I booked a vacation through Costco travel to Maui. When the final itinerary was sent to me I realized my first class seats were not listed and when I reached out to an agent at Costco travel he told me nothing could be done at this point but if he booked the first class tickets he would certainly have secured seats for me, 82 years old and my travel partner, 87 years old together.

I had no choice but cancel my 20.5K vacation. The penalty I endured is $1936.

I feel Costco should reimburse me for the full amount. So far only $400 is offered

I have frozen my Experian acct and when necessary, am able to unfreeze it. But for some reason, the phone number associated with the acct is off by one digit (I may have entered in wrong originally but don't think so.) Anyway, all attempts to correct the number have proved fruitless. It requires a txt code to that number - so of course doesn't work - or an eMail code. The eMail code never arrives. You can not call Experian - a never ending voice tree - and messages so far have never been addressed. Any thoughts on fixing this phone number issue?

Someone accessed my account while I was asleep, and at exactly 4:27 AM on...

On October 6th, all my Meta accounts (Instagram and Facebook) were permanently deleted.

They were disabled due to issues involving minors—something for which I have absolutely no

explanation. I cannot contact Meta in any way, nor have I received an

explanation of what happened; I only know that I lost access to my account.

The night before, when I woke up, I found emails stating that all my

accounts had been deactivated at 4:27 AM. I appealed the decision, but they

refused to help. Please, I need to get them back; this is all a mistake.

Hello, I’m looking for guidance about my permanently locked Snapchat account.

My main goal is to get my account back. My Memories also contain irreplaceable photos and videos of deceased relatives and friends, so recovering that content is extremely important to me.

I’ve sent Snap’s privacy team a request for my retained data and asked them to preserve it while processing my request. I sent this today and am awaiting a response. The BBB has also confirmed that it forwarded my complaint to Snapchat.

I submitted Elliott Advocacy’s help form and received an email requesting my correspondence with Snap. Is there an advocate here who can help me understand the next steps toward an account review and recovery of my Memories?

Thank you,

Tyler

Here are a few of the pictures it won’t let me upload videos

I’m seeking help with an issue involving Extended Stay America near Cleveland Airport on Emerald Parkway.

I paid approximately $647 for a room advertised/booked as a two-double-bed room with a kitchenette and amenities. When I arrived, Extended Stay gave me a single-bed/twin-size room without the kitchenette and amenities I had paid for, despite apparently knowing they no longer had the room type I reserved. I was not properly informed before being placed in the different room.

The room also had a bug/pest problem, and was not clean which made the situation even more unacceptable, especially because I was traveling with my children. I paid for a specific room type and received substantially less than what I purchased, while still being charged the full amount.

I have been trying to get this resolved with Extended Stay, but I feel I have not received an adequate response or refund for the difference in what I paid for versus what I actually received.

I’m hoping Elliott Advocacy can help me determine what my rights are and how to escalate this with Extended Stay America to obtain an appropriate refund.

My friend and neighbor suggested you might be a resource to help us get AA to pay attention to our problem. 

My Partner Nancy Hand and I booked first class “fully refundable” tickets for a June 10th trip to Portland Maine from Tucson AZ but were unable to take this trip because of a medical problem. American Airlines is denying a refund to my credit card and instead offering us trip credits. These two tickets were $1860.36 each for a total on my credit card of $3720.72. 

We have been making all of our travel plans for the past year with the more expensive “fully refundable” tickets ever since Nancy’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. She had a recurrence shortly before our June 10th departure. Nancy has been spending 24 hours a day caring for her mother in California since late May and I have been traveling back and forth from our home in Tucson as often as possible. 

As you may be aware it is impossible to speak with anyone at American Airlines Refund department so we have been sending emails. Their replies have always been the same stating “our tickets were issued as standard non-refundable and are only eligible for trip credit”.  

Nancy and I both were on the phone with the agent who made the reservation and we clearly stated “that we wanted fully refundable tickets”. We asked three different times for the agent to verify that we were buying the fully refundable tickets and he assured us they were. 

