I’m reaching out because I’m honestly at a loss for what to do next, and I would really appreciate some advice.

Christopher Elliott suggested I share my experience here. I have been dealing with an ongoing dispute with TLS Automotive and Speedeezz Auto Finish in Fort Myers, Florida, regarding repairs to my 2021 Tesla Model Y. Anthony Collado is the owner/president of both TLS Automotive and Speedeezz Auto Finish, which is important because I was charged separately by both businesses for work that was supposed to be included in my original agreement.

What should have been a simple repair has turned into such an upsetting experience. I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of, and what bothers me almost as much as the money is the way I’ve been treated when I’ve tried to get answers.

I want to explain everything because I think it’s important to understand that I didn’t discover all these problems at once.

How everything started

I originally contacted TLS about repairing my front bumper and some paint damage.

On October 1, they quoted me $900 for the front bumper repair, including the replacement lower grille and parts, plus $200 for the additional paint work. They offered me a $100 discount, bringing the total to $1,000.

I confirmed that amount with them in writing before scheduling the repairs.

When I dropped off my vehicle, Anthony Collado explained that the rear of the car would need to be completely repainted instead of just having a spot repair. He told me that would cost another $400.

I agreed to that additional $400. I have never disputed that charge.

I had also already paid Speedeezz Auto Finish $230 separately for the grille, which was sent to the shop.

When I picked up my car on October 27, I paid TLS another $1,442, including a $42 credit card fee. At the time I was so flustered that I just paid it, not remembering that I had already paid for the grille, and that price was more than what we agreed upon.

Altogether, I paid $1,672.

What happened when I picked up my Tesla

This is where everything started going wrong.

When I arrived to pick up my car, it was close to closing time. Employees were leaving for the day, and I felt like everyone was in a hurry to get out.

The receptionist returned my Tesla Mobile Connector case to me, but the charging cable and one of its adapters were missing. The only thing left inside was one adapter.

I was shocked. I knew I had left that equipment in my car, and I couldn’t understand why the case was being returned without everything inside it.

I immediately tried to find out what happened.

When I approached Anthony Collado, the owner/president, about the missing charging equipment, he immediately told me that nobody would have touched my Mobile Connector because they have their own chargers at the shop.

I explained to him that the receptionist had just personally handed me the case, and it was practically empty. The charging cable and one of the adapters were gone.

What made the situation even more confusing was that an employee standing right next to Anthony spoke up and acknowledged that they had moved my Mobile Connector.

I remember him saying something along the lines of, “Oh yeah, we moved the Mobile Connector because we couldn’t close…” I honestly cannot remember whether he was referring to the hood, a compartment, or something else, and I don’t want to misquote him.

But I clearly remember him acknowledging that they had moved it.

That is what made Anthony’s immediate insistence that nobody would have touched my charger so upsetting and confusing. I was standing there trying to understand how my charging equipment could be missing when the receptionist had returned the case to me and an employee had just acknowledged moving it.

Instead of having a calm conversation about what happened, Anthony became argumentative, raised his voice loudly, and spoke to me so condescendingly that I felt incredibly uncomfortable and belittled.

I wasn’t there to cause a scene. I wasn’t asking for anything unreasonable. I just wanted to know where my belongings were.

I became so upset that I left holding back tears. As I walked out, I called them thieves out of frustration. I later apologized in writing because I know that accusing someone of stealing without proof is wrong.

But apologizing for what I said doesn’t change how I was treated or the fact that my charging equipment was missing.

And now I’m faced with having to replace my Tesla Mobile Connector myself.

According to Tesla’s official website, a replacement Mobile Connector costs $300 before tax. The replacement price I was quoted, including sales tax, was $319.50.

That is another $319.50 I should not have to spend simply

Mop because my charging equipment was missing when my vehicle was returned.

I’m a working single mother, and $319.50 is not an insignificant amount of money to me. It is incredibly frustrating to think that I trusted a business with my vehicle and now have to pay hundreds of dollars just to replace equipment I already owned.

Anthony later claimed that surveillance footage showed the charging equipment was already missing when I arrived.

I asked to see that footage because I am certain the equipment was in my car when I dropped it off. I have never been provided the footage.

I contacted the police twice. They offered to accompany me to the business to keep the peace while I requested the video, but they explained that they couldn’t force Anthony to provide it.

After the way our first interaction went, I honestly didn’t feel comfortable going back there.

Why I didn’t notice the other problems immediately

I really want to explain this because TLS is now accusing me of acting in bad faith simply because I’ve brought up several concerns.

When I picked up my car, I was completely consumed by what had happened to my charger.

I was upset, frustrated, and trying to process everything while employees were leaving and the business was closing.

I did look at my car, but not nearly as carefully as I should have.

I looked at the rear, and the paint looked good. Then I walked around to the front, saw that the grille had been replaced, and noticed that the bumper appeared to be aligned.

I didn’t get down and closely inspect the lower bumper.

