DOCUMENTATION Archives

Deirdre Stewart ordered six bras online and paid with PayPal, but received only two bras in the wrong size and a hideous shower curtain. Despite providing all required documentation, she has been waiting six weeks for a refund through PayPal’s Purchase Protection plan. After numerous frustrating interactions with PayPal’s customer service, including a disturbing call with a supposed supervisor, Deirdre reached out for help. With assistance, PayPal finally resolved her case, refunding her purchase. This bizarre experience highlights potential flaws in PayPal’s protection plan and the importance of documented communication.

I ordered bras, but they sent me a hideous shower curtain

August 20, 2024August 16, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Deirdre Stewart orders six bras online but receives only two — plus a “hideous” shower curtain. Will PayPal’s protection plan help her?

When Priya Engel checked into her San Diego vacation rental, she was met with cold water and no heat. Despite numerous calls to Vrbo and the property owner, the issues remained unresolved, forcing her to vacate early. Vrbo initially denied her refund claim, stating she didn't qualify under their Book With Confidence guarantee. Engel's persistence and documentation finally led to a full refund, raising questions about the necessity of explicit guarantees for basic amenities like heat and hot water in rental agreements.

No hot water and no heat in my Vrbo rental. Why can’t I get a refund?

August 31, 2024August 5, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Priya Engel turned on the shower in her San Diego vacation rental, the water ran cold and there was no heat. Repeated calls to the owner changed nothing, and now she wants her money back.

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?

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.

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?

When Michael Kivel had to cancel his car rental reservation with Avis due to an illness, he expected a prompt refund. However, the process turned out to be more complicated than anticipated. Despite initially cancelling his reservation online and subsequently receiving an email confirmation of a $1,016 refund, the money remained elusive.

Avis promised me a refund of $1,016 — so where is it?

June 21, 2024September 11, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

What happened to Michael Kivel’s refund from Avis? The company promised him his money after he had to cancel his car rental reservation. Is the money lost?

Engine failure after Jiffy Lube's oil change led Ian Culhane to a complex claim battle. Thorough documentation won the day.

Why won’t Jiffy Lube pay for my engine repair? Isn’t it responsible?

April 13, 2024August 9, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

After getting an oil change at Jiffy Lube, the engine on Ian Culhane’s Subaru stops working. The likely culprit is a botched oil change, he says. Why won’t Jiffy repair his car?

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?

Royal Caribbean charged me $1,556 to leave my cruise early. Can I get my money back?

March 1, 2024March 12, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Can a cruise line charge you more to leave your cruise early? As a matter of fact, it can. But should it charge you? That is what we’re here to find out.

Maybe the staff simply got her room confused with someone else's. But after they checked out, Burton found a $150 fee on her credit card.

Hit by a late charge? Here’s why you should write it up

January 23, 2024May 31, 2013 by Christopher Elliott

Jeanette Burton doesn’t smoke. Neither do her grandchildren, ages 5, 10 and 15, with whom she spent a recent Spring Break weekend at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Galveston, Texas.

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