The refund department did say that if we had a doctors written statement to confirm the medical condition on his or her letterhead, along with a birth certificate proving Nancy was related to the patient they could reassess with the medical exemption. We do not think we should have to do that extra work and divulge personal information to receive a refund for fully refundable tickets.

For my ticket I needed to prove we were married (we are not, we are committed partners for 15 years) in order to qualify. 

This is frustrating and offensive as we paid more for the tickets to avoid all of this hassle

This is emblematic of what appears to be a strategy on the part of American Airlines. The first line of action to request a refund is an anonymous email address, where it feels like your email goes into a black hole and they hope you forget to follow up as time passes with no response. The second line is the refund department, which repeats canned responses that don't actually respond to the specifics of the situation. It seems, based on this, and other past experiences of lesser monetary loss, that they do everything they can to avoid making refunds by making it as difficult, time-consuming, and annoying as possible to pursue a Refund.

I have emails to American AIRLINES explaining the situation along with their responses but wanted to see first if you had the time and interest to help us get them to do the right thing.

Chris Maglione

update:

Customer Service got involved and Refunds department still refused to investigate further. They are offering a trip credit for a fully refundable fare canceled due to a serious medical situation.

After calling and reporting to customer service team and sending many communication emails to Amazon, I still do not have my original prime account. I was recently made aware that after they in fact changed my email address on 9/19/2026, they changed it again to another email that is active. Any feedback is very helpful on the next steps to take.

I posted this as a comment a few days ago but the wording of the rules has me confused

“200% of your one-way fare, capped at $1,075, or 400%, capped at $2,150”

That cap makes no sense to me. The lowest fair I’ve flown in decades is ~$4000. I don’t fly domestic, all my flights are international.

That says I don’t get my fair back at all? Is that right? Or is it fair plus extra up to the cap?

Hi,

thanks for any help any of you might have for this.

There is an item on my "not yet shipped" page from Nov. 2024 that doesn't belong there. They've refunded me - that's not the issue. I want that item off that page - it's an error on my account.

I've been going around in circles in a dozen chats and one phone call with Amazon about this. They've given me multiple promises and no action. I finally emailed with the ecr email four days ago and no response.

I was finally told after HOURS of this song and dance over the last 4 months that they "can't" do anything about it. I don't believe that. Someone somewhere in their IT department can fix this error and get the item cleared off that page.

Usually their customer service is wonderful, but in this case, it's been horrifying. Again, thanks for any help in getting this resolved.

Completed process to list tickets for re-sale on stubhub. The listing has been, "pending" for a week. The concert is within a day, which I cannot attend. Multiple, daily interactions w/chatbot, both human and not, s-mails to their suggested e-mail, always mentioning that the value I can sell the tickets for continues to go down. None of them can figure it out, nothing but apologies from human agents and talk of having escalated several times to various of their internal teams, none of which any human chat agent can reach directly in any way - I've asked them. Have records of most interactions. Have now requested full refund for tickets and compensation for hours of time. Will also file complaint with credit card co. used to purchase the tickets. Any other suggestions welcome. Thank you.

I am looking for an advocate to help break through the corporate stonewalling and escalate my case directly to high-level executives at Chase or United. I expect the advocate to help compel these companies to correct this failure of service by converting my unusable, expiring passes into a fair financial remedy—specifically a $100 Chase statement credit, an equivalent Future Flight Credit (FFC), or a deposit of MileagePlus miles.

Looking for advocate insight / mediation help on an individual Enterprise Rent-A-Car dispute. Full paper trail (Sep 8 demand + Sep 14 Notice) is also pasted plain-text to Christopher in email. Posting here per Backchannel so reader advocates can weigh in.

Ask (via Elliott mediation):

(1) Pay $5,000.00 by check or wire per my September 8 demand; (2) written acknowledgment that Enterprise failed to honor the checked-in, phone-reconfirmed JAC one-way; (3) zero-balance closeouts on related reservation records; (4) one named resolution owner with authority to close the matter.

