Hoping you all can help. I was charged fraud on my debit credit card and my credit union stated nothing they can do to do small claims. The company homesafesusa.com isn't a legit site. No address phone doesn't work as well as there email. Website is no longer available as well. The bank said since they have my address and phone number it looks like a legit purchase from online. I never received and items from this company as well.
SUMMARY
StubHub's listing tool showed my Steelers listing as "pending," then it disappeared from my account. I relisted the same seats manually, and that listing posted instantly. More than five hours later, StubHub published the original anyway. Both sold overnight. StubHub's agent told me in writing to fulfill the sale, so I bought replacement seats in the same level and row, and the buyer accepted the transfer. StubHub then reversed itself and charged me $778.80, the same day its support team told me the case was still under review.
TIMELINE (all Oct 2026, Eastern)
- Oct 4: Submitted my seats through StubHub's season-ticket listing tool in the app. It showed "pending," then vanished from my account. No confirmation email.
- Oct 4, 4:58 PM: Listed the same seats manually. Posted instantly; tickets preuploaded.
- Oct 4, 10:30 PM: The vanished listing went live on its own. I wasn't in the app (phone Screen Time confirms).
- Oct 5, 12:24 AM and 4:08 AM: Both listings sold. StubHub auto-delivered my preuploaded tickets on the second sale, leaving the first unfillable.
- Oct 7: Agent said the penalty can't be waived, then promised an emailed resolution within 24 hours. It never came.
- Oct 9: A second agent wrote that I "will need to fulfill the sale" to avoid a penalty. I bought comparable seats in the same row for $523.60; the buyer accepted the transfer and StubHub marked the order "Delivered." StubHub then ruled the seats didn't count and had them returned. I resold them for $252.00.
- Oct 9-14: StubHub's X support acknowledged the delayed publication "appears to have resulted in a duplicate sale" and said the case was under review.
- Oct 14: StubHub canceled the order and charged $778.80: $156 to my card and $622.80 withheld from my payout for the sale I did complete.
TOTAL IMPACT
$1,050.40 worse off: $622.80 payout withheld, $156 charged to my card, $271.60 lost on replacement seats.
WHAT I'VE DONE
- Live chats, StubHub's X and Facebook support, and email (full paper trail sent to Christopher by email)
- Filed StubHub's formal charge dispute
- Mailing StubHub's Notice of Dispute under its User Agreement (required before arbitration)
- Complaints filed with the Pennsylvania Attorney General (file opened; StubHub asked to respond within 21 days) and the BBB
- I have a full evidence package: StubHub's own emails, chat transcripts, order screenshots, transfer records, and receipts
WHAT I'M ASKING
I'm seeking reversal of the $778.80 charge and reimbursement of my $271.60 loss. Has anyone dealt with StubHub's season-ticket listing tool creating hidden or delayed listings, or had a dropped-sale penalty reversed after following an agent's instructions? Any advice on escalation contacts or next steps would be appreciated.
Here's an interesting offer from United after my flight from Venice to Boston was cancelled due to a mechanical problem:
Option 1 - United Electronic Travel Certificate:
Receive a $1,000 (USD) United Electronic Travel Certificate, applicable to flights operated by United, United Express or partner airlines sold on United digital channels. Electronic Travel Certificates expire one year from the issue date. For more details and to view terms and conditions, visit the travel credits page.
A copy of each traveler's passport or other government-issued identification is required in order for United to process the certificate. Once received, we'll email you the certificate details.
OR
Option 2 - United MileagePlus® Miles:
Receive 50,000 MileagePlus miles. You can redeem the miles on flights operated by United, United Express, Air Canada, ANA, Austrian, Lufthansa, Swiss, Thai and other Star Alliance member airlines. These miles can also be used for various MileagePlus services and award options. MileagePlus miles never expire. For more details and to view the MileagePlus program rules, visit the MileagePlus page.
To accept this offer, please respond with your United MileagePlus account number. If you're not yet a member, you can enroll online at no cost.
OR
Option 3 - Monetary Compensation:If you prefer monetary compensation under EU261, you are required to provide a copy of the traveler's passport or other government-issued identification for each person included in order for United to process the claim. Once we receive the requested documents, we'll send you a secure link via email for a digital payment of EUR 600.
I took the third option (cold, hard cash) because 1) option 1 ties me into making a United flight sometime within the next year even though it is more than EUR 600, and 2) MileagePlus miles are worth about $0.012 each which is $600 (less than EUR 600).
I really do wonder how many people choose either of the first two options. But then, I wonder how many of the >220 people inconvenienced by this cancellation actually applied for compensation.
On the other hand, I have to say I am impressed by how easy it was to get compensated by United.
I think you made the right call. Here’s how United’s offer compares with what EU 261 gives you.
Your flight left from an EU airport, so the regulation covers it no matter which airline operated it. Venice to Boston is well over 3,500 kilometers, which puts you in the top compensation tier of 600 euros per passenger. A mechanical problem doesn’t get the airline off the hook. The European Court of Justice ruled in 2015 (van der Lans v. KLM) that technical problems are part of an airline’s normal operations and don’t count as “extraordinary circumstances.”
https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-257/14
So United owed you the money, and it didn’t try to argue otherwise.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32004R0261
United also didn’t apply a discount it might have tried. On long-haul routes, an airline can cut the payment in half if it reroutes you and you arrive within four hours of your original arrival time. United paid the full 600 euros, which tells me either your delay was longer than that or it chose not to haggle. Either way, you got the maximum.
On the alternatives, EU 261 does allow vouchers instead of cash, but only if the passenger agrees in writing. That’s what Options 1 and 2 are. The $1,000 certificate looks bigger on paper. It’s locked to United, though, and it disappears in 12 months. Plenty of travelers never use those certificates, which is part of why airlines like offering them. Your valuation of the miles is in line with what most loyalty analysts use, around 1.2 cents each, so 50,000 miles comes out to roughly $600. [Unverified] At recent exchange rates, 600 euros is worth somewhere around $650 to $700, so the cash wins on value and flexibility.
