Christopher Elliott
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elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Christopher Elliott
@elliottdotorg.bsky.social
230 followers 6 following 700 posts
Author, journalist and consumer advocate. Founder of Elliott Advocacy. I'm here to help. Email chris@elliott.org
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Christopher Elliott @elliottdotorg.bsky.social · Apr 7
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elliottdotorg.bsky.social
A traveler caught in an emergency is left waiting as StubHub’s promised $2,561 refund stalls — exposing yet another gap in the ticket industry’s consumer protections.

www.elliott.org/problem-solv...

#StubHub #ConsumerRights #Ticketing #TravelNews
StubHub promised a refund after an emergency -- but where's my $2,561?
Learn about the controversy surrounding StubHub's refund policies when a fan's concert ticket purchase faced a family emergency.
www.elliott.org
December 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
A growing number of hotels, rental cars, and cruises are quietly drifting from their “smoke-free.

www.elliott.org/on-travel/ha...

#TravelNews #ConsumerAlert #SmokeFreePromise #TravelIndustry #KnowBeforeYouGo
Has the travel industry turned its back on its smoke-free promises?
If you think your next trip will be smoke-free, think again. The travel industry has abandoned its smoke-free promises -- mostly.
www.elliott.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
When Avis charges a renter $450 for a “heavy smoke smell” he says isn’t his, the case raises serious questions about how rental car inspections are documented and disputed.

www.elliott.org/the-troubles...

#Travel #ConsumerAdvocacy #RentalCars #Avis #TravelTips
Avis charged me $450 for a "heavy smoke smell" in my car -- but I don't smoke!
See how a renter fought back against Avis to reverse a $450 cleaning charge for a non-smoker's car rental.
www.elliott.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
This #GivingTuesday, help us build tech that catches glitches, builds unignorable complaints, and puts real executive contacts in consumers’ hands. Support the next generation of advocacy. #SupportConsumers #TechForGood

elliottadvocacy.org/support/
How to support Elliott Advocacy - Elliott Advocacy
This site relies on your financial support to continue its advocacy mission. Here’s how you can help.
elliottadvocacy.org
December 2, 2025 at 6:59 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Can American Airlines turn a fading signal into salvation — and reunite a distraught traveler with the iPhone that carried her late father’s irreplaceable voicemail before it vanishes forever?

www.elliott.org/advocacy/can...

#TravelNews #Aviation #ConsumerAdvocacy #LostAndFound #AirlineIssues
Can American Airlines find my irreplaceable iPhone before it's too late?
Can American Airlines find Tracy Pruss's lost iPhone 13 with irreplaceable memories before the battery dies completely?
www.elliott.org
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
An iPhone trade-in vanishes in the mail, putting a spotlight on Apple’s handling of missing return packages and what really happens when a device never arrives.

www.elliott.org/advocacy/hel...

#Apple #iPhoneTradeIn #iPhone #ConsumerRights #LostInTransit #ElliottAdvocacy
Help! My iPhone trade-in got lost in the mail!
An iPhone trade-in turned disastrous. Explore how a customer’s lost device led to weeks of unanswered support calls and confusion.
www.elliott.org
December 1, 2025 at 8:21 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Get your 2026 trip off to a smart start — because, according to travel experts, nothing protects your plans like travel insurance.

www.elliott.org/on-travel/pl...

#TravelTips #TravelSmart #TravelInsurance #2026Travel #ElliottAdvocacy
Planning a trip for 2026? Don't miss this must-have accessory, say experts
Get expert insights on travel insurance options and upgrades for 2026. Protect your travel investment wisely with our guide.
www.elliott.org
November 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Can a small South-Pacific airline really save a paradise?

www.elliott.org/destinations...

#AirTahitiNui #SustainableTravel #EcoTourism #TravelNews #FrenchPolynesia #ClimateAction
Can this airline protect paradise?
Learn how Air Tahiti Nui is transforming travel with its unique sustainability initiatives while flying to stunning destinations.
www.elliott.org
November 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Amazon promises a replacement Christmas tree after a damaged delivery, but then the retailer goes silent.

www.elliott.org/problem-solv...