Fact pattern (from my September 8, 2026 demand)

On Labor Day Saturday, September 5, 2026, Enterprise Rent-A-Car at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) refused a confirmed one-way rental after I had already checked in online, reconfirmed on Enterprise’s reservations line, and was trying to reach my father in the hospital in Grass Valley, California. This was not leisure.

- Confirmations: 1597362470 and 1597362993 (JAC to Grass Valley)

- Online check-in / Rental Agreement: 4X9XC1

- Enterprise Plus: VQ5RNGK

- Pickup: JAC, Sat Sep 5, 2026 (modified to 11:30 AM on 1597362470)

- Return: Grass Valley Caliber Collision, Tue Sep 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM (ONE-WAY)

- Vehicle: Full Size, Nissan Altima or similar, estimated total $246.20

- About 11:11 AM Mountain: I called Enterprise reservations (844-934-1077); agent reconfirmed the car would be waiting

- About 11:15 AM Mountain: Enterprise emailed a Modified confirmation still showing the Grass Valley one-way

- At the JAC counter: cars were being returned; staff cited a glitch; the branch manager refused a vehicle and refused to help source one on the airport grounds

Same morning, separate confirmed one-way Idaho Falls to Grass Valley (2133561805, est. $198.72) was phone-canceled about 7:11 AM Mountain from 208-656-1403 with no cancel email.

September 8 demand: $5,000.00 for mileage/time/breach and cure items (acknowledgment, zero-balance closeouts, named owner). Remains uncured.

Actions since the demand

- Sep 14: Formal Notice of Dispute mailed to CT Corporation (USPS Cert 7021 2720 0001 6375 7806), delivered about Sep 21, 2026, Chicago

- About Oct 1: Consumer complaints filed with the Wyoming, Missouri, and California Attorneys General; Idaho AG complaint in print/mail

- Elliott Advocacy: intake plus plain-text paper trail (Sep 8 demand and Sep 14 Notice) in Christopher’s email thread; this Backchannel post

- AAA: individual Consumer arbitration readiness about October 21, 2026 — not commenced

- Individual dispute only — not a class claim

Contact: Scott Sanbrook, Sanbrook Family Office, 1621 Central Ave #68399, Cheyenne, WY 82001, FO (307) 357-4794, cell (307) xxx-xxxx, [email protected]

Hi Christopher and team,

Thank you for directing me here.

I’m seeking guidance regarding a year-long dispute with Airbnb that began when, as a woman travelling alone in Bali, I reported two separate problems: serious boundary and sexual misconduct by the on-site Host/Co-host, and unsafe accommodation conditions after severe storm damage.

Airbnb’s response to the first issue was to characterize the Host relationship as involving “mutual interest” and place an internal notation on my account. I challenged that finding because it did not reflect what happened. I had been trying to remain civil and de-escalatory while still dependent on the accommodation and dealing with an intrusive Host in a foreign country. To say he was not someone I was romantically interested in would be generous; maintaining civility was about preserving stability and getting through the stay safely, not mutual attraction.

Airbnb then asked me to submit additional evidence. I did. On November 7, 2025, I provided approximately 19 files, including contextual WhatsApp messages, screenshots, photographs and videos. Rather than receiving a corrected finding or a meaningful explanation, what followed was a dramatic escalation.

Airbnb cancelled my current stay in Thailand and all of my future reservations, contacted my then-current Host with adverse safety-related information about me, instructed me to leave immediately, and later disabled my account. For days afterward I was repeatedly contacted by multiple Airbnb representatives demanding to know where I was, whether I had vacated, and whether I had relocated, despite my repeated requests for a supervisor and an explanation of what I had supposedly done. At one point, when I explained that I was ill and felt unsafe, Airbnb’s response was effectively that if I was sick I should go to a hospital and if I felt unsafe I should go to a police station — even though the immediate housing and safety crisis had been created by Airbnb’s own actions.

The second half of my original complaint — the condition of the Bali accommodation after the storm — was separately deferred by Airbnb and then effectively disappeared. Nearly a year later, Airbnb reopened that issue, first saying it lacked enough information to review it, then two days later saying it had “thoroughly reviewed” it and closing the matter on the basis that the Host could not control the weather. That was never my complaint. My concern was what happened to the accommodation and to me afterward: extensive leaking, persistent dampness, loss of advertised amenities, structural problems, animals and insects entering the living space, and the impact of remaining in those conditions while I became ill.