One thing to check: compensation is separate from the airline’s other obligations. If you paid for meals, a hotel or transportation while you waited, United still owes you those expenses under the “right to care” provisions. If you had to buy a new ticket because United didn’t rebook you, that’s reimbursable too. Accepting the 600 euros doesn’t wipe those out, so send United the receipts if you have any.
The passport request is routine. Airlines use it to confirm the payee matches the passenger, and I wouldn’t read anything into it.
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm
As for your question about how many of the 220 passengers file a claim, nobody publishes those numbers. I’d guess it’s well under half. A lot of travelers never learn about EU 261, and the ones who do often take the voucher because the number is bigger. United made it easy for you, which is how the system should work. Not every airline is that cooperative.
I’m writing to share an unusual incident I had with my MacBook Pro. I was trying to edit files I’d created myself but encountered problems even with administrator privileges. The Apple Senior Support team couldn’t fix it and ultimately suggested deleting my user account. This was because I had a Time Capsule with recent backups. It’s worth noting I hadn’t upgraded to OS X 27 as that would have made the Time Capsule incompatible.
Following the advice of a Senior Apple Support advisor, I deleted my user account, losing 960 GB of data. The Time Capsule then unexpectedly failed, preventing it from being mounted in the Migration Assistant. Even though the files appear on my Mac in sparsebundle format, they can’t be opened or mounted.
Several Senior Department advisors and technicians tried to repair the Time Capsule but were unsuccessful. Finally, I was given three links to external data recovery companies, whose services would cost a minimum of $1,200 plus VAT. This was because Apple doesn’t perform recovery on Time Capsules, despite presumably having the capability.
As compensation, Apple offered me a free purchase in the Apple Online Store worth €260. I tried to buy a €360 product and offered to pay the difference but was told that wasn’t possible. To top it all off they also refused to issue a gift card for the same amount, so I’d be able to spent it on something I want or need, but insists instead to have to buy it themselves on my behalf only -$300 max.!
Overall, this has been the most disappointing experience I’ve had with Apple in my 20 years as a customer, having bought a whole bunch of products from this company.
I'm not a lawyer, but one might assume that Apple could be held liable for the data loss?
Facebook disabled my 18-year-old account — and its own support system makes it impossible to appeal before the 30-day deadline Hello everyone, I'm reaching out to this community because I have been struggling with a serious Facebook account issue for several weeks, and I have exhausted nearly every support option I could find. My Facebook account, which I have used since approximately 2008, was disabled on September 21, 2026, without a specific explanation. My linked Instagram account was also suspended as a direct consequence. What makes this situation particularly troubling is that Facebook explicitly tells me I can request a review within 30 days, but its own technical support system prevents me from submitting that appeal. I am hoping that someone here, particularly an advocate familiar with Meta's account support procedures, might be able to suggest a genuine escalation route or help bring this technical failure to the attention of an appropriate team. 1. My account was disabled without a meaningful explanation On September 21, 2026, Facebook suddenly disabled my personal account for allegedly violating its Community Standards. However, I have not been told: - Which specific rule I supposedly violated. - Which post, comment, message, or activity triggered the disabling. - Whether the decision resulted from automated moderation or human review. - What evidence Meta relied upon. I did not receive an explanatory email identifying the alleged violation. To the best of my knowledge, I have not done anything that would justify such a severe restriction. I genuinely cannot identify any activity that might have caused this decision. I was not provided with a meaningful prior explanation identifying a problem I could address. I understand that Facebook must enforce its rules, but I believe users should at least be told what they are accused of doing and be given a genuine opportunity to respond. Losing an account that has existed for almost 18 years is not a minor inconvenience. It means potentially losing access to years of memories, conversations, photographs, and personal connections. My linked Instagram account was also suspended because Facebook allegedly violated its rules, without any separate Instagram violation being identified. My ultimate goal is to recover both accounts, not merely obtain an explanation of the technical problem. 2. The central problem: Facebook's appeal procedure is an endless login loop This is the most important part of my case. When I try to log in to Facebook, the platform recognizes my account and displays a notification stating that my account was disabled on September 21. The notification explains that I can provide additional information and request a review within 30 days. It directs me to Facebook's Help Pages through a button labeled "Access Help Pages". However, following that instruction leads to the following sequence: Step 1: I attempt to log in to Facebook. Step 2: Facebook displays the disabled-account notification and tells me to visit the Help Pages to request a review. Step 3: I follow the link and reach Facebook's Help Center and Meta AI Support Assistant. Step 4: The support assistant tells me that I must log in to receive personalized assistance concerning my account. Step 5: I select the login option and enter my credentials. Step 6: Facebook sends me straight back to the same disabled-account notification. Step 7: The notification once again tells me to visit the Help Pages, where the cycle starts again. In short: Disabled account → Help Center → Meta AI Support Assistant → Login required → Facebook login → Disabled account → Help Center again. There is no accessible appeal form, no way to submit my explanation, and no confirmation that an official appeal has been registered. The account restriction I am trying to challenge is itself preventing me from accessing the procedure designed to challenge it. This is not an appeal that was examined and rejected. This is an appeal that I have been technically prevented from submitting in the first place. 3. I have tried multiple devices, applications, and browsers I have attempted to resolve this issue through several methods: - Facebook's Android application. - Facebook Lite. - Messenger. - Google Chrome and other browsers. - A computer. - Safari on a separate iPhone. The same fundamental obstacle persists. I have also encountered technical error messages such as "Connection lost" and "An unexpected error occurred", sometimes after entering a two-factor authentication security code. I still have access to the email addresses and telephone number associated with the disabled account. I am willing to complete any legitimate identity-verification process required by Meta. This is not a forgotten-password problem. It is an access failure affecting the support and appeals process. 