I wish I had.

I also paid the bill without stopping to go through the numbers. My mind was somewhere else. I was so focused on my missing charger that I just wanted to pay and leave.

I trusted that the work I had paid for had been done correctly.

Discovering the duplicate $230 grille charge

It wasn’t until I later sat down and went through my original estimate and receipts that I realized I had been charged twice for the grille.

The original $1,000 agreement specifically included the grille and parts.

The additional $400 was for repainting the rear of the car, which I authorized.

Yet I had also paid another $230 separately for the grille.

I raised this issue with TLS in writing on November 5–6.

I’m not confused about the additional $400. I agreed to it.

I’m certain that I paid an additional $230 for something that was already included in the original quote, and I want that money refunded.

Then I discovered the bumper crack

On November 9, I noticed something else that made my heart sink.

There was still a visible crack-like line in the lower front bumper, right in the area TLS was supposed to have repaired.

WTH.

Before scheduling the work, I had specifically asked how the bumper would be repaired because I wanted to make sure the repair would last.

They had also confirmed a warranty on their paint and bodywork in writing.

I paid all this money, trusted them with my vehicle, and now I was looking at a visible line in the area that was supposed to be fixed.

I emailed TLS on November 10, included photographs, and asked for an explanation and for the issue to be addressed under their warranty.

I think I have every right to ask questions about work I paid for.

The response I received from TLS

Instead of addressing my concerns, TLS sent me an email accusing me of acting in bad faith, telling me they would no longer communicate with me, and threatening to pursue a restraining order if I contacted them again.

I was honestly stunned when I read it.

I have been trying to resolve problems with my vehicle and my money. I haven’t been contacting them for no reason.

This is their exact response from November 10:

“Hi Heather

You’ve claimed multiple issues now and it seems like your approach is in bad faith. As, per our shop policy we are not liable for any valuables left in your vehicle. In regards to your questions about the pricing, you were initially given a virtual estimate. However when you brought the car in and Tony looked at it the repairs were significantly more than what was discussed during the virtual estimate. This was the cause of the price increase. You agreed to the new price and the vehicle was fully repaired according to the estimate.

Due to your continued approach we will no longer be communicating with you. Your vehicle was fully repaired and handed back to you in the agreed condition. If you continue contacting us we will pursue a restraining order as this now has reached a level of harassment.

Best regards,

TLS HR Officer”

Reading that was incredibly upsetting.

I have been honest about what happened from the beginning. I’ve admitted that I didn’t inspect the car carefully when I picked it up. I’ve explained exactly what I agreed to pay. I’ve acknowledged that I became upset during my interaction with Anthony, and I apologized for the words I used.

I don’t understand how discovering separate problems at separate times means I’m acting in bad faith.

Am I supposed to ignore a billing discrepancy because I didn’t notice it while standing at the counter? Am I supposed to accept a visible problem with my bumper because I didn’t catch it immediately when I picked up the car?

I don’t think those are unreasonable concerns.

Where things stand now

I’m not trying to make claims I can’t support. I have the original written estimates, payment receipts, emails, and photographs documenting my concerns.

At this point, I don’t feel comfortable communicating with TLS directly anymore, especially after their latest email.

I paid $1,672 for these repairs, and instead of being able to put this behind me, I’m left trying to recover my missing charging equipment, get my $230 back, and find out why there is still a visible line in my repaired bumper.

Between the $230 duplicate grille charge and the $319.50 cost to replace my Mobile Connector, I am hoping TLS will provide $549.50 in reimbursement, in addition to an appropriate resolution of the bumper issue.

I’m a working single mother. I don’t have endless time or money to spend chasing down problems that I never expected to have in the first place.

I feel exhausted by this situation, and I am genuinely disappointed that something so straightforward has become this difficult.

I’m not asking for anything unreasonable. I want the duplicate $230 grille charge refunded, reimbursement or replacement of my missing Tesla Mobile Connector, and an appropriate resolution to the bumper issue.

I would be so grateful for any guidance from Christopher Elliott or the Backchannel community about what I should do next and whether there is a way to get these issues resolved without having to deal directly with TLS again.

I have kept all of the original emails, receipts, and photographs and can provide them to support everything I’ve described.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate any help or advice.

Retailer: Best Buy

Primary Order/Issue: Unresolved retail/logistics failures on Order for open-box electronics, resulting in significant out-of-pocket costs, wasted time, and zero response from store management or Customer Care and most recently emails sent to the appropriate executive's email address as found on Elliott.

Detailed Summary:

I purchased two open-box items from Best Buy (a 65" LG QNED TV and an Apple iMac) intended for my daughter. Both transactions resulted in severe failures by Best Buy:

1. Incorrect & Incomplete TV: The store fulfilled the order with a lower-tier TV model (LG 65" UA77 Series) instead of the purchased QNED model. Furthermore, essential hardware (legs/stand) was missing. Store management provided no empathy or operational assistance, forcing my daughter to lug the wrong, heavy TV back to the store, incurring hours of driving, toll fees, and gas, only to find the replacement was short on parts, requiring additional out-of-pocket purchases.