The most troubling part is that Airbnb has repeatedly relied on internal policies, confidential processes and undisclosed safety systems both to justify the actions taken against me and to explain why it cannot tell me the factual basis for those actions. I have repeatedly asked what triggered the escalation, what evidence was relied upon, whether my November evidence was correctly reviewed and attributed, what was communicated to my Thailand Host, whether inaccurate records were corrected, and what became of the original Host-conduct complaint. I still do not have meaningful answers.

In September 2026, after more than a year of correspondence, Airbnb again returned to the original “mutual interest” finding without explaining how the later evidence had been considered. When I challenged that response, the case was forwarded once again — and the next representative asked me to explain “the exact problem” I needed help with.

I have compiled the complete documentary record into four sequential Supporting Chronology sections covering the correspondence, evidence submissions, account actions, cancellations, external communications, appeals and subsequent reviews.

My main questions are:

1. What is the most effective path to obtaining a genuinely independent, substantive review outside Airbnb’s normal support system?

2. Is there a realistic route to correcting inaccurate internal or third-party records and obtaining meaningful financial compensation?

3. Are there consumer-protection, privacy, regulatory or legal avenues that appear particularly relevant given Airbnb’s reliance on undisclosed internal processes while taking consequential action against a guest?

I have already filed with the California Attorney General after the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division reviewed the complaint and referred it there.

Thank you for any guidance you can offer.

Laura Rao

On our 26 day cruise up the coast of West Africa, three shore excursions were cancelled, so we expected a refund. We did purchase one additional shore excursion because of a change of port. We did NOT receive a billing statement from Oceania. When we got our credit card statement there was no refund and there was a charge of $423, which we thought was for the extra shore excursion, but it was way too much. We disputed the credit card charge and contacted Oceania. We didn't hear back so I filled out the online form again and did hear back. We found out they had given us the refund as shipboard credit and charged us for upgraded internet for $705, which we did NOT purchase. The standard internet was included and was fine for us. Oceania refuses to give us a refund. At first they gave us $400 in future cruise credit and then upped it to $705, which is useless for us because we do not plan to every cruise with Oceania ever again. We lost the credit card dispute but have re-activated that dispute.

Hello, I'm Minnie, and I'm hoping the advocates here can help me with my Vinted account.

What happened

• I opened my Vinted account (username: tubegurl) in mid-September to sell pre-owned items: four pairs of worn shoes, two worn jackets, and a set of Gucci couple watches (our wedding watches from 1994).

• On September 25, I sold a pair of Tory Burch loafers for $33 and shipped the item. The order was still in transit when my account was suspended, and I never had access to any proceeds from the sale.

• I also made a few small purchases (bracelets, handbags).

• On September 28, Vinted permanently suspended my account for suspected "fraudulent activity." Every screen in the app now shows only "YOUR ACCOUNT IS LOCKED" — I can't access my profile, wallet, or anything else.

Why this doesn't make sense to me

• Vinted initially flagged my Gucci watch listing, but later reversed that decision and restored the listing. Their own review found nothing wrong with it.

• I have never filed a chargeback or payment dispute with my bank or anyone else.

• The account was less than two weeks old, with only a handful of ordinary secondhand transactions.

What I've tried

• On September 29, I submitted a new request through Vinted's Help Center asking for the specific reason. The same day I received a generic reply linking to the general terms, with no specific reason and no mention of which rule I supposedly violated.

• I then contacted Elliott Advocacy, shared my full correspondence history, and was directed to post my case here.

What I'm asking for

1. That Vinted reviews the suspension and either reinstates my account or gives me the specific reason and the exact terms clause I violated.

2. If the account can't be restored, confirmation of the status of any proceeds due from my sale and how I can receive them.

3. Confirmation of the status of the refunds for my purchases — Vinted emailed that five refunds were issued to my original payment method.