#Amazon #CustomerService #HolidayShopping #OnlineShopping #ElliottAdvocacy
Amazon promised me a new Christmas tree, then I got Scrooged
Find out why Amazon left a family without a Christmas tree after making promises that were later rescinded by a supervisor.
www.elliott.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Don’t be fooled — even if you return a rental car spotless, a company can still hit you with a $3,000 ‘hail-damage’ bill based on nothing more than weather data.

www.elliott.org/advocacy/hai...

#TravelTips #ConsumerAlert #RentalCar #ElliottAdvocacy #TravelAdvice
This is how to fight an unfair car rental damage charge -- and win
Car rental companies hit their customers with unfair damage charges all the time. And that's especially true when it comes to hail damage. Here's how to avoid a false damage claim.
www.elliott.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
A student returns a mud-covered Turo rental and is suddenly hit with a $1,200 damage claim backed only by a set of blurry, inconclusive photos.

#Turo #CarSharing #ConsumerRights #TravelTips #RentalCarIssues #ScamAlert
Turo is accusing me of causing $1,200 in damage. But I didn't do it!
Read about a Turo rental gone wrong and how proper advocacy helped void an unjust $1,200 damage bill after returning the vehicle.
www.elliott.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:55 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Lufthansa botched a booking, forced a hidden $199 fee, and dragged its feet for nine months before finally refunding — a messy case that proves persistence and documentation really pay off.

www.elliott.org/advocacy/luf...

#TravelTips #ConsumerRights #AirlineRefunds #Lufthansa #TravelAdvocacy
Lufthansa made a booking error! Will I ever get a refund for my ticket?
Lufthansa made a booking error that cost Scott Davis more than a flight to Rome.  It also tested his patience with a hidden fee, a mind-boggling bureaucracy, and world-class corporate stubbornness.
www.elliott.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
When an airline refuses to refund you, you might be up against a little-known rule that protects the carrier more than the passenger, and understanding it is the key to getting your $654 back.

www.elliott.org/advocacy/whe...

#TravelRights #AirlineRefunds #EC261 #Travel #TravelTips #Iberia
When an airline refuses to refund you $654, this could be the reason
Iberia Airlines canceled a flight and complicated the refund process. Find out how to handle similar situations easily.
www.elliott.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Luang Prabang’s heritage is getting a welcome lift from a plastic-free eco-hotel and a surprising buffalo-milk farm, together offering a refreshingly hopeful model for sustainable travel in this UNESCO-listed town.

www.elliott.org/destinations...

#SustainableTourism #EcoTravel
Can a green hotel (and a side of buffalo milk) save Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang embraces sustainable tourism through green hotels, river cruises, and buffalo dairies to protect its cultural heritage.
www.elliott.org
November 23, 2025 at 11:24 AM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
When Best Buy refused to replace a broken appliance, Elliott Advocacy stepped in — and here’s how we forced them to do the right thing.

www.elliott.org/problem-solv...

#BestBuy #ConsumerAdvocacy #CustomerService #WarrantyIssues #BrokenAppliance #ConsumerRights #ElliottAdvocacy
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
When a customer buys tickets for a 1 p.m. show on StubHub but receives seats for the 7:30 p.m. performance, the company denies her refund and invents an absurd rule.

www.elliott.org/problem-solv...

#StubHub #TicketTrouble #ConsumerAlert #TravelAdvice #ElliottAdvocacy #BuyerBeware #CustomerService
StubHub issued tickets for the wrong showtime. Can I get a refund?
StubHub sent tickets for the wrong showtime, then denied a refund by blaming the customer with an invented rule.
www.elliott.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
After a decade of flawless stays, this traveler woke up to find Airbnb had banned him for life — with no explanation.

www.elliott.org/the-troubles...

