CONSUMER RIGHTS Archives

When Ticketmaster sells Nathaniel Meyer his Grateful Dead tickets, it leads him to believe he can resell them. But he can't. Is he stuck with them?

Shakedown Street: Why can’t I resell these Dead & Company concert tickets?

September 24, 2025October 18, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Ticketmaster sells Nathaniel Meyer his Grateful Dead tickets, it leads him to believe he can resell them. But he can’t. Is he stuck with them?

Marcus Mann booked a flight with Frontier Airlines, but never received a confirmation email, leaving him unable to check in for his trip. After losing $583 and facing unhelpful customer service, he turned to a credit card dispute and even visited the airport in desperation. Frontier claimed they sent a confirmation, but Mann insists it never arrived. With help from an advocacy team, Mann finally got answers. Frontier admitted its mistake and agreed to refund his airfare. This serves as a reminder to always double-check your spam folder for important emails.

I never received a flight confirmation from Frontier. Can I get a refund?

November 24, 2024October 16, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Frontier Airlines fails to send Marcus Mann a confirmation for his airline ticket, he tries to find out what went wrong. After losing $583, he’s not getting any closer to the truth.

Scarlett Kelly’s Paris vacation rental turned into a nightmare when a $300 damage deposit and a missed check-in window led to her being marked a no-show. Booking.com sided with the rental owner, who kept her money despite Kelly’s claims she was there on time. Now, Kelly is fighting back, alleging fraud, breach of contract, and even obstruction of justice. Should Booking.com refund Kelly, or is this a lesson in reading the fine print? With a $100 refund offer on the table, Kelly refuses to back down.

She lost her Paris vacation rental on a technicality — should I take this case?

February 7, 2025October 14, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Scarlett Kelly paid for a vacation rental in Paris through Booking.com, but she never got to stay in it. Booking.com wants to keep her money on what appears to be a technicality.

Tom Kay ordered a mobility scooter from Amazon, only to face a series of frustrating setbacks. First, the vendor claimed the color he wanted was unavailable and refused to cancel the order. Then, the tracking information falsely showed that the scooter had been delivered. Despite his efforts to resolve the issue, Amazon and the vendor were unresponsive, demanding a police report for a product that likely was never shipped. After months of dead ends, Tom finally received a refund for his $2,650 Amazon mobility scooter with a little help.

What can I do about the missing mobility scooter I ordered from Amazon?

October 19, 2024September 27, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

The mobility scooter Tom Kay orders from Amazon never arrived — yet the tracking number says it’s been delivered. Is his $2,650 lost, too?

Susan Deonier spent over 1,300 hours crafting detailed Amazon reviews, only to have all 654 of them abruptly deleted without explanation. Despite multiple inquiries and letters to Amazon executives, she received no response. Amazon cited a vague violation of community guidelines but offered no specific reason or chance to rectify the situation. After months of frustration, she sought help, and finally, Amazon restored her reviews. This story highlights the challenges of dealing with automated systems and the importance of persistence in getting Amazon reviews reinstated.

Can you help me restore the 654 product reviews Amazon has deleted?

January 14, 2025September 20, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Amazon has removed all of Susan Deonier’s product reviews from the platform, but it won’t say why. Is there any way to get these comments restored?

Darrell Eldridge faced a $3,000 charge from Turo for a blown tire during his rental of a 2021 Dodge Durango. Despite providing evidence of poor tire maintenance, Turo initially upheld the charge. Eldridge took detailed photos, proving negligence in tire upkeep by the vehicle owner. After appeals and advocacy intervention, Turo rescinded the charge. This case highlights the importance of thorough documentation, especially of tire condition, when renting from platforms like Turo.

Turo repair problem: Do I have to pay $3,000 for this blown tire?

October 10, 2024September 16, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When a tire on Darrell Eldridge’s Turo rental blew out, he was relieved that he didn’t get into an accident. But his relief soon gave way to rage when Turo sent him a $3,000 bill for damage.

Leah Davidson faced a frustrating situation when she returned her iPhone 11 to a third-party seller on Amazon. Despite having a receipt proving her package was delivered, the seller claimed the box was empty and refused to refund her $319. Amazon's AI-driven customer service only complicated the matter, bouncing her between departments without resolution. It wasn't until a human finally reviewed her case that she got her money back, leaving the mystery of the missing phone unsolved.

I returned my iPhone, but Amazon is charging me for it. Is that fair?

November 1, 2024September 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Leah Davidson returns her iPhone 11 to a third-party seller on Amazon. But the seller claims the box is empty. Does she still get her money back?

Jim Hutslar faced a challenging situation after a scooter accident forced him to cancel his British Airways flight. Despite receiving a promise from Expedia for a $1,987 ticket credit, he hit a roadblock when British Airways marked him as a "no-show" and canceled his entire trip. As a result, he was caught in a frustrating loop between Expedia and British Airways, each pointing the finger at the other. Discover how Jim navigated this complex issue and whether he managed to secure his ticket credit or lost his money for good.

Expedia says I have a $1,987 credit, but British Airways says I was a “no-show”

September 9, 2024September 4, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

After a scooter accident, Jim Hutslar cancels his British Airways flight. Expedia offers him a $1,987 ticket credit. But British Airways refuses, claiming he was a “no show” for his flight. Is the money lost?

Linda Carnivale found herself in a frustrating situation after canceling a cruise and trying to get her $250 deposit back. With the credit card she used now closed, NCL claimed to have refunded the money, but Chase, her bank, said otherwise. A tense three-way call between Linda, Chase, and NCL led to a blame game with no resolution in sight. Linda's persistence paid off as she documented everything, but will she finally see her refund? The situation serves as a cautionary tale for anyone dealing with refund disputes between businesses and banks.

Help! NCL and Chase are arguing about my $250 refund, but I just want my money back

September 5, 2024August 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Linda Carnivale wants her $250 cruise deposit refunded. But now her bank and cruise line are arguing over who is responsible for the money. Does it matter? And can she get her money back?

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

October 2, 2025August 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.

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