Thank you for reading. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

This past Sept. 1, I flew on United Airlines from Chicago O’Hare to Vancouver. Our flight arrived in Vancouver without my suitcase on board. I reported the missing suitcase to the lost luggage office at the Vancouver airport and was told the suitcase would be arriving in Vancouver on a flight later that day My bag never arrived that evening and I was told by United Airlines lost luggage officials to go out and buy clothing supplies, save the receipts, and apply  for reimbursement when I got home.  Because I had no luggage or clothing, I had to buy clothes to wear. My bag finally arrived at my Vancouver hotel on Friday, Sept. 4-three days late, Upon arrival, we discovered that the bag had been damaged by United--two zipper handles that opened the suitcase had been broken off, effectively ruining the suitcase. 

I'm expecting to be reimbursed for all the purchases we were forced to make due to United's negligence (totaling $409 USD). If not for United's mishandling of and damage to my suitcase, I would not have had to buy these additional supplies or spend hours of our trip trying to fix the problems United caused. I feel this is a totally reasonable amount given the fact that it represents the amount of money I had to spend to correct United’s negligence. I have filed a complaint with United-they have offered a very small settlement that is totally unacceptable. I am trying to recover $409 from United Airlines.

Hello,

I have attempted contact with Vinted over a banned account several times

specifically requesting human review and they have not provided it. Instead sending me automated messages that they will not overturn account ban. My account was banned due to attempt to sell a "weapon" when the item was arrows used for archery and posted under the category of sporting accessories. When notified I accepted that the item could not be listed and did not dispute that. But I am not understanding the full account ban when this was a first time misunderstanding on an otherwise compliant account. I want a human to review my issue. There are SEVERAL other still active seller accounts with the same type of item AND they are listed as hunting arrows. Why is my account being singled out?? I have no interest or intentions of attempting to post this item again, and feel the consequences far exceed the action on my part. This company does not offer any way at all to reach a live person and even in formally requesting a live person you only receive automated responses. I do have a paper trail of all communication and need assistance with getting my account reinstated.

My desired outcome would be that I would like to have a human contact me about the account ban and have my account reinstated and I would like Vinted to review these other sellers that have successfully posted arrows which are clearly used for hunting or similar purposes, as I feel I was singled out due to a single incident which was already resolved in the fact that my item NEVER posted, nor was I pushing to have it listed.

Here are SOME of the e-mail correspondence with Vinted. Please HELP.

SUMMARY
On 09/01/2026, Take 5 Shop #0028 (2401 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans) inflated all four tires on my 2018 Subaru Forester to about 54 PSI during an oil change (Invoice #443169). The tires' sidewall maximum is 51 PSI; the recommended pressure is 29 front/30 rear. My tire pressure light came on shortly after I left, and I have video showing it on 14 miles after the service. One tire developed a sidewall bulge. On 09/22, Firestone inspected the car and found all four tires need replacement (quote: $493.44 plus tax). The car is AWD, so all four must be replaced together.

Take 5 opened Claim #709710. I have called customer service five times, and each time I was told District Manager Brandon Lange would call me. He never has. I emailed him and customer service on 09/22 with no reply. I filed a BBB complaint (#25305886) on 09/22; Take 5's only response was that the claim had been escalated.

On my 09/25 call, a rep read me a note on my claim, attributed to the District Manager, saying the shop manager showed me footage of my tires being checked and advised me to go to a tire shop. That never happened. I have not been back to the shop since 09/01, and no manager has ever contacted me.

I am asking Take 5 to reimburse four tires ($542.78 with tax) and refund the $123.73 oil change. Through the BBB, I have asked for a written decision by 10/09/2026.

---

1. MY EMAIL TO BRANDON LANGE AND TAKE 5 CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sent 09/22/2026, 2:14 PM, to [email protected] and [email protected]. No reply.
Subject: Service Issue - 09/01 - have tried to contact four times

Brandon, 

I have reached out to Take 5 four times since early September for a service issue at one of the locations you manage -  #0028. I was told that I would get a call back from the district manager for the next steps - Brandon Lange - but I have not gotten a call back. 