#Airbnb #TravelTroubleshooter #TravelTips #ConsumerRights #TravelNews #VacationRentals #TravelScams
Help! Airbnb banned me for life -- but won’t say why
Airbnb bans a long-time user without details. Read about the fight for clarity and the issues with automated enforcement.
www.elliott.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
After Iberia lost a passenger’s suitcase for 12 days and over $1,000 in items vanished, the airline denied her theft claim, because the bag itself wasn’t damaged.

www.elliott.org/advocacy/pil...

#TravelTips #ConsumerRights #Iberia #LostLuggage #TravelScams #AirlineCompensation
Pilfered luggage problem: Why won't Iberia help me?
Bonnie's bag sat in Madrid for 12 days. Items vanished, but Iberia only offered $98. Learn what rights travelers have when luggage gets pilfered.
www.elliott.org
November 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Are you a “gate camper”? 🛫 Many travelers are showing up way too early out of fear of delays — clogging gates and stressing everyone out. Are you saving time or just adding to the chaos?

www.elliott.org/on-travel/pa...

#TravelTips #AirTravel #HolidayTravel #AirportAnxiety #TravelStress
Passengers are arriving too early for their flights. They should do this instead.
Are you a passenger who arrives at the airport too early? Learn about the impact of gate camping on travel and fellow travelers.
www.elliott.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Discover how travelers are recharging with spa escapes, forest bathing, and shrine strolls in this ultimate wellness guide.

www.elliott.org/destinations...

#TokyoTravel #JetLagFix #WellnessWanderlust
Travelers to Tokyo are fighting jet lag and stress. Here's what they'll find.
Tokyo’s wellness scene is redefining jet lag recovery with forest bathing, massage innovation, and affordable self-care—from Yoyogi Park to Yokohama.
www.elliott.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Ever wondered why the EV‑rental boom hasn’t taken off? Dive into Forbes’ latest—and discover how charge‑point chaos is killing the promise of electric car hire.

www.forbes.com/sites/christ...

#EVRevolution #ElectricVehicles #RentalCars #GreenMobility
No Plug, No Play: The Real Reason The Rental EV Revolution Is Stalling
New data from Enterprise Mobility show range anxiety and charging inconvenience are killing EV rental demand. Here's how to go electric on your next trip.
www.forbes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Just when this consumer thought he was free of his contract, DirecTV quietly hit him with a surprise $40 fee.

www.elliott.org/problem-solv...

#DirecTV #CustomerService #BillingIssues #ConsumerRights #CableTV #Refund #ProblemSolved #ConsumerProtection
November 8, 2025 at 12:03 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
What begins as a harmless spill on your host’s sofa can, thanks to automated rules and an insurance claim gone awry, leave you locked out of your account really fast.

www.elliott.org/the-troubles...

#Airbnb #TravelTroubles #VacationRental #TravelTips #ShortTermRental #TravelAdvice #Airbnb
Help! I'm locked out of my Airbnb account after I spilled food on my host's sofa
When River Roberts accidentally spills food on his host's sofa, he's locked out of his Airbnb account. Will he ever be able to book another rental on Airbnb?
www.elliott.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:59 AM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
A guest got locked out of her Airbnb and slapped with a $385 bill. The locksmith blames the weather, but Airbnb sides with the host.

www.elliott.org/the-troubles...

#Airbnb #TravelScam #ConsumerRights #TravelTroubles #GuestExperience #TravelTips #SmartLock #TravelNews
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM
elliottdotorg.bsky.social
Before you hand over the keys and click your camera, beware: the new AI-equipped rental car scanners are quietly turning your casual scratches into surprise bills

www.forbes.com/sites/christ...

#RentalCar #CarRental #AI #TravelTips #HiddenFees #SmartTravel #Travel #TechInTravel
AI vs. The iPhone: The Battle For Your Rental Car Damage Bill
Hertz is betting millions on new automated scanners to spot scratches. Peer-to-peer rival Turo insists the best solution is already in your pocket.
www.forbes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:58 PM