4. Facebook provides no accessible alternative support channel for my situation Because the official support route is inaccessible, I have attempted to contact Meta through other means. I searched for Facebook and Instagram support email addresses published online, including addresses historically associated with account recovery and appeals. Unfortunately, these addresses were not verified as functioning appeal channels. My attempts either generated automated responses or delivery failures, or received no substantive reply. I also attempted to obtain assistance through Meta Verified support using a family member's verified account. The support representative explained that they could not handle the issue because the disabled account belonged to another person. I understand that such restrictions may exist for privacy and security reasons. However, the result is an impossible situation: I cannot obtain personalized support from my own disabled account, and support accessed through another account cannot assist because the problem concerns my account. I also contacted my country's data protection authority to request information about the processing of personal data potentially involved in the disabling decision, including any role played by automated systems. I have not yet received a substantive response. Despite all these efforts, I still have no functioning method of contacting a team able to examine my appeal. 5. Meta's public support commitments make this especially concerning Meta has publicly announced improvements to its account support and appeals processes. In December 2025, Meta described improvements intended to make account support more accessible: https://about.fb.com/news/2025/12/making-it-easier-to-access-account-support-on-facebook-and-instagram/ In March 2026, Meta also discussed how its AI support assistant was designed to help users navigate account problems and appeal options, while emphasizing the continued importance of human judgment in critical decisions such as account-disabling appeals: https://about.fb.com/news/2026/03/boosting-your-support-and-safety-on-metas-apps-with-ai/ That announcement also described an initial rollout of certain support capabilities for users unable to log in, starting with selected users in the United States and Canada. This raises an important question for users in other regions: If an account is disabled and personalized support requires logging in, what alternative appeal mechanism is available when the login process itself prevents access? Meta's Oversight Board has also addressed the importance of transparent account-disabling decisions, understandable explanations, meaningful appeal procedures, and appropriate human review: https://www.oversightboard.com/news/board-upholds-ban-in-first-accounts-case-but-calls-out-systemic-human-rights-concerns/ I am not claiming that these public statements automatically establish a legal entitlement to account restoration. However, I believe my situation illustrates exactly why accessible appeals and meaningful human review are important. 6. The approaching deadline makes this urgent My account was disabled on September 21, 2026. The specific notification displayed for my account announces a 30-day period to provide additional information and request a review. Based on that notification, the deadline may fall around October 21, 2026. Unfortunately, the exact cutoff time is unknown. Facebook's general help information sometimes refers to different appeal periods, but I cannot assume those general deadlines override the 30-day period displayed for my account. Despite weeks of repeated attempts, I still cannot file an appeal. How can Facebook allow an account to become permanently disabled because no appeal was registered when its own system prevented the user from registering one? I believe Meta should at least acknowledge the technical problem, take the documented appeal attempts into consideration, and preserve or reopen the opportunity for review while the failure is investigated. I am also concerned about preserving my account and associated personal information while this dispute remains unresolved. 7. What I am asking the Backchannel community I would sincerely appreciate any practical guidance or assistance with the following: 1. Reaching a real Meta support or appeals team Does anyone know of a legitimate escalation channel for disabled Facebook accounts when the normal appeal procedure cannot be accessed? 2. Reporting the technical failure Is there a way to have this endless login loop investigated as a technical support problem rather than being redirected to the standard account recovery instructions? 3. Protecting the appeal opportunity Can Meta be asked to recognize attempts made within the original 30-day period and allow an appeal to be submitted despite the technical obstruction? 4. Obtaining human review Is there a way to have the original disabling decision reviewed by an appropriate human team, especially when no specific alleged violation has been communicated? 5. Recovering my accounts My primary objective is to recover my long-standing Facebook account and the linked Instagram account if the restrictions were imposed in error or cannot be justified. I genuinely do not know what I could have done to warrant this decision. I am willing to provide any necessary explanation, supporting information, or identity verification through a secure and legitimate process. 6. Preventing irreversible consequences Is there any legitimate way to ask Meta to preserve the account, its associated data, and the possibility of review while the technical problem is investigated? 8. Evidence available I have retained supporting documentation, including: - Screenshots of Facebook's disabled-account notification showing the date, 30-day period, and Help Pages instruction. - Screenshots of the Meta AI Support Assistant requiring login for personalized assistance. - Screenshots of authentication errors. - Evidence of the linked Instagram suspension. - Written attempts to contact Meta and relevant support exchanges. - Details of unsuccessful attempts through several devices and applications. I have also submitted a detailed account of this situation to Elliott Advocacy for consideration. I understand that not every case can receive individual intervention, but I sincerely appreciate any guidance this community may be able to offer. I can provide relevant screenshots or correspondence privately to an authorized advocate or moderator if needed, with personal information appropriately protected. Final thoughts I have used Facebook for almost 18 years. I never imagined that I could suddenly lose access to such a long-standing account without receiving a clear explanation, and then discover that the very procedure offered to challenge the decision is inaccessible. I am not asking Facebook to disregard its policies or make an exception without examining the facts. I am asking for a fair opportunity to understand what happened, present my explanation, and have the disabling decision genuinely reviewed. The immediate problem is that Meta's own system prevents me from filing an appeal. The ultimate goal is to recover my Facebook and Instagram accounts if the restrictions are unjustified. I would be extremely grateful for any practical advice, experience, or assistance that could help me move beyond this support dead end. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my situation.
Dear Christopher,
I would like to apologize once again for the considerable length of my previous message.
I deliberately took the time to bring together my entire testimony, the supporting documentation, and the additional research into a single comprehensive account, hoping it would make things easier for you if you decide to pursue your investigation and write an article.
I also understand that such a detailed discussion may take up a considerable amount of space on your public forum.
