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Advocacy

These tales are from our consumer advocacy files. If you’re a consumer with a problem with a company, you can contact us for help as well.

When Aer Lingus canceled Thomas Bedsole's flight from Indianapolis to Dublin during the pandemic, it quickly offered him a voucher for $2,484 -- and he quickly accepted.

This $2,484 Aer Lingus flight voucher doesn’t work! Do I still have to pay for my ticket?

November 24, 2025November 4, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Aer Lingus canceled Thomas Bedsole’s flight from Indianapolis to Dublin during the pandemic, it quickly offered him a voucher for $2,484 — and he quickly accepted. But almost four years later, the Aer Lingus flight voucher doesn’t work — and the airline won’t help him.

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
Learn from Terri Taylor's Airbnb misadventure in Paris. Discover what to do if you ever get locked out of your rental.

Locked out of your Airbnb? Here’s how to get back in

November 9, 2025October 21, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

If you ever get locked out of your Airbnb rental, you’ll want to know about Terri Taylor’s misadventure with her apartment in Paris. It’s a doozy.

Categories Advocacy
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.

Categories Advocacy
Erin Wright was banned by American Airlines, accused of intoxication and engaging in sexual activity with a stranger during a flight. But Wright insists it's a case of mistaken identity — she’s a 24-year-old lesbian who wasn’t involved. Determined to clear her name, Wright turned to an advocacy team for help. Although American Airlines eventually reinstated her, Wright’s fight wasn’t over. She posted a viral TikTok video and fought for a refund for an extra ticket she had to buy. What really happened on that flight?

Banned by American Airlines for being “intoxicated and engaging in sexual activity” — but was it her?

June 28, 2025October 7, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

American Airlines says Erin Wright was drunk and had sex with a man on a recent flight, and now she’s banned. Wright says American Airlines didn’t give her a chance to tell her side of the story and that this is a case of mistaken identity — and she can prove it

Categories Advocacy
Robert and Beverly Isman had to cancel their dream Nile river cruise with Overseas Adventure Travel after Beverly received a diagnosis of advanced pancreatic cancer. Despite filing a claim with their travel insurance company, Allianz, and having it approved, Overseas Adventure Travel delayed their $18,652 refund for nearly nine months. Frustrated and exhausted, the Ismans sought help, and with some persistence, they finally received their refund, plus interest. This case highlights the challenges of dealing with Overseas Adventure Travel and the importance of staying proactive in claim disputes.

Why won’t Overseas Adventure Travel refund my $18,652 tour? I have travel insurance!

October 23, 2024September 30, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Robert and Beverly Isman were about to cast off on a once-in-a-lifetime Nile river cruise when they received a devastating medical diagnosis: Beverly had advanced pancreatic cancer.

Categories Advocacy
Alex and Jaime Passakos experienced a disappointing wedding at Sandals Montego Bay, citing issues like poor hair styling, an ineffective bridal assistant, missed sunset photos, and damaged wedding attire. Most distressingly, their wedding photos and video were of poor quality. The couple initially sought a refund for the wedding portion of their $48,000 trip. Sandals offered a partial refund and a free stay, which was negotiated up after complaints. Ultimately, Sandals increased their compensation offer, which the couple accepted.

My wedding was ruined! What does Sandals owe me?

October 19, 2024September 23, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Alex and Jaime Passakos say their honeymoon at Sandals was ruined — and they want compensation.

Categories Advocacy
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.

Categories Advocacy
When Jane Huang transferred $1,264 to her brother through PayPal, it never reached his account. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue, including contacting PayPal and Xoom, and filing complaints with financial protection agencies, her money remained missing for six months. After persistent efforts and seeking help from a consumer advocacy site, PayPal finally refunded her the full amount plus $100. Her experience highlights the importance of verifying recipient details, monitoring transaction statuses, and the challenges of resolving lost money transfers with online payment services.

PayPal money transfer problem: What should I do if the money never gets there?

April 26, 2025September 9, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

When Jane Huang transferred $1,264 to her brother through PayPal, she expected him to get the money. But he never did.

Categories Advocacy
Tracy Pruss lost her iPhone 13 while boarding an American Airlines flight from Raleigh-Durham to Cincinnati. Despite using the Find My app to locate the phone near the gate desk, her attempts to retrieve it were met with delays and unhelpful responses from both the airport and the airline. As days passed and the battery dwindled, Pruss feared losing the phone—and its irreplaceable contents—forever. Desperate, she drove to the airport in Cincinnati for help. Will American Airlines find her phone before it's too late, or are these precious memories lost forever?

Can American Airlines find my irreplaceable iPhone before it’s too late?

December 2, 2025September 2, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Tracy Pruss lost her iPhone 13 as she boarded an American Airlines flight from Raleigh-Durham to Cincinnati. The device slipped out of her pocket on the jetway.

Categories Advocacy
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