2. Locked Open-Box Computer (Security/Privacy Risk): The open-box Apple iMac was sold without being wiped or factory-reset, containing the prior owner's personal data and user profile intact plus it was locked/bricked anyway due to Apple's security —this is contrary to Best Buy's open-box inspection and data privacy protocols. Due to no response, I was forced to return it and purchase directly from Apple.

3. Financial & Reward Losses: The return/exchange chaos caused a complete disruption of my Best Buy Reward Certificates ($150), lost shopping portal rebates (10%), and unwanted tax disparities across state lines (DE 0% vs. PA 8%) as well as mileage, tolls and fuel expenses.

Despite escalating via store calls, chat (transferred multiple times), calls to customer service, and explicit email follow-ups with their escalations group and executive leadership, Best Buy has remained unresponsive (they simply do not answer)!

Desired Resolution

I am seeking a fair post-purchase financial adjustment from Best Buy to make us whole.

My husband and I are Circle by Meliá members (Infinite Blue, signed August 2024). The membership includes 7-night stays ("weeks") released each year, and we've genuinely loved the resorts. But one of our weeks expired in August 2026 and we had no idea until we went to book our December trip.

A few things that made this frustrating:

• Expiration dates aren't shown anywhere online. Meliá confirmed this in writing. Our weeks didn't even appear in our account until about a month ago. The only way to find out when something expires is to call them.

• No reminder. No email, no WhatsApp, nothing before the week lapsed. Meanwhile the monthly payment comes out automatically every month.

• The contract is vague. It says unused weeks "in a given year" can be used for "an additional one-year period," but never says whether that's a calendar year or a membership year, or when the extra year starts.

• Their explanations contradict each other. On Nov 4 they told us certificates are activated on the signing date. On Nov 7, after a "management review," they said certificates only activate once 20% of the price is paid (about six months after signing for us), yet they still count the two-year expiration from the signing date. So by their own account we couldn't use the week for the first six months of its window. Their records even show it activated in October 2026, after it had already expired.

We've escalated twice and been refused both times. All we're asking is for the week to be extended to two years from when it actually became active.

Has anyone else run into this with Circle by Meliá or the old Destinations / Club Meliá? Did anyone get a week reinstated, and if so, who did you reach?

Hi everyone,

I am from Lithuania facing a severe breach of contract and an operational contradiction by Booking.com B.V. that threatens my upcoming peak-season trip to Thailand (November 26–30, 2026).

I booked a confirmed Deluxe Villa at Ao Nang Tropical Poolside Suites for a 4-night contract total of 5,600 THB (~150 EUR). The hotel later claimed this was a manual rate entry error (stating it should be 5,500 THB/night) and attempted to extort a 300% price increase (4,125 THB/night) through the platform's chat. I refused to cancel, as 1,400 THB/night is a completely standard, highly plausible introductory promotional rate for a brand-new property opening in November in Thailand, and I booked in perfect good faith.

The Promised Remedy: On November 5, Booking.com Specialist Paul Ricmar explicitly committed to a corporate alternative remedy in writing via live chat, stating: "Next step is to proceed with a relocation then eventually the original booking will be cancel... please be assured that Booking.com will step in to provide you with full support... [and] arrange a smooth relocation so your travel plans remain on track."

The Executive Denial: I escalated this to the executive care team. Senior Escalation Specialist Emily H. responded by completely reneging on that promise. She explicitly admitted the agent existed and apologized for his statements, but characterized his formal written commitment as "inaccurate information" and issued an ultimatum: accept the 300% price increase within 24 hours or the booking will be canceled.

The Operational Contradiction: Despite Emily's 24-hour threat of cancellation, the case is locked in an absurd loop. The app still officially marks my status as "Your stay is confirmed," and Booking.com’s billing gateway has verified, authorized, and actively Scheduled a full payment extraction of 5,600 THB via Apple Pay for November 22.

The platform is actively attempting to collect my money under the original contracted terms while explicitly refusing to honor either the reservation or their agent's written relocation commitment. I have already booked non-refundable flights and transit based on their confirmation. A simple cancellation leaves me facing a direct out-of-pocket deficit of €420 (15,400 THB) to secure a comparable independent detached pool villa at surged peak-season rates.

I have already updated Emily H. that a formal cross-border dispute is logged. I would highly appreciate the advocacy team's help in escalating this paper trail directly to corporate PR in Amsterdam to force them to honor their agent's written commitment with a €420 Travel Wallet voucher so I can relocate without suffering out-of-pocket losses.

Thank you for any advice or executive assistance you can provide!