If you prefer, I would be more than happy to continue our correspondence privately by email, so that we can discuss my situation and any additional information you may need without overwhelming the forum.
I have already submitted a request through Elliott Advocacy's official contact form, through which I have also already sent a few initial attachments to help your team examine the case. If we continue via email, I can also provide a one-page Executive Summary along with a structured PDF version of this master document and organized Google Drive folders containing all supporting screenshots and proof.
Of course, I am equally happy to continue here if that is more convenient for you.
Thank you once again for your time, your understanding, and your willingness to consider my testimony.
Kind regards,
Amine Guessous
I'm looking at flights to Chicago for Thanksgiving -- which are already filling up -- and the prices are a lot higher than I expected (I haven't gone out there since 2024). I have enough miles to use money-plus-miles fares both ways if I book them individually, but not if I do a round trip itinerary. I've never done separate itineraries. Are there any pitfalls or downsides I should factor in before deciding how to book?
Susan, it is generally true that many airlines offer round-trip fares that can be less expensive than purchasing two separate one-way tickets. However, what often happens is that the lower-priced round-trip fare inventory sells out before the more expensive one-way fare classes, so those lower fares may no longer be available by the time you search.
Airfares are also constantly adjusted based on demand, availability, and other factors. As a result, someone who purchased the same itinerary a few weeks earlier—or even a few days earlier—may have paid either more or less than you did.
Airline websites generally display only the fares and inventory that are currently available for purchase. There is therefore no way to determine what lower fares may have been available in the past or what fares other passengers were able to purchase before that inventory sold out.
A professional travel agent with access to a Global Distribution System (GDS) can typically see the different fare classes and currently available inventory for a flight. This can provide greater visibility into the fares available at a particular time and, if you have some flexibility in your schedule, may allow the agent to identify a cheaper round-trip fare.
Case ID: A127789530
URGENT ESCALATION - AirCover Health & Safety Violation (Mold & Infestation)
I am formally rejecting Sadeeya's decision to close this case. The claim that Airbnb "cannot override a host's cancellation policy" directly violates Airbnb’s official global AirCover policy. Under the Guest Refund Policy, standard host cancellation policies are completely overridden when a property contains severe health and safety issues.
The listing I stayed in possessed active mold growth, insects crawling openly across the floor, and a large spider on the wall directly next to the bed. I evacuated the premises within 48 hours of check-in, placing this report fully within Airbnb’s strict 72-hour AirCover reporting window.
Video evidence documenting these hazards has been uploaded to this case file. Because the host refused to address these severe health conditions, I turn to Airbnb for guest protection. I request that a Senior Escalation Supervisor manually review the video evidence, override the host's policy as mandated by AirCover, and issue a full refund immediately. If this is not resolved, I will continue my active consumer protection disputes with my bank and external consumer advocacy groups.
Sure, I think you can embed a video in this forum.
My wife and I recently traveled to Iceland round trip. In checkout line I discovered my Passport was missing which would prevent us from departing. I immediately talked to an agent to inquire if the same flight had seats available the next evening which it was. My intent was to hopefully retreive the passport from our car which was 130 miles away at the Bus parking lot. After taking the bus back we found it, so I called up Icelandair to rebook. I was informed we were listed as NO SHOWS so the entire booking was cancelled without refund. The new booking additional cost of ~ $2,800 above the original of ~$1,300. The new booking included my original return flight. My initial booking was Economy Standard Non Refundable, but I did purchase insurance through Icelandair, but it only covered me for medical. I was anticipating paying for an additional reasonable cost the departing flight the next evening, but not the return. on the same flight. The return flight was not close to full. We essentially paid for four seats on the same flight. I filed a claim with them stating we were not NO SHOWS because we did discuss our situation with an Agent who did not inform of any options. I did see that some Airlines often allow for a flat tire situation.
Bruce,
What a horrible way to start your trip. I’m sorry you had to deal with this.
Unfortunately, if you did not take the scheduled flight, cancel the ticket, or change to a new flight (if permitted) before departure, the airline will generally place the ticket in no-show status. Once that happens, it is common industry practice for the airline to cancel the remaining segments of the ticket, including the return flights.
There is some good news on this front. EU Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, which will apply to flights to and from Iceland, will prohibit airlines from canceling return flights simply because a passenger did not use an earlier segment. However, the regulation does not take effect until October 2027, so it does not provide a remedy for your current situation.
In the absence of a specific government requirement, these situations are generally governed by the airline’s Conditions of Carriage and the applicable fare rules, including whether the ticket is refundable, changeable, or subject to other restrictions.
Based on our experience, most airlines will not provide a refund or even a travel credit when a ticket was not canceled or changed before departure. This can be the case even when the passenger’s failure to travel was caused by circumstances beyond their control, such as a flat tire. Travel insurance may provide coverage, but that depends entirely on the policy and the specific circumstances. For example, a stolen passport supported by a police report might qualify under a policy’s trip-interruption provisions, but coverage is not automatic.
At this point, your best option may be to make a polite, concise appeal to the airline’s executive customer-relations team. Explain what happened, provide any supporting documentation, and ask whether the airline would be willing to make a goodwill exception. While there is no guarantee they will do so, airlines will sometimes offer a future travel credit, miles, or another accommodation as a gesture of goodwill.
We maintain contact information for Icelandair’s executives on our website, which you can use for that appeal.
https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/icelandair/
I hope this is helpful
I’m an organized Yale grad. I recognize that my credibility plunges if I exaggerate or misrepresent the facts I have summarized below.
I've been a loyal member of Google Fi since literally the day they launched in 2015. I know Fi’s system well. Aug 22, 2026 was the fifth time my two-year subscription expired and I was eligible for a phone upgrade to the next Pixel 9a, Fi's website informed me that the 9a was sold out and would not let me proceed to the next screen. I should mention that I worked in UI (User Interface) for Facebook, so I’m quite familiar with the back end of a consumer website.