I received an oil change and the technician topped off fluids and filled my tires. Leaving the location, my car tire alert started blinking and the car was driving unsteadily. I checked the tire pressure and all four of my tires were filled by the technician to around 54 PSI. The MAXIMUM PSI on my tires is 51 with recommended pressure at 29 and 30 for front and back. One of my tires had a visible egg that developed as a result of the technician's mistake, but all four tires were severely mishandled making my car unsafe to drive. Furthermore, my car requires that all four tires are replaced at the same time due to AWD. I have been waiting for a call back since early September, and have waited on hold with Take 5 Corporate for 40 minutes each time I called. On the call today, the customer service rep said she would escalate the request. 

CLAIM NUMBER: 709710

Please give me a call back and let me know what the next steps are. 

Sasha Solodukhina

[redacted]

---

2. MY BBB COMPLAINT (#25305886), 09/22/2026

Take 5 Shop #0028, located at 2401 South Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118, overinflated my AWD tires to 54 PSI, creating a safety hazard and causing sidewall bubbling. Claim #709710 was opened, but I have been ghosted for 3 weeks despite 4 follow-up calls. I am demanding the corporate office authorize the replacement of all 4 tires immediately due to AWD drivetrain requirements.

---

3. TAKE 5'S RESPONSE VIA BBB, 09/24/2026

Hello, Apologies for the delayed response to your BBB complaint. Thank you for providing this additional information pertaining to your claim. We have added this information to your claim notes and put an escalation on your claim. We have asked that the District Manager and team provide us with an update as soon as possible.

---

4. MY RESPONSE TO THE BBB REJECTING TAKE 5'S REPLY, 09/25/2026

I am rejecting this response because:

I was repeatedly promised a call back from District Manager Brandon Lange and never received one. An escalation with no timeline or decision is not a response.

On 09/01/26 at Shop #0028 (Invoice 443169), the technician inflated all four tires to about 54 PSI. Sidewall max: 51 PSI; recommended: 29/30. My tire pressure light came on shortly after I left; my video shows it on at 68,123 mi, 14 miles after the service (previously submitted). One tire developed a sidewall bulge. My AWD Subaru requires all four tires be replaced together. On 09/22, Firestone (WO #195595) found all four tires need replacement and quoted $493.44 plus tax.

I called Take 5 on 09/04, 09/16, 09/18, 09/22 and 09/25 and emailed Mr. Lange and customer service on 09/22. No decision.

DISPUTED CLAIM NOTE
On 09/25, a rep read me a District Manager note stating the shop manager showed me footage of my tires being checked and advised me to go to a tire shop. This did not happen. I have not returned to the shop since 09/01, no one showed me footage, and no District Manager has contacted me. I dispute this note, ask who entered it and when, and request Take 5 preserve all Shop #0028 camera footage from 09/01/26.

The rep confirmed receipt of my 09/22 email and could not transfer me to a District Manager; I left a voicemail for supervisor Brian Kim.

I request:
1. $542.78 for four tires ($493.44 + 10% tax)
2. Refund of the $123.73 oil change
3. A written decision by 10/09/26

If unresolved by then, I will replace the tires and pursue a Louisiana Attorney General complaint and small claims filing.

Note: Firestone's paperwork lists mileage as 82,912, a data-entry error. Actual mileage was about 68,291, consistent with Take 5's invoice and my 09/24 odometer photo (68,299). Firestone advisor Dorian can confirm.

---

5. PHONE CALLS TO TAKE 5 CUSTOMER SERVICE
- 09/04, 22 min (980-365-5166): told to wait for a District Manager call back
- 09/16, 29 min (980-365-5166): same
- 09/18, 30 min (704-377-8855): same
- 09/22, 47 min (704-377-8855): rep escalated the claim
- 09/25, 26 min (704-377-8855): rep read me the disputed District Manager note, confirmed my 09/22 email was received, and could not transfer me to a District Manager; I left a voicemail for customer service supervisor Brian Kim

6. TRANSCRIPT EXCERPT FROM 09/25 CALL (auto-transcript; full recording available)

Me: Can you read me back what's in the claim notes for 709710?

