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Elliott Report

Elliott Report

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HIDDEN FEES

Marcy Schackne is mad.  She recently waited 2½ hours at LAX just to talk to a car rental agent. After completing her paperwork, she inspected three vehicles that were "beyond dirty" before finding one suitable to drive

Car rental rage: Why everyone’s losing it at the counter right now

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by Christopher Elliott

Marcy Schackne is mad. 

She recently waited 2½ hours at LAX just to talk to a car rental agent. After completing her paperwork, she inspected three vehicles that were “beyond dirty” before finding one suitable to drive

Categories On Travel
Why do I have to pay this $165 resort fee?

I booked a hotel with American Airlines miles. Why do I have to pay this $165 resort fee?

March 23, 2026March 3, 2026 by Christopher Elliott

Lai Leong thought she was helping her friend Zeng by using some of her American Airlines miles to book a hotel in Honolulu. She had no idea that Zeng would be on the hook for a surprise fee.

Categories Advocacy
Air travelers are paying more for less, and a sense of resignation has set in. Experts say consumers feel they deserve it after years of choosing low fares, but they shouldn't. This trend now extends beyond airlines to hotels and cruises.

Travelers are resigned to paying more and getting less. Do they deserve this?

October 14, 2025October 12, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Don’t look now, but air travelers are paying more and getting less — and they’re fine with it.

Categories On Travel
StubHub charged a seller $747 in fees despite promising a waiver after Adele's show was postponed. See how she fought for her refund.

StubHub charged me $747 in fees after Adele postponed her concert. But it promised not to!

November 8, 2025August 25, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Ellen Kwan-Portal just can’t let go of her Adele tickets.

Categories Advocacy
a digital illustration of a forlorn woman with big eyes standing in front of a car. There is a pile of sand next to her.

Do I really owe Budget $450 for cleaning my rental car? It’s just a little sand!

May 24, 2025October 28, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

What’s this $450 cleaning fee on Irina Safonov’s Budget Car Rental bill? Sure, she rented a Chrysler Voyager in Detroit recently. And yes, she returned it with “a little” sand on the floor mats.

Categories Advocacy
Vacation rentals may seem like the perfect solution, but don’t be fooled by glossy photos and cheap listings. From artificially enhanced pictures to sneaky extra fees, the vacation rental game has plenty of hidden traps. With prices on the rise, how can you find a deal? The key is in negotiating directly, using the right tools, and asking the right questions. But even then, are you really getting what you paid for? Before you book, arm yourself with these insights and strategies to avoid the biggest vacation rental gotchas.

New strategies for avoiding vacation rental “gotchas”

November 25, 2024October 6, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If you’re looking for a vacation rental this holiday season, you already know about the biggest gotcha: the high price.

Categories On Travel
Julie Duteau noticed something strange on her last two phone bills: a surprise $10 fee for a "modem lease." Problem is, she already owns her modem.

This surprise fee made her phone bill skyrocket

January 19, 2024March 18, 2023 by Christopher Elliott

Julie Duteau noticed something strange on her last two phone bills: a surprise $10 fee for a “modem lease.” Find out how to avoid unwanted surcharges like this on your bill.

Categories Advocacy

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