I called Support and Google’s offshore call center person in the Philippines told me there was nothing she could do. I told her that this is my 5th upgrade, that I know the rules, that I have played by the rules, and now I want Google to honor their upgrade agreement. I asked for a Pixel 10a. She repeated there was nothing she could do. The call took just over 44 minutes. She gave me a case number but I never received emails or any kind of follow-up. I wrote to Google Fi:
"Sep 9 was the first time that I heard that Google fi's phone subscription service had been discontinued. I received no notice of this.
"The user interface in my account still suggests clearly that the phone subscription service continues, and it offered me an upgrade just as always in the past.
"As you saw in my screenshots, the upgrade to the 9A is frozen and sold out, with no option to continue in the upgrade process. This clearly suggests that there is still a phone subscription service, but it was sold out with no other options for me.
"The 1600 "credit" was, in my perception, ambiguous. This is not a great example of user interface. I doubt that I was the only person who misunderstood that you were simply telling me my financing limit. I had thought that I was being offered such a big credit because the pixel 9A was temporarily sold out, or as a reward for my loyal subscriptions for 11 years. All Google had to print was "credit line" instead of "credit" and all the ambiguity would be gone."
On Wednesday August 26th at 10:45 a.m. MST, I spent 44 minutes on the phone with Google Fi's offshore call center for customer support. They did not inform me that the program had been discontinued, and they clearly were not aware. She assigned me a case number but I never received any follow-up about it at all.
My case was then stuck for weeks while I waited. It turns out she gave me a fake case number: 5-0448000042825. A Fi staffer later wrote that, “The reference number you shared (5-044-800-0000-41825) is not a recognized Google Fi case ID format. Official Google Fi case IDs consist strictly of a 14-digit number.”
I wrote back to Garry, the Fi staffer, and said: “Gary, I have been a faithful and loyal supporter of Google since I switched over to Gmail in 2004. You guys are famous for being perfectionists who create great products that "just work." And making things right in the rare instances when things don't work. May I please ask a favor of you? I have spent literally dozens of hours, over 17 days, going through all the proper channels for support, with no results. Could you please comp me and [my wife] Karen a Google pixel 10a each? I think I have shown plenty of patience and good faith here, and I would be grateful for a one-time courtesy from y'all.”
Garry replied re: “the roadblock you ran into on the "Assign Device" page. Because Karen’s device was purchased from your account, our system currently registers the active promotional reservation under your account while that order is being processed and fulfilled. Because the promotion is limited to one active promotion per line, the system temporarily grays out your name until the pending device is officially activated.” This was all news to me. How could any customer possibly be aware of this?
Garry instructed me to: “Wait for Delivery & Activation: Once Karen’s Pixel 10a arrives, have her turn on the phone and complete activation on her line. Place Your Order: As soon as Karen’s line is active, the promotional hold clears. Your line will immediately show as eligible again on the store, allowing you to select your line, apply the $300 promotion, and trade in your Pixel 8a for the $100 value.
At this point, I was stunned that Google Fi kept coming up with all justifications that their customer interface had multiple, serious glitches, but Fi never once admitted a mistake or apologized. It seemed that Google’s Legal department had coached them to never admit mistakes, or something. I wrote back: “My wife Karen's Pixel 10a phone arrived today and I have registered it with her Fi account. You told me I could now order the same phone for myself, but the screenshot below shows that Fi's interface is still malfunctioning and I cannot order another Pixel 10a for myself. ALSO, the cost has jumped $50 while I was trusting in your instructions and waiting to order. THIS IS TIME-SENSITIVE!!! I leave for Korea in less than 2 weeks. Please send me a Pixel 10a 128 GB Lavender color with no device protection and a trade-in package immediately. And please honor the $200 price I SHOULD HAVE gotten if the interface had worked properly.
Garry replied that: “Regarding Karen's activation and your order eligibility: When a newly delivered device is activated on an existing group or family plan, our backend systems require up to 24 hours to fully sync the completed activation, clear the active promotional reservation, and refresh eligibility on the account. Because Karen just activated her phone today, the ordering interface has not yet updated to release the promotional lock for your line.”
On Sep 14, Garry wrote: “Regarding the $50 price change and your request to honor the original $200 pricing: Because this requires administrative review beyond standard front-line tool capabilities, I have escalated your case directly to our supervisory team for priority handling. A supervisor will review the pricing history, the activation delay, and your order requirements to assist with a direct resolution. You can expect a follow-up from supervisory support within 24 to 48 hours.” In fact, it took them 5 days to decide.
Fi’s email from a supervisor on Sep 17 was the most incredible to me of all: “Thank you for contacting the Google Fi Support Team. My name is Stella, one of the supervisors...Additionally, could you please provide me with the promotion terms and conditions for the device?” Gee, aren’t the T&C more the responsibility of the company, rather than the customer?
Two days later, a different supervisor felt the need to repeat the justifications they had previously sent me: “I would like to clarify a few important details regarding your account and options:
$1,600 Line of Credit: The $1,600 amount shown on your account is your approved total device financing credit limit. This is the maximum credit line available to finance hardware purchases through monthly installments, rather than a promotional discount, gift balance, or direct bill credit.
Phone Subscription & Trade-ins: The Google Fi Phone Subscription program has been officially discontinued. While upgrading or utilizing device options through the legacy subscription program, trade-ins cannot be attached directly to that specific flow. However, when you purchase a device through standard checkout, you can complete a trade-in. Please note our system policy allows one trade-in per device order.
Multiple Orders & Promotional Limits: Our system enforces a limit of one active promotional reservation per line at a time. Once your pending device arrives and is activated, the system limitation will clear, allowing you to proceed with ordering a second promotional device.