Andrius

My account was falsely disabled even after I submitted a verification selfie. I have tried every method I found on meta help center but I am permanently disabled. And the download data option isn't working as it's showing my correct password as incorrect. Someone help

I am trying to have a book uploaded on Kindle Direct Publishing. The account
will not work right now because I cannot “Save and Continue” at the
Identity page. I have spent a good deal of time both on AI chat and Live
Chat. They have now marked my case as resolved but have not done anything
and it is not resolved.

Out of nowhere, Airbnb permanently banned my account, claiming I’m connected to another banned account, which I absolutely am not.

I’ve used Airbnb for years, have only positive reviews, and have never had any issues or warnings.

Both of my appeals were rejected, and even after calling Airbnb directly, they simply told me I violated their terms and that the ban is permanent, without explaining what I actually did wrong.

Has anyone experienced something similar and managed to get their account reinstated? If so, how?

We rented an Airbnb (YellowDoorBeachHouse) for 3 nights while our home was treated for termites. Two weeks after our stay, we received a $482 bill for
damages they claimed were our responsibility.

We absolutely did not damage this rental, unfortunately in our rushed state we failed to take "before" photos of the home.

We appealed the decision and Airbnb reviewed the appeal and resolved all but one of the listed items we allegedly damaged: $90 for a stained carpet. Again, we did not cause this damage. Appealed again, but this time they've upheld the decision based on the fact we could not provide "valid documentation".

Their reason for upholding their decision that we should pay for the damage is because I was unable to prove we DIDN'T do it, (I didn't provide "valid documentation"). So they concluded that we did it.  Yet, they have no date/time stamped photos proving that the damage occurred during our stay; just photos of damages they are alleging that we caused. Without proof, I'm not sure how they arrived at a decision that it was us who did it.

Since they dismissed all of the other damage claims, how did Airbnb conclude that THIS particular damage is our responsibility? It doesn't make any sense. We do not even know what the stain itself was. We also do not know if anyone else was at the rental between the time we left and the alleged damages (including housekeepers).

We are seniors and landlords ourselves and understand the importance of taking care of property. We would never cause damage to a rental property and we did not cause this stain.

It's not the amount, it's the frustration that we did not damage their carpet but we are expected to pay for it. Airbnb is going to charge our Visa card on November 20 and I don't see how to stop it.

We would like Airbnb to reverse this decision and to not charge us for allegedly staining their carpet.

Any thoughts on what to do? Thanks!

Anybody out there have any issues or comments about a web site promising to credit your airfare if they find a lower price after you booked and paid? I tried the service and the day of my trip of course they e mailed me saying they had no luck! Funny thing is that I kept checking on my own and I found lower price. Crazy? Ended up trying another promised site

Got my cc credited

Anybody have any thoughts or comments

I purchased my MacBook Pro on February 6, 2021. Since then, it has required multiple major repairs, including repeated logic board replacements. Apple replaced the logic board, Touch ID, and display in July 2025, followed by another logic board and Touch ID replacement in November 2025.

Now, the computer will not turn on again. Despite my repeated attempts to resolve the issue, Apple has refused to provide a replacement, stating that too much time has passed since the first repair.

However, my most recent repair was November 26, 2025, less than one year ago.

I have spent considerable money on repairs for a computer that continues to experience the same failures. I am asking for assistance in persuading Apple to provide a comparable replacement at no additional cost rather than another temporary repair.

Apple Support Case Number: 102980243355

Hi! I'm new to this group. I recently joined because Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) stiffed us out of $9,500 plus dollars on an Alaska cruise in August 2026. I received a discount for being a military veteran, we followed up through out the year for questions and booking excursions etc... When we received our flight information booked by NCL, we called to question the one hour layover on an international flight. We asked if we could change flights to come in a day early. We were assured (and on a recorded line) that if there would be any issues, NCL would take care of it. Ironically, NCL changed there own policy starting January 2026 that Alaskan cruises must arrive one day prior to departure (we booked in 2025 prior to the policy change). We've reached out several times to NCL and was able to recover a little more than what they refunded but will not budge or refunding the whole amount or or at least providing a voucher for a future cruise. They also refused to acknowledge or deny what was said during phone call about our concerns. This is a breach of there verbal contract when we expressed or concerns about the flight itinerary, again booked by them. Of course our flight was delayed out of Detroit causing us to miss our connection in Minneapolis... We are hoping for any help or suggestions from the Elliot Advocacy group. Thanks for looking into our situation.

I booked a flight through Gotogate on 2 June 2026 and have not received my money back, even though the airline cancelled the flight and says it has already paid the refund.

The booking

• Order number: 1135-568-754

• Route: Kuwait to New Delhi on 15 June 2026, Oman Air WY648 / WY241, economy, 1 adult

• Amount paid: 83.00 KWD by Mastercard debit card

What happened

1. Oman Air cancelled the flight, so I was entitled to a refund.

2. I contacted Oman Air directly. They told me they processed the refund to Gotogate on 16 July 2026.

3. Gotogate has still not paid the money to me.

4. I chatted with a Gotogate agent on 31 August 2026. It did not help, and my refund is still unpaid.

5. I could not find any email address or postal address for the company to send a formal complaint to.

Gotogate is operated by Etraveli Group. As far as I can tell, they received the airline’s refund and are keeping it. I have been waiting for months for money that is not theirs to hold.

