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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

  • Home
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CONSUMER RIGHTS

When faced with a hotel room downgrade, it's crucial to document everything and communicate your concerns to the hotel immediately. If unresolved, escalate the issue by writing to customer service or the hotel's higher management. For unresolved cases, consider contacting consumer protection authorities. Booking platforms often lack rigorous quality control, leading to discrepancies in room descriptions. Advocacy and persistence can help secure fair compensation or refunds, emphasizing the importance of knowing your rights and the hotel's obligations for a satisfactory resolution.

Chased out of his hotel for complaining about a small room. Is this enough compensation?

February 12, 2025February 12, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Jimmy Lim thought he’d booked a suite for his family in Hong Kong through Booking.com. He ended up getting chased out of the hotel after complaining about the size of his rooms. Now he wants a refund — and, of course, he isn’t getting it.

Categories Advocacy
Hotels have finally gone too far when it comes to parking fees. 

Outrageous! Hotels are charging for parking — whether you have a car or not

September 7, 2025February 3, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Hotels have finally gone too far when it comes to parking fees. 

Categories On Travel
Roy Gregston's Hoover Steam Mop, purchased from Amazon with an extended warranty, breaks down months later. Navigating a maze of customer service from Asurion, Hoover, and Amazon, he faces a restocking fee and limited support. Despite policies and warranties, he's left with a defective product and mounting frustration. Will his persistence pay off, or is he stuck with a costly, unusable mop and half his money gone?

My steam mop broke! Amazon won’t clean up this mess — and now there’s a restocking fee

March 29, 2024February 2, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Roy Gregston’s Hoover Complete Steam Mop breaks down only a few months after he buys it from Amazon. Even though he has a three-year extended warranty, no one will cover it. And then there’s a restocking fee, too. What’s going on?

Categories Problem Solved
Dollar doesn't have the rental car Beth Bonness reserved in Atlanta, but that's not stopping it from charging her $82. Can it do that? And how does she get a refund?

Dollar didn’t have my rental car — but it still charged me $82!

June 5, 2025January 31, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Dollar doesn’t have the rental car Beth Bonness reserved in Atlanta, but that’s not stopping it from charging her $82. Can it do that? And how does she get a refund?

Categories The Travel Troubleshooter
Caught in a financial tug-of-war, Alejandro Soler faced a daunting challenge retrieving his $286 refund from PayPal and Chase. His money, seemingly lost in a maze of corporate bureaucracy, became a symbol of the struggle consumers face when large corporations mishandle transactions. This narrative underscores the complexities and frustrations in recovering misplaced funds.

PayPal and Chase missing refund problem: “My money is nowhere to be found”

October 27, 2025January 29, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If you’ve ever had to go toe to toe with a big company over a missing refund, then you’ll relate to Alejandro Soler’s recent problem with PayPal and Chase.

Categories Advocacy
Ronald Crossley faces a challenging situation with his Hamilton Beach toaster oven, experiencing both functional issues and poor customer service. Despite his efforts to return the appliance and request a refund, he encounters unresponsiveness, leading him to seek advice on how to navigate this frustrating consumer predicament.

“Burned” by my Hamilton Beach toaster oven. Why can’t I get a refund?

August 31, 2024January 26, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Ronald Crossley’s Hamilton Beach toaster oven doesn’t work. And apparently, neither does the Hamilton Beach customer service department. How does he get this appliance fixed?

Categories Problem Solved
Flooded bathroom.

She left her “unsafe” Vrbo rental. Can she get her money back?

January 30, 2025January 22, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Nicole Morin wants her money back for the “unsafe” vacation rental she booked through Vrbo. And she wants me to help her get it.

Categories Advocacy
Lillian Kohler faced losing $36,000 after Vantage Travel's bankruptcy. Unlike others, she discovered a potential path to a refund. This story explores the complexities of cruise line bankruptcies and offers insights on protecting your travel investments, highlighting the crucial role of consumer advocacy in navigating these turbulent situations.

Will she get a $36,000 refund for her canceled Vantage Travel cruise?

January 16, 2024January 15, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Lillian Kohler never imagined she’d get stiffed for $36,000 by a supposedly reputable cruise company like Vantage Travel. 

Categories Advocacy
In a quest for better customer service, frustrated travelers like Robert Grunfeld are recording their calls with airlines. While this tactic can yield mixed results, experts suggest alternative strategies, highlighting the complexities of customer service interactions and the evolving legal and ethical considerations in the digital age.

Frustrated travelers start recording customer service phone calls. But does it work?

January 16, 2024January 13, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Oh, the lengths some people will go to get better customer service. Like recording phone calls with a customer service agent. 

Categories On Travel
Britt Lane's ordeal with Ashley Furniture began when her new bed arrived missing crucial parts. Despite repeated efforts to resolve the issue, including requests for a partial refund and a copy of the contract, she faced unhelpful customer service and was left sleeping on the floor for over a month.

My bed from Ashley Furniture is missing a few parts. What should I do?

January 13, 2024January 12, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

What’s wrong with Britt Lane’s bed? And why won’t Ashley Furniture fix it for her? She’s been sleeping on the floor since she ordered the furniture from the retailer. 

Categories Problem Solved
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