Rep: Do you mean when the claim was first submitted in?

Me: Just everything that you have down from every phone call that I've made to you.

Rep: Um. Hm. So just to sum it up, I see where they have notated down in regards to the tires where you had received the alert, and then of course the information for the PSI on the tire pressure, and then of course I see where the escalation has been put in, and then just notes from the shop - excuse me, the district manager.

Me: What is the note from the district manager?

Rep: So it would say that the shop manager had showed you the footage showing that all 4 of the tires were checked during the service and had advised to you for the vehicle to be taken to a tire shop for the tire issue.

Me: That never happened.

Rep: I do see that. Um.. Let me scroll down... Ok. And then I see -- 

Me: I have not been back to the shop since the oil change. No one showed me any footage. No one advised me to go to a tire shop, and the district manager did not call me, so that is completely fabricated information. 

I also have the Take 5 invoice, photos and video of the warning light and tire, the Firestone inspection report and quote, call log screenshots, and an 18 minute 37 second recording of part of the 09/25 call, if any of those would help.

I would like to get my tires replaced but am hesitant to do so prior to being contacted by the DM due to the receipt stating that all service must be approved. However, the rep on my last phone call (09/25) said that I could submit receipts to their email address if I did do the service. I am not sure if this advice conflicts with the receipt and am wondering what is a reasonable course of action as it's now been a month and I have not felt comfortable driving my car normally with damaged tires.

Thank you for considering my case.

I booked a Hilo, Hi vacation rental (“My Hilo Home”) through VRBO for
08/07/2026-08/19/2026. After our stay, I was reviewing receipts and
realized I had been charged $854.38 more than I agreed to pay through VRBO.
In my research of the discrepancy, I found that Salt Water Vacations'
billing system charged a $275.00 daily rate instead of $206.25 daily rate
as I was supposed to pay (daily rate discount based on the extended stay).
There was also a small discrepancy in the credit card service fee being
$99.71 on VRBO's booking fee details vs $129.09 that Salt Water Vacations
charged. There weren't any discrepancies in the damage waiver, cleaning
fee, or taxes. Also, what I was charged by VRBO for their service fees and
share of the taxes matched what the billing details stated when I booked
the vacation rental. No issues there. The only issue is with Salt Water
Vacations' charges.

I first contacted VRBO. They told me my reservation was created under the IPM rate plan, which means that the pricing, fees, and any other discounts are managed directly by the property manager through their integrated system. Any changes to the nightly rate, fees or promotions are updated on the property manager's side. VRBO told me to contact the host/property manager, Salt Water Vacations (Hawaii).

I have provided Salt Water Vacations with copies of my billing details from
VRBO, the final receipt from Salt Water Vacations from 07/08/2026 that
shows the differences in the daily rate and the credit card service fee,
and copies of my credit card statement showing the two payments to their
business. After some back and forth with them, via email, they have
refunded me $397.03 (cleaning fee and damage protection fee plus relevant
tax) “to apologize for the issues you reported”. Oddly, they refunded two
of the fees not in question… I am still owed $457.35.

Before I discovered this discrepancy, Salt Water Vacations had refunded me
$1008.76 as compensation for the poor condition of the home (ridden with mold/mildew, etc.) When they provided this refund, on 08/18/2026, they wrote, “We are so sorry that you were here for the big storm [Hurricane Lala] and that Hilo Home did not meet all of your expectations.” I had very politely brought some things to their attention during our stay. I didn't ask for compensation, but they did the right thing and provided me with a partial refund for my family's stay. They are now using that as justification/an excuse for not providing me with any further refund and say they are “unable to provide any further refund.” I've pointed out that my being provided compensation for the poor condition of the home doesn't negate the fact that I was overcharged for the rental in the first place. My last correspondence with them was via voicemail and a follow-up email directly after leaving the voicemail on 09/03/2026. They are no longer responding and haven't refunded the remaining $457.35 of the $854.38 that I was overcharged. Any advice on how to attempt getting the remaining $457.35 I was overcharged would be greatly appreciated.