What I have already done

• Contacted Gotogate support and chatted with an agent

• Contacted Oman Air, who confirmed the refund was processed

• Sent my case to Elliott Advocacy

• Prepared a written complaint to Etraveli

What I need help with

• Has anyone else had an unpaid refund from Gotogate or Etraveli after an airline cancellation? How did you get it resolved?

• Does anyone have a working escalation contact at Etraveli (email or address)?

• Would a chargeback through my bank work this long after the purchase? The payment was by debit card.

• Does anyone know whether the EU or Swedish consumer authorities accept complaints from non-EU customers?

I have the booking confirmation, the Oman Air refund proof and the chat transcript, and I’m happy to share them. Thank you for any advice.

I was recently scammed out of $1150 in my Venmo account. There were 3 fraudulent transactions within minutes of $500, $500, and $150. I called Venmo to report the scam. There was another transaction of $193 that they asked about, but I told them that it was valid. A day later, I got a report of my claim stating that I was questioning 2 of the fake ones, and the $193 transaction. I called AGAIN and told them that the $193 was valid...it was the other 3 transactions that were fake. A day later, I got a notice saying that they had denied my claim because "the transactions were consistent with your payment history"!!! Really? I don't know this "person" (the account is obviously suspicious), the transactions were within minutes of each other, and I only use Venmo about twice a year. How can this possibly be "consistent with my payment history".

Can someone help me get my money back, especially since it was THEM that screwed up the claim and denied it based on bad data?

Here are the transactions, their opening of the case, and their denial.

List of transactions showing the three fake ones:

You paid Janet Scheeley

Sep 29

payment

- $500.00

You paid Janet Scheeley

Sep 29

paying

- $500.00

You paid Janet Scheeley

Sep 29

pay

- $175.00

You paid Joyce Tapper-Benham

Sep 27

Travel

- $193.00

This is Venmo email opening the case.  Note that they include the charge for $193 which was NOT in dispute, and I told two separate Venmo people this.

Hi, Sumner Blount

We're reviewing your Venmo case

Original transaction(s):

Dispute Case IDVM-R-YGN-647408792

Dispute amount$500.00 USD

Transaction amount$500.00 USD (fake)

Transaction ID4696976499140411794

Transaction dateSeptember 29, 2026

Payment sent toJanet Scheeley

Dispute Case IDVM-R-YGN-647408792

Dispute amount$193.00 USD

Transaction amount$193.00 USD (NOTE: this is the VALID transaction)

Transaction ID4695507875010856968

Transaction dateSeptember 27, 2026

Payment sent toJoyce Tapper-Benham

Dispute Case IDVM-R-YGN-647408792

Dispute amount$500.00 USD (fake)

Transaction amount$500.00 USD

Transaction ID4696977757532027052

Transaction dateSeptember 29, 2026

Payment sent toJanet Scheeley

THis is the mail closing the case:

Hi, Sumner Blount

Your Venmo dispute case has been denied

Original transaction(s):

Dispute Case IDVM-R-HTE-647408892

Dispute amount$500.00 USD

Transaction amount$500.00 USD

Transaction ID4696976499140411794

Transaction DateSeptember 29, 2026

Payment sent toJanet Scheeley

We received the case(s) you filed on September 29, 2026. We have reviewed this transaction(s) and are denying your case(s):

Based on our review, we found this transaction is consistent with your payment history. (emphasis mine)

[end]

This conclusion is obviously absurd.  I never heard of her, there were 3 withdrawals within minutes of each other, and I generally make about one payment every six months or so.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on escalating a hotel dispute. I had a 6-night stay at the Holiday Inn Brooklyn Downtown fully prepaid ($2,356.59). On Oct 29, they falsely marked it as a "no-show," demanded I pay the $2,356.59 again, and when I refused, security forcibly escorted me out at 8:00 PM.

I have written proof from the GM admitting the "no-show" was a clerical error, and Booking.com has finally processed the full $2,356.59 refund back to the cardholder.

However, the hotel is refusing to compensate me for the unlawful eviction and the disruption to my professional production schedule. I have filed formal complaints with the NY State Attorney General (Intake #1-1391077092), NYC DCWP, and the BBB. The GM went completely silent after I filed the AG complaint.

My question: How can I get IHG Corporate to pay the $1,500 settlement for the eviction? Has anyone dealt with a hotel doing this? I am ready to provide the full email thread, the signed $75 authorization form, and the government complaint receipts to an advocate.

Thank you!

— Sergio Bonacci Lapalma, President, Make Art Not War

I booked months in advance, experienced two accommodation failures, was instructed by Booking.com to secure my own replacement lodging, and am still fighting to receive the reimbursement its representatives explicitly promised.

