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.

Jackie Owens' home has a gas leak, according to Eversource Gas, her energy company. But that's wrong, and the error has cost her $222. Can she get her money back?

Eversource Gas says I have a leak. Do I have to pay this service bill?

January 19, 2024April 17, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Jackie Owens’ home has a gas leak, according to Eversource Gas, her energy company. But that’s wrong, and the error has cost her $222. Can she get her money back?

How many times does Whirlpool have to replace a defective stove? And what, if anything, does the installer owe you if things go wrong?

My Whirlpool stove is defective again. How do I get it fixed?

November 23, 2024April 16, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Chuck Reiter hoped the third time would be the charm for his new Whirlpool stove. The company had already delivered two faulty appliances and reluctantly replaced them, but his weird adventure in Whirlpool hell was about to get even weirder.

Waiting for your passport? Here are some insider tips on what you need to do if you want to get your passport this summer.

Waited too long to get a passport? Here’s what to do

January 19, 2024April 14, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Airbnb bans Svitlana Marchenko from the site, it won't tell her why. Could it have something to do with her residence?

Airbnb banned me because I used to live in Russia. But it’s complicated.

January 19, 2024April 11, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When Airbnb bans Svitlana Marchenko from the site, it won’t tell her why. Could it have something to do with her residence? The answer is complicated.

One of John Edmunds' new American Tourister bags is defective. Does he have to ship it to Texas at his expense, or can he get an exchange?

My American Tourister luggage is defective. How do I get it fixed?

October 2, 2024April 10, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

One of John Edmunds’ new American Tourister bags is defective. Does he have to ship it to Texas at his expense, or can he get an exchange?

Did Amazon lose your return package? Learn how to get your refund and understand Amazon's policies for lost returns in this frustrating tale of customer disservice.

Amazon didn’t receive my return package. What should I do?

March 27, 2025April 10, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

If you return a product to Amazon, but it says the package never arrived, what can you do?

If you want to get away from it all, there's remote -- and then there's Tasmania. Here's why more Americans are visiting in 2023.

Remote, wild and devilishly subversive: Here’s why Americans are coming back to Tasmania

January 19, 2024April 7, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

If you want to get away from it all, there’s remote — and then there’s Tasmania. Here’s why more Americans are visiting in 2023.

What is it about the luggage carousel that brings out the worst in air travelers? Maybe it's the decline of civility. Maybe not.

Luggage etiquette: Do’s and don’ts for claiming your bags

April 6, 2025April 7, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

What is it about the luggage carousel that brings out the worst in air travelers? Maybe it’s the decline of civility. Maybe not.

Krista O'Brien accidentally pays $449 extra for her checked luggage on an Aer Lingus flight. Why won't the airline help her undo the mistake?

I paid Aer Lingus for extra luggage I didn’t need. Can I get a refund?

November 4, 2024April 4, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Krista O’Brien accidentally pays $449 extra for her checked luggage on an Aer Lingus flight. Why won’t the airline help her undo the mistake?

When a U.S. Customs agent confiscates Adriana Cordero's passport, she tries to get it back. But government bureaucracy is standing between her and her ID.

U.S. Customs confiscated her passport. How does she get it back?

December 6, 2023April 3, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

When a U.S. Customs agent confiscates Adriana Cordero’s passport, she tries to get it back. But government bureaucracy is standing between her and her ID.