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.

Yilun Liu canceled her Sears dishwasher order more than three months ago. But the company is still holding her $540. Will she ever get a refund?

I canceled my Sears dishwasher order. But where’s my refund?

February 7, 2025March 15, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Yilun Liu canceled her Sears dishwasher order more than three months ago. But the company is still holding her $540. Will she ever get a refund?

American Queen Voyages, which is teetering on the brink of insolvency, is holding up Terrance Hardy's refund. The reason? It can't figure out how much a Delta SkyMile is worth.

How much is a Delta SkyMile worth? This nearly bankrupt cruise line wants to know

July 10, 2024March 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

American Queen Voyages, which is teetering on the brink of insolvency, is holding up Terrance Hardy’s refund. The reason? It can’t figure out how much a Delta SkyMile is worth.

Carnival bans a couple because it finds CBD mints in their backpack. But you’ll never guess what happened next. Here’s what happened to them – and what it could mean for your next cruise.

Banned by their cruise line because of CBD candies. But you’ll never guess what happened next

July 21, 2024March 11, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Carnival bans a couple because it finds CBD mints in their backpack. Here’s what happened to them – and what it could mean for your next cruise.

Airlines will rake in a record $964 billion from passengers in 2024, up 7.5 percent from last year. Here's how to get a cheap ticket anyway.

Fight back against high airfares! Here’s how to get a cheaper flight now

September 25, 2024March 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Airlines will rake in a record $964 billion from passengers in 2024, up 7.5 percent from last year. Here’s how to get a cheap ticket anyway.

Sue Maier's sister sends her luggage to London via UPS, but the package misses her by a day. Can she get her money back for the shipping costs?

UPS missed my delivery. Can I get a refund?

March 16, 2024March 8, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Sue Maier’s sister sends her luggage to London, but UPS misses the delivery by a day. Can she get her money back for the shipping costs?

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed -- and will the charge stick?

Lyft surprised me with a $150 cleaning charge. Is that allowed?

December 18, 2025March 6, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed — and will the charge stick?

Mark Hartwig's vacation rental in Montreal was "such a bizarre experience" that he has trouble putting into words.

“Such a bizarre” rental experience on Vrbo — but do they even care?

September 30, 2025March 4, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Mark Hartwig’s vacation rental in Montreal was “such a bizarre experience” that he has trouble putting into words.

Your next flight may get an upgrade. No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It's bigger than that -- much bigger.

Is air travel getting better? Here are the surprising reasons it is

August 2, 2024March 2, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Your next flight may get an upgrade.
No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It’s bigger than that — much bigger.

Carolyn Hoke's anticipation for a serene seven-night river cruise from St. Louis to Minneapolis with American Queen Voyages turned into a prolonged ordeal of frustration and uncertainty. After the unexpected cancellation of her cruise in November 2022, Carolyn found herself ensnared in a seemingly endless wait for a refund of $10,126. Despite her persistent efforts, including calls to the company, escalations to the accounting department, and complaints to the Florida Division of Consumer Service, the refund remained elusive. As she navigated the maze of customer service apologies and bureaucratic dead ends, the ominous shadow of the company's potential bankruptcy loomed large, threatening to engulf her hopes of reclaiming her hard-earned money. This tale of perseverance against the tides of corporate negligence unfolds as Carolyn, with the help of consumer advocacy, confronts the daunting challenge of securing her refund from the brink of a collapsing cruise line.

Help! American Queen Voyages canceled my cruise but kept my $10,126

March 21, 2024March 1, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Carolyn Hoke has been waiting more than a year for her refund from American Queen Voyages for a canceled cruise. Why is it taking so long — and how can she speed up the process?

Elaine Simmons' cruise vacation turned into a nightmare when her NCL flight reservation vanished. Left scrambling at the airport, she paid an exorbitant $1,796 to secure alternative tickets. Despite pleading with NCL for reimbursement, they directed her to their travel insurance provider, AON, which rejected her claim. Even disputing the charge on her credit card proved futile. Exasperated and out of options, Elaine sought mediation. With resolve, she turned to an advocacy team, hoping they could compel NCL to take responsibility for their oversight and compensate her for the unexpected expense.

I paid an extra $1,796 to get to my cruise. Why won’t NCL reimburse me?

September 5, 2024February 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After Elaine Simmons’ flight reservation is lost, she pays an extra $1,796 to get to her NCL cruise. Why won’t the cruise line help her recover the money?