I'm sharing my experience because I have exhausted repeated attempts to resolve this directly with Booking.com, and I am now seeking assistance from Elliott Advocacy.

What started as a family trip to Austin, Texas, for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix turned into an extraordinarily frustrating experience involving canceled reservations, an invalid property check-in, thousands of dollars in unexpected accommodation expenses, and weeks of unsuccessful attempts to obtain reimbursement.

The most troubling aspect isn't simply that Booking.com failed to provide accommodations. It's that Booking.com acknowledged the failures, explicitly instructed me to find alternative lodging at my own expense, promised to reimburse the difference, and has subsequently failed to follow through.

I have documented the entire experience through reservation confirmations, emails, invoices, receipts, call logs, and audio recordings of conversations with Booking.com's customer support representatives.

1. The Original Reservation: A Four-Bedroom House Booked Well in Advance

I originally booked a four-bedroom house in Austin through Booking.com for the Formula 1 weekend in October 2026.

The reservation was made well in advance specifically because I knew hotel rooms and vacation rentals would become extremely expensive and difficult to obtain as the race approached.

Traveling with children requires dependable accommodations, which is why I had taken the precaution of arranging and paying for a suitable property ahead of time.

My reservation was confirmed and paid.

Original Booking.com reservation number: 5278223058

However, shortly before our trip, the property host contacted me to say the house could not accommodate us.

Despite this, my Booking.com reservation remained confirmed, and the host had not formally canceled it through the platform.

I also discovered that the property's listing information appeared to have changed after I made the booking. The house I originally understood to have four bedrooms was subsequently being displayed differently, including as a one-bedroom property.

This raised serious concerns about the reliability of Booking.com's listings and whether the accommodation being advertised at the time of booking accurately reflected what the property could provide.

Ultimately, the original accommodation could not be honored, and Booking.com initiated a relocation process.

2. Booking.com Approved a Replacement Accommodation — Which Also Failed

Following the first accommodation failure, Booking.com offered and approved an alternative property as part of its relocation process.

I accepted the replacement and paid the required amount.

The new property issued automated check-in information, including access instructions and entry codes.

From my perspective, the replacement reservation was confirmed, payment had been made, and the situation appeared resolved.

My family and I proceeded with our travel plans and flew to Austin.

However, when we physically arrived at the replacement property, the provided check-in codes did not work.

I contacted the property directly, expecting a simple resolution.

Instead, the property's representatives informed me that they had no reservation for us and instructed me to contact Booking.com.

Imagine arriving in an unfamiliar city with your children, luggage, and a supposedly confirmed, prepaid reservation, only to discover that the property has no record of your stay.

This was now the second accommodation failure associated with our trip.

We had nowhere to check in.

3. Stranded in Austin During One of the Busiest Weekends of the Year

Austin was exceptionally busy that weekend because of Formula 1 and other major events taking place in the city.

Finding alternative lodging at the last minute was extremely difficult, and the limited remaining options were substantially more expensive than what I had originally booked.

My family and I spent approximately three hours attempting to secure accommodations while communicating with Booking.com's customer support.

During these conversations, Booking.com's representatives attempted to identify other properties through their system.

However, representatives acknowledged that the platform's displayed availability was outdated and that properties appearing available through Booking.com were not necessarily available when contacted directly.

In other words, even Booking.com's own customer service representatives were struggling to identify accommodations they could actually confirm.

After the original reservation failed and Booking.com's approved relocation also proved unusable, the company's representatives told me to find accommodations independently.

They expressly assured me that Booking.com would reimburse the additional cost or price difference.

These assurances were communicated by phone and through written correspondence.

I relied on those representations.

Given that my family was already in Austin without accommodation, I had little practical choice but to secure another place to stay.

4. Booking.com Instructed Me to Book Independently and Promised Reimbursement

Following Booking.com's instructions, I found alternative accommodations outside the failed relocation process.

Because of the major events occurring that weekend and the last-minute nature of the booking, I was forced to spend thousands of dollars more than originally anticipated.

This wasn't a voluntary hotel upgrade, a change in preference, or an attempt to obtain more luxurious accommodations.

It was an emergency replacement made necessary because two previously arranged accommodations had failed.

The distinction matters.

Had Booking.com honored my original reservation, or successfully provided the replacement property it approved, I would not have incurred these additional expenses.

I secured the alternative accommodation specifically because Booking.com's representatives instructed me to do so and assured me the difference would be reimbursed.

I paid the expenses personally and retained the supporting invoices, receipts, and payment confirmations.

5. I Submitted the Requested Documentation for Reimbursement

After the trip, I followed Booking.com's instructions to pursue reimbursement.

I supplied the requested supporting materials, including the invoices and receipts showing what I paid for the alternative accommodations.