Regarding your request to honor the previous $200 price point for the Pixel 10a following the recent $50 price increase, I am currently coordinating directly with our supervisory team to review the interface blockers you experienced and determine if a price adjustment exception can be granted...Elsa”
On Sep 20, my now 3rd supervisor, Nikil, finally decided to credit my account $50 for the price difference. He wrote: “We see that you have filed an FCC complaint regarding this matter. As a result, your case has been escalated and is now being handled directly by a higher-level specialist. To avoid any confusion and maintain a single point of contact, we are closing this current support ticket. Please use Case ID 7-0506000041732 for all future follow-ups, as our specialist team will be communicating with you through that reference moving forward.”
On Sep 24 FedEx delivered my Pixel 10a to our landlord by mistake, so I won’t get the phone until tomorrow morning, only 24 hours before we fly to Seoul, Korea. I will not have time to charge the phone and make the data transfer, which took hours to do with my wife Karen’s new Pixel 10a (and it took a further two days to iron out the kinks and glitches resulting from an imperfect transfer). So I’ll have to take my old Pixel 8a, with its failing battery, to Korea and Japan for a month of rigorous travel. On the road is when I need my battery most.
I want to request that Google Fi credit me not only $50 for the difference in phone price, but an additional $470 for the dozens of hours and screenshots I put into this over 30+ days, pointing out to Google Fi what they should already know if they paid any attention to the user interface of their own website. Let's call it a "one-time courtesy." Do you feel this is a reasonable request?
So far, Google fi has offered me a total of $150 credit.
Thanks,
Dave
--
I really appreciate the time and attention you have paid to my case! I will follow your advice, and I'm grateful for it. Bless things on you and your work!
Hi everyone! I went to bad bunny in Puerto Rico and the seats were clearly obstructed. Not only was the equipment in the way but there was netting as well. When purchased the tickets did not mention them being obstructed. However the next day all those seats were then listed obstructed. I tried calling and escalated it to speak to a manager and they didn’t offer any solutions. I made a report to BBB and disputed the charge with my credit card and had no luck. Any ideas?
SeatGeek has a clear rule on this one. Its published policy says any ticket with an obstructed view has to be labeled that way on the site. Yours weren’t labeled when you bought them. The fact that those same seats were relabeled as obstructed the next day helps your case a lot. It suggests someone knew there was a problem.
I have a few questions before you take the next step. Do you have a screenshot of the original listing or your order confirmation showing no obstruction warning? Did you capture the relabeled listing after the fact? Do you have photos from your seats? If you have any of those, I think you’re in good shape.
I’d skip the call center at this point and write a brief, polite email to a SeatGeek executive. Include your order number, the photos and the before-and-after listings. Ask for a refund under the buyer guarantee. We list the names and email addresses of SeatGeek’s executives in the Company Contacts section of elliott.org. I’ve seen this work. A reader who couldn’t see a Mets spring training game because of an ESPN cameraman got a $150 credit after we asked SeatGeek to review his case.
A Nebraska fan got a full refund for obstructed Husker seats after a local TV station stepped in.
On the credit card dispute, ask your card issuer whether you can appeal the decision with new evidence. The listing change is exactly the kind of documentation that can reopen a case. You could also file a complaint with DACO, Puerto Rico’s Department of Consumer Affairs. The event happened in Puerto Rico, so it’s a reasonable place to try.
If SeatGeek still won’t help, please let me know.
Hi all,
I recently encountered a home intruder while staying at an Airbnb. I have since reached out to Airbnb's customer support and asked them to delist the host for safety reasons, but they have not. As it turns out, the intruder had been secretly living in the basement of the Airbnb. The intruder was arrested onsite. As it turns out, the intruder is also a sex offender. Based off of what I overheard the intruder doing, I think the intruder intended to hurt my roommates.
The police report noted that the basement door lock was broken, that the basement reeked of urine (indicating the intruder had been there for some time), and that makeshift bedding was present. Thereby showing that the host was negligent in adequately securing the property. The host did not hire a professional cleaner or anything like that to remediate the urine issue. Instead, the host drilled down the basement door and put up a decoy home security sign.
It scares me to think about how many guests stayed at this Airbnb and did not know there was an intruder secretly living in the basement. I sent the entire police report to Airbnb customer support and escalated the issue to their executive team, but Airbnb did not delist the host. This property is NOT safe. For future guests' safety, the host needs to be delisted entirely. I also learned that the home does not have a short-term rental permit either, which is required in the city where it happened.
I have attached a portion of the police report. Airbnb has yet to delist the host, despite major security issues.
What a frightening situation. You did the right thing by notifying the police so the situation could be properly addressed, and then reporting the incident to Airbnb.
For the safety of future guests, Airbnb should investigate the matter in coordination with law enforcement and the host and take whatever action it believes is appropriate. Depending on the circumstances and the host’s response, Airbnb may give the host an opportunity to address the issues and demonstrate that appropriate steps have been taken to protect future guests. Alternatively, at its discretion, Airbnb may suspend or remove the property from its platform.
Unfortunately, based on our experience, Airbnb generally will not disclose the details of any action it takes in an individual case, even when we are involved in the matter. That can be frustrating, particularly when you have raised a legitimate safety concern and would like to know what was done to prevent it from happening again.
As a consumer, you can also leave a factual review of your stay. Be sure to review Airbnb’s current review guidelines and keep the review limited to what you personally experienced and can substantiate. Reviews containing allegations that Airbnb determines cannot be supported may be removed. Your firsthand account can nevertheless be useful to future guests when deciding whether to book the property. In general, a review should remain associated with the host’s profile even if the particular listing is later suspended or deactivated.
Ultimately, you also have the choice not to use Airbnb again if you believe the company did not handle the situation appropriately. That is one of the most direct ways consumers can express their dissatisfaction with how a company responds to a serious concern.
