the folks who plunk down thousands of dollars for a membership?

Resort fees fall under the category of "nuisance" surcharges because they're usually so insignificant that they're not worth fighting.

Socked with a $450 resort fee — is that fair?

January 22, 2024May 23, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

Resort fees fall under the category of “nuisance” surcharges because they’re usually so insignificant that they’re not worth fighting. And travel companies know it, which is one reason they keep piling ’em on.

And now, a little story about names, online travel agencies, airlines and the TSA.Are you still with me? Good.

“It sounds like criminal activity to me”

January 22, 2024May 22, 2012 by Christopher Elliott

And now, a little story about names, online travel agencies, airlines and the TSA.

Christopher Elliott

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