I also retained the original reservation details, cancellation correspondence, replacement booking information, and communications with Booking.com regarding its commitment to reimburse the additional expenses.

At this point, I expected a relatively straightforward process.

Booking.com had acknowledged the accommodation failures, its representatives had provided specific instructions, and I had complied with those instructions.

Instead, what followed was a prolonged and deeply frustrating customer service experience.

6. Weeks of Calls, Disconnections, Repeated Explanations, and No Resolution

I have repeatedly contacted Booking.com's customer service department seeking the reimbursement I was promised.

Each time, I have encountered some variation of the same process.

A representative asks me to explain the situation.

I explain that my original accommodation failed, Booking.com's approved replacement also failed, and their representatives explicitly instructed me to arrange my own lodging with the assurance that the additional costs would be reimbursed.

The representative reviews the matter, sometimes seeks assistance or approval from an internal team, and indicates that the issue is being escalated or reviewed.

Then, on multiple occasions, the call disconnects at or around the point when the representative is seeking approval for the reimbursement or price difference.

When I call back, I frequently find myself speaking with an entirely new representative who appears unable to access or meaningfully continue the previous discussion.

I have to explain everything again.

The original reservation.

The first cancellation.

The approved relocation.

The failed entry codes.

The replacement property's denial that a reservation existed.

The three hours spent stranded.

Booking.com's promise to reimburse me.

The replacement accommodation I purchased.

The invoices and receipts I already submitted.

And the previous conversations with Booking.com's support team.

Over and over again.

What is particularly frustrating is the apparent lack of meaningful case continuity or accountability.

There seems to be no single individual responsible for resolving this dispute, no reliable handoff between representatives, and no effective mechanism for honoring commitments made during previous calls.

Despite repeated contact and submission of the requested documentation, I have not received the promised reimbursement.

Nor have I received a satisfactory written explanation for the continued delay.

7. I Have Preserved the Evidence, Including Customer Service Call Recordings

One important aspect of this situation is that I have retained substantial documentation.

This is not simply a dispute based on an undocumented verbal promise.

I have preserved evidence including:

• The original reservation confirmation and payment information.

• Communications concerning the original property's inability to accommodate us.

• The approved relocation and replacement reservation.

• Automated check-in instructions and access codes for the replacement property.

• Correspondence confirming that the replacement accommodation could not be provided.

• Written communications relating to Booking.com's instruction to secure independent accommodations.

• Invoices and payment records for the alternative lodging.

• Records of my repeated attempts to obtain reimbursement.

• Audio recordings of customer service interactions, including representatives' assurances concerning reimbursement.

The recordings are particularly important because they document what Booking.com's representatives communicated during the relocation and subsequent reimbursement process.

I would welcome a senior Booking.com representative or an independent consumer advocate reviewing the recordings chronologically.

They demonstrate not only the underlying accommodation failures but also the repeated breakdowns in Booking.com's customer service process.

8. I Have Now Escalated the Matter to Booking.com's Executive Leadership

After exhausting normal customer support channels, I prepared a formal written escalation addressed to Booking.com's executive leadership and customer service organization.

The escalation outlines the complete chronology, the two accommodation failures, Booking.com's reimbursement assurances, the additional expenses incurred, and my repeated unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute.

I have requested:

1. Full reimbursement of the eligible additional accommodation expenses and price difference promised by Booking.com's representatives.

2. Written confirmation of the reimbursement amount and when payment will be processed.

3. Assignment of a senior representative or executive escalation contact who will take responsibility for resolving the matter.

4. An explanation for why Booking.com's reimbursement commitment has not been honored despite the documentation and repeated follow-ups.

My formal demand provides Booking.com 14 business days to issue the reimbursement before I pursue further remedies.

I have also prepared a public LinkedIn account of my experience tagging Booking.com in an effort to bring the matter to the attention of someone with the authority to resolve it.

I am now turning to Elliott Advocacy because the ordinary customer service process has failed to produce a meaningful resolution.

9. Why This Experience Raises Broader Consumer Protection Concerns

I understand that travel reservations can occasionally go wrong.

Properties can cancel unexpectedly, booking systems can experience errors, and operational issues can arise.

But what should distinguish a reputable travel platform is how it responds when those failures affect paying customers.

In this case, Booking.com had multiple opportunities to resolve the situation.

When the original reservation failed, it could have arranged a dependable replacement.

When the approved replacement turned out to be unusable, it could have secured and paid for an appropriate alternative.

When its own representatives instructed me to find accommodation independently, it could have honored the reimbursement commitment promptly after receiving the documentation.

And when I repeatedly contacted customer support, it could have assigned someone with the authority and responsibility to resolve the dispute.

Instead, the burden has continuously fallen on me.

I had to arrange my own replacement lodging.

I had to advance thousands of dollars.

I had to preserve the evidence.

I had to repeatedly explain the same facts.

I had to chase the reimbursement.

And now I have to seek external advocacy to obtain what was already promised.

