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Fiascos and Fixes
Here’s what happens when things go wrong for travelers on the road, in the air, at hotels, and in vacation rentals.
The Travel Troubles category at Consumer Rescue is a collection of real-life stories about travelers who’ve encountered unexpected issues during their adventures. Each tale is dramatic but is a cautionary example, offering valuable lessons and practical advice.
The Travel Troubles section is meant to educate and empower travelers, helping them avoid similar issues and know what to do when things go wrong.
Travelers who encounter a problem they can’t resolve on their own should ask for help from our advocacy team. Our direct mediation service is fast, friendly, and always free!
Ron Samborsky and his family were on their way to Europe to board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway… until they weren’t. After American Airlines canceled their flight and offered no replacement until the next day, the trip was in serious jeopardy.
Then a scammer stepped in to save the day.
An Airbnb guest planned a trip to Las Vegas. She was not anticipating that her biggest gamble would be on her Airbnb rental. Unfortunately, this thoroughly unsatisfactory illegal Airbnb rental in Sin City was anything but a winner, and now Mary wants a complete refund.
Can we help?
Would a car rental company permanently ban a customer and offer no way back – ever? Joseph H. learned firsthand that when Hertz tells you it will never rent to you again, it means forever.
A shady Airbnb host charged former guests of his Parisian vacation rental $3,500 for a coffee stain. But even more shocking than that outrageous payment request was Airbnb’s response to it.
Despite the host having no evidence of damages to his vacation rental, Airbnb approved his claim.
American Airlines passenger and frequent traveler June Lee recently checked his sturdy aluminum suitcase on a cross-country flight. Although Lee’s much-loved 2-year-old designer bag had successfully weathered many trips worldwide, it would not survive this journey.
When American Airlines reunited Lee with the $1,700 suitcase at baggage claim in New York, it was destroyed. In fact, the luggage looked like it had been run over by an aircraft instead of transported inside one.
A steady stream of complaints from consumers charged for rental car repairs flows into the Consumer Rescue helpline each week. Most of these rental car customers are sure someone else caused the damage they’re being asked to pay for. Unfortunately, many of the bewildered travelers have no proof to support their assertion.
Then there’s Avis customer Emma B.
Emma’s was one of the strangest car rental complaints I’ve ever received. Given that I’ve investigated thousands of unusual cases during my decade of work in Consumer Advocacy Land, that speaks volumes.
An Airbnb host sent Janet Reel a surprise $790 damage bill… three weeks after checking out of her vacation rental. Reel says she left the property in perfect condition and considers the accusation outrageous.
Fraudulent repair bills aren’t just sent to customers of traditional rental car companies. Heidi Schiller found this out recently after a 24-hour car-sharing experience with Turo. Her vehicle host, Ken, acknowledged multiple pre-existing scratches on his Tesla before Heidi took the wheel.
Ken assured his renter that the damage to