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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
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CONSUMER PROTECTION

Travelers worry about vacation rental safety. Learn how to research neighborhood crime, read rental reviews, and use online tools for safer bookings. Understand how AI and crime databases can help.

How to find a safe neighborhood for your next vacation rental

June 14, 2025June 14, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Ashley Hampton traveled to New Orleans recently, she worried about security.  

Categories Safe Travels
Customer pays for Best Buy's Total Tech Support, but they fail to fix computer issues, leaving it unusable. Learn how to document and escalate tech support problems for resolution.

I don’t have a working computer. Why won’t Best Buy help me?

June 14, 2025June 13, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When her HP desktop computer stops working, Janet Fried contacts Best Buy for help. But her Total Tech Support contract turns out to not be as comprehensive as she thought. Can she get her computer repaired?

Categories Problem Solved
Renter receives $2,212 bill from Thrifty for damage already noted on rental form. Claims company insists on payment despite evidence. Learn how to document rental car condition and dispute false damage charges. PurCo

Thrifty is billing me $2,212 for damaging my rental — but I didn’t do it!

June 14, 2025June 11, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

When Natasha Bird rents a car from Thrifty, she notes damage to the front bumper. So why is she getting a bill for $2,212 for the same damage?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Hockey fan buys "glass seats" on StubHub, receives tickets for a nonexistent row. Despite video proof, StubHub initially refuses refund. Learn how to escalate and resolve misleading ticket purchases.

Ticket trouble: Did StubHub score an “own goal” on this purchase?

June 9, 2025June 6, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Eli Klein snags the perfect seats to watch his favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals, take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. But his excitement turns to frustration when he discovers the seats do not exist.

Categories Problem Solved
Renter faces $1,800 bill for a "small scratch" on an Enterprise rental car in Germany. Dispute leads to threats. Learn how to document rental car condition and fight false damage claims.

A “small scratch” on my Enterprise rental — and now a $1,800 bill. Do I have to pay?

June 7, 2025June 4, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Eric Weiman rents a car from Enterprise in Germany. He is later accused of damaging the car. When he disputes the charges, Enterprise threatens legal action. Can he get them to drop the claim?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
When Jane Huang transferred $1,264 to her brother through PayPal, it never reached his account. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, including contacting PayPal and Xoom, and filing complaints with financial protection agencies, her money remained missing for six months. After persistent efforts and seeking help from a consumer advocacy site, PayPal finally refunded her the full amount plus $100. Her experience highlights the importance of verifying recipient details, monitoring transaction statuses, and the challenges of resolving lost money transfers with online payment services.

PayPal money transfer problem: What should I do if the money never gets there?

April 26, 2025September 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Jane Huang transferred $1,264 to her brother through PayPal, she expected him to get the money. But he never did.

Categories Advocacy
Companies often use release forms to silence consumers when addressing complaints. For instance, Lowe's offered a settlement to a customer for a botched kitchen installation but required her to destroy evidence and stay silent. These agreements, similar to nondisclosure agreements, prevent consumers from sharing their experiences, thereby protecting the company's reputation. Consumers should be wary of such agreements, which may restrict their rights to criticize or pursue further claims. Consulting a lawyer before signing is advisable to understand the full implications. Refusing these agreements could push companies to resolve issues transparently.

How companies try to silence you when you have a problem

November 24, 2024August 26, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

The document seemed harmless enough — a “release of all claims” in exchange for a cash settlement. Lowe’s sent it to one of our readers when she asked it to fix a botched kitchen installation.

Categories Advocacy
Ronald Duben is ready to give his credit card. He thinks there's something better out there -- and there almost certainly is.

As rewards credit cards face regulation, what are the alternatives?

January 15, 2025May 18, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Ronald Duben is ready to give his credit card. He thinks there’s something better out there — and there almost certainly is.

Categories On Travel
The new airline consumer protection rules target junk fees and guarantee refunds for significant delays. Yet, implementation hurdles and potential conflicts loom. Will these regulations truly benefit travelers this summer? Read on for insights.

Will new airline consumer protection rules help you when you fly this summer?

May 17, 2024May 11, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

You’ve probably heard about the new airline consumer protection rules that rolled out with a one-two punch last month. There were so many, it’s almost hard to keep track. And maybe you’re saying to yourself: Finally, I’ll have some rights when I fly.

Categories On Travel
His cruise credit is lost at sea.

I canceled my cruise, but my $19,148 credit card claim is lost at sea

August 8, 2024February 14, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Brent Feinberg and his wife cancel their cruise after a medical emergency. Why won’t their credit card cover their $19,148 loss?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
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