At what point does a travel platform take responsibility for the consequences of its own failed booking and relocation process?

This experience raises serious questions about the protections Booking.com provides when confirmed accommodations are not honored and what recourse customers actually have when support representatives promise reimbursement that never materializes.

10. I Am Not Asking for Damages — Just the Reimbursement I Was Promised

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this dispute is how limited my request actually is.

I am not currently seeking additional compensation for the stress of being stranded with my family.

I am not requesting compensation for the time spent on calls, the disruption to our trip, or the inconvenience of having to find last-minute accommodations.

I am simply asking Booking.com to honor the financial commitment its customer service representatives made.

I was told to secure replacement lodging and submit the receipts for reimbursement.

I did exactly that.

Why should a customer have to consider legal action to obtain reimbursement that the company itself explicitly authorized?

If Booking.com does not resolve this matter within the formal demand period, I intend to explore available legal remedies, including small claims court where appropriate, to recover the reimbursement owed and any allowable costs or interest.

I would much rather resolve this directly and avoid further escalation.

11. What I Am Asking Elliott Advocacy to Help Resolve

I am requesting Elliott Advocacy's assistance in obtaining an executive-level review of this dispute and ensuring that Booking.com honors its documented reimbursement assurances.

Specifically, I would appreciate assistance with:

• Connecting with a Booking.com executive or customer relations representative empowered to approve and issue reimbursement.

• Obtaining a substantive review of the written correspondence, reservation history, receipts, and customer service recordings.

• Securing a clear written determination and payment of the outstanding reimbursement.

• Ensuring that this matter is handled as a single documented case rather than being repeatedly restarted with different support representatives.

I am prepared to provide the complete documentation privately, including the audio recordings and the chronological history of my attempts to resolve the matter.

My experience has left me deeply concerned about what happens to travelers who lack the time, resources, or documentation to challenge a company after a reservation failure.

Booking.com's brand is built around helping travelers confidently reserve accommodations around the world.

Yet when my family needed the company most, the confirmed accommodations failed, the relocation failed, and the subsequent reimbursement process failed.

Customers should not have to publicly escalate a dispute, seek consumer advocacy intervention, or threaten legal action simply to get a travel company to honor its own commitments.

I hope Booking.com will finally take responsibility, review the evidence, and resolve this matter appropriately.

I am ready to provide Elliott Advocacy with all supporting documentation and would greatly appreciate assistance bringing this issue to a fair conclusion.

— Raj Jhaveri

Documentation available upon request: Original reservation, relocation confirmation, cancellation correspondence, replacement accommodation receipts, written reimbursement assurances, customer service call logs, and preserved audio recordings.

On October 19, I shipped a brand-new, sealed iPhone 18 Pro(declared value $1,300) to a friend in Colombia from a FedEx counter in Colorado Springs, and paid $325.40 for International Connect Plus. The FedEx agent took the IMEI number off the phone to prepare the air waybill. Nobody told me Colombia has special rules for phones or that anything could go wrong.

On October 25, FedEx emailed me that the shipment was “released from customs.” Then it sat there. On October 28, FedEx’s own customs office in Colombia told me Colombian customs (DIAN) had switched it to a formal import because the air waybill “didn’t include the IMEI or the tariff code.” Now it’s stuck in a bonded warehouse. The only way out is to hire a Colombian customs broker and pay taxes, fees and storage, roughly $500–800 more. If nobody acts by November 22, the phone is abandoned to the Colombian government.

Since then, FedEx has given me conflicting answers:

• FedEx Colombia first said the IMEI was missing. The next day, the same agent wrote, “The IMEI is recorded on the air waybill.” It just wasn’t in the description field, which the FedEx agent filled out.

• A FedEx US supervisor told me FedEx would act as my broker and had me submit a commercial invoice. FedEx Colombia then said, “FedEx is only the carrier,” and that the recipient has to hire a broker.

• FedEx confirmed my invoice upload and said “additional research has been initiated.” The next day, the case agent wrote they were “still working with Colombia to confirm if FedEx can be your broker.”

• Two days later, I got a “your support ticket has been closed” email with no explanation. A supervisor then reopened it, but there’s still no decision.

I’ve also emailed two FedEx executives (no reply), spent well over 8 hours on the phone and email, and submitted my case to Elliott Advocacy.

What I’m hoping for: FedEx returns the package at its cost, or clears it in Colombia and covers the fees, and refunds my $312.43 shipping charge.

My questions for the group:

1. Has anyone gotten FedEx to take responsibility for an air waybill error their agent prepared? What worked?

2. Has anyone dealt with a FedEx “re-export” or return from a foreign bonded warehouse? Who paid?

3. With the deadline coming, should I have the recipient hire a Colombian broker now and fight FedEx for reimbursement later, or hold out for FedEx to act?

4. Is a credit card dispute on the shipping charge worth filing while this plays out?

Thanks in advance. I have the full email trail if anyone wants details. Arturo