As for the permitting issue, you can report that directly to the appropriate city or local government agency. Depending on the jurisdiction and its regulations, the city may take action against the host or require the property to come into compliance. Hosts are generally responsible for obtaining and maintaining any permits or licenses required to operate a short-term rental. If the appropriate government authority notifies Airbnb that a property is operating without required authorization, Airbnb may also take action against the listing, including removing or suspending it until the issue is resolved.
I hope this information is helpful.
On 9/9/26 I got horrible diarrhea from organic arugula purchased at Stop&Shop. I immediately was directed to and reported to customer service. They opened a case. After 3 repeat calls, I filed a "risk management" case. Each agent assured me they'd get back to me right away. I never heard from any of them. It's now been a month. I had blood and stool work done after seeing my doctor. I am still suffering, tho not as badly, and lost 5 lbs. Suggestions?
I'm sorry that you had that experience. Let's assume that they did get back to you - what were you expecting to happen during this outreach? Have you evidence that the product was tainted and is the direct cause of your illness?
Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone here can point me in the right direction or share advice if they’ve experienced something similar with Ticketmaster.
I purchased 8 tickets for the Backstreet Boys show at Rogers Centre on February 20, 2027 (Section 30, Row 3, Seats 1–8) for a total of $5,530.80 CAD ($691.35 per ticket).
At the time of purchase, my seats were not identified as obstructed-view seats. When I contacted Ticketmaster to clarify the seating, I was initially told the seats were not obstructed. However, Ticketmaster has since provided contradictory information, and the same seats are now being sold as obstructed-view seats at approximately half the price.
I’ve been going back and forth with Ticketmaster, but they’ve refused to offer a reasonable resolution. I’m requesting a price adjustment of $268.05 per ticket, or $2,144.40 CAD total, to reflect the difference in value.
I believe this raises serious concerns about transparency and potentially misleading seating information, and I know other Backstreet Boys fans may be experiencing similar issues.
Has anyone successfully resolved a similar issue with Ticketmaster?
Any advice, contacts, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I’m happy to share more details privately, including the correspondence with Ticketmaster.
Thank you! ❤
my instagram account matthewwbosman got hacked and they are from mountain view california and they are used my account for a dating site without my permission and it disabled the account and i appeal one time on the app then denied it and it got hacked on september 1st 2026
and i need it back because i has my friends and wrestling people and events that i go to and my instagram account that is coonected to facebook is now suspeneded because of this hacked did
please i need my account back because my family and friends is worried that i am not on there because of the suspeneded on facebook
Matthew Bosman was that the first attempt to reactivate the account?
I recently took a trip with United airlines. Traveling from Houston, TX IAH to Durango, CO with a layover through Denver airport. Initially, my layover should have been 45mins. It ended up going into five hours, with multiple gate changes. I am a senior and was traveling alone. I attempted to get another flight at the airport with the attendant at the gate, however they handed me a card with a QR code and said I had to use that method of contact. I tried, no one ever answered. Therefore, I was stuck through the duration of five hours of waiting for my one hour flight to DRO airport in Durango, CO. I missed my family event. In addition, family waiting at the airport waiting for my arrival missed our event waiting for my arrival. We were to drive from Durango to Pagosa, CO which was an hour from the airport. I immediately contacted United once I was finally able to arrive in Pagosa. I was advised they could not do anything until the entire flight was completed. Meaning, I returned home. Once I did, I filed a complaint and asked for a refund on my ticket explaining everything. They offered me 2500 miles to which I declined. For all the anxiety, for myself and family and missing my family event that is not appropriate compensation. Please, does anyone have feedback? Offer advice on how to elevate this to seek reimbursement on this situation please.
Thank you.
Hello Dwayne,
Thank you so much for your feedback and valuable information. I was unaware of this and will seek this new path.
Thank you again.
Writing on here on the advice of Chris Elliott---My wife's daughter is mentally ill and has a young child. She had gone "off her meds" twice and we had to care for the child on an emergency basis. In booking our annual trip to Maui I was told that the daughter was acting "a bit odd" so I did something I had never done before, I bought flight insurance. Fast forward: she's off her meds and we have the child, an exhausting four year old. Travel is out. I contact Alaska to cancel the flights and they tell me that insurance will void unless I cancel the flights through Allianz Global(?). I call Allianz and they tell me that my situation isn't covered. But I notice something generally categorized as "Legal" and because we are in court to get legal temporary guardianship (required for medical and other reasons) I check that box. The daughter is currently hospitalized if that works. I had no idea that travel insurance was so narrowly defined. Am I out of luck? Thanks for anything you have to offer.
Thank you very much for the help/advice. This is a really cool thing. I am not much for technology but this is a real benefit---that I hope not to use again but will tell anyone who might use it.
Media question from Peter Porcaro
Company you have a question or a comment about: Alitalia
Our flight from Rome, Italy to Catania airport on ITA Airways was cancelled on 9/14/2026 due to eruption of Mt Etna. We were re-booked on a flight that day to Palermo airport, our bags never showed up. We rented a vehicle and proceeded to drive over 1100km over the next 5 days trying to relocate our bags as the airline was absolutely no help at all. We had to drive from Agrigento where we were staying to Palermo airport twice (314km roundtrip) and to Catania airport (330km roundtrip) and only found our bags because we made those trips. The person at Catania airport told us our bags had been delivered to Palermo airport which is why we had to make the 2nd there. The airline has been completely non-responsive. I have called numerous times and sent at least 4 emails to ITA Airways, all of which have been responded to with re-directing me to somewhere else or advising the email address I sent to is no longer active. I was never given a copy of my PIR report (because the extremely rude agent was overwhelmed with the 40 plus people trying to file a claim at midnight) but I have the code which is: CBSAA73263. I spent 3 hours filling out their lost baggage form yesterday only to be told that PIR code is not found. The last email I got from them indicated that my "case was closed" and they gave me a Report #0631-6144. Ironically, I called the automated line today and had to speak the PIR code, if incorrect, I would not have been put through. I was however allowed to proceed using that PIR code and the recording says my bags have not yet been found! A complete runaround! I am aware of Montreal Convention law and the 21 days from when my bags were found to submit a claim, I am currently in day 17, however I have printed out time stamped emails that I sent to them and the responses I got from them. Clearly they are ignoring all of my emails!
What's your desired resolution? My wife and I would like to be reimbursed for the expenses we incurred as result of our luggage being lost. Those expenses include the rental of a vehicle, the gas used, clothing and essential purchases and a new piece of luggage that they damaged as well as the necessity to rent an airbnb in Palermo. Additionally, while there may be no monetary value I can attach, the hoops they put us through on 9/14/2026 certainly deserve some sort of compensation. They made us wait a total of 6 hours on lines needlessly because of mis-information. I will gladly add the pretty long specific description of events that I tried to send them in my online claim if it helps or is needed. I also have copies of all receipts or credit card charges for all purchases
I understand what you are saying and I will try to submit using those letters with the numbers I have. However, when I called the automated line at ITA Airways, I had to use the PIR code that I had to continue access and it worked. Very confusing!
Hello Christopher and Elliott Advocacy Community,
I’m posting here as requested because I’m hoping you can help me with an unresolved dispute with Avis Budget Group after a rental at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York.
I have tried repeatedly to resolve this directly with Avis, but I continue to get rejected without what I believe are basic questions about the claim being answered.
Rental Agreement: #657649285
Avis Claim: #2690294414
Vehicle: 2026 Volvo XC90 SUV
Original amount claimed: $9,647.41
Current amount claimed: $19,970.70
What concerns me most is that there are several significant discrepancies in Avis's own records.
The vehicle I rented and returned was a 2026 Volvo XC90 SUV.
However, Avis's original damage demand and Page 8 of its claim dossier identify the vehicle as a Volvo V90 Cross Country.
I have pointed this out to Avis, but I have not received a meaningful explanation for why the vehicle is incorrectly identified in the claim documents.
This is probably the biggest issue that I have been unable to get an answer about.
When I returned the vehicle, my return receipt showed 5,115 miles on the odometer.
Later appraisal documents provided by Avis show the vehicle at 5,808 miles.
That's a difference of 693 miles.
I had already returned the vehicle, so I don't know how or why those additional miles were put on it. At that point, the vehicle was in Avis's possession.
I have repeatedly asked Avis to explain those 693 miles, but I still don't have an answer.
On June 19, 2026, Cindy Hepler, a Central Recovery Specialist with Avis, told me in writing that no further estimates or supplementals would be created.
I relied on that statement.
Despite that, Avis later created something called "Supplement 1" and increased the amount being demanded from $9,647.41 to $19,970.70.
That's an increase of $10,323.29.
I have asked Avis for a clear, itemized explanation of how and why the amount more than doubled, especially after I was told there would be no further supplementals. I have not received a satisfactory explanation.
I disputed the damage claim and requested the opportunity to inspect the vehicle before repairs were made.
I believe Avis's handling of that request violated the inspection rights provided under N.Y. GBL § 396-z.
After trying to resolve everything with Avis, I reached the point where I could no longer get the issues addressed internally.
On October 5, 2026, Avis Executive Client Relations gave me a final rejection. They declined to reopen the matter or address the discrepancies I had raised.
I have since taken the matter to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, Frauds & Consumer Protection Bureau, following a referral from NYC DCWP.
I also have complaints open with:
New York State Attorney General: Ref. #1-1370276562
BBB: ID #25327137
At this point, I am simply asking Avis to take a fresh look at the claim and reconcile its own records.
I would like Avis to:
Reopen and audit Claim #2690294414;
Explain why the wrong vehicle is identified in the claim documents;
Explain the additional 693 miles recorded after I returned the vehicle;
Provide a complete explanation and itemization of the increase from $9,647.41 to $19,970.70;
Address the written June 19 commitment that no further estimates or supplementals would be created;
Cancel the disputed $19,970.70 balance;
Confirm that I owe $0; and
Make sure this disputed claim does not result in the suspension or loss of my Avis Wizard Profile.
I travel every week for work, so losing access to my Avis account would create a serious problem for me.
I'm not asking for special treatment. I just want Avis to review the records, explain the discrepancies, and correct the claim if the records don't support what they are charging me.
I have kept the rental agreement, return receipt, claim documents, appraisals, correspondence, and records from the agencies I've contacted, and I can provide them if needed.
Thank you, Christopher and everyone in the Elliott Advocacy community, for taking the time to read this and for any guidance you can provide.
Don’t pay this claim. Avis hasn’t shown that the damage happened while the car was in your possession, and its own records raise very serious doubts. The claim file lists the wrong model. The odometer reading jumped 693 miles after you returned the car. Then the demand doubled after an Avis employee told you in writing there wouldn’t be any more supplements. Any one of those problems would be enough to question the claim. Together, they suggest Avis needs to check its own work before it asks you for a dime.
I wish I could tell you our advocates could get Avis to take a second look. Unfortunately, Avis has been highly unresponsive to us lately. With its executive client relations team already closing the door on you, I think state regulators are your best option. You’ve done the right thing by filing with the New York attorney general and the Westchester County district attorney’s consumer fraud bureau. Stay on top of both cases. If either office asks for documents, send everything, including the June 19 message from Cindy Hepler, your return receipt showing 5,115 miles and the appraisal showing 5,808.
If Avis turns this over to a collection agency, dispute the debt in writing within 30 days and ask the agency to validate it. Don’t let anyone talk you into a payment plan, even a small one. Keep notes on every phone call, with names and dates.
I can’t promise Avis won’t touch your Wizard profile. That’s its call. Given how much you travel, I’d line up an account with a second rental company now so a suspension doesn’t leave you stranded on a work trip.
Please keep us posted on what the AG and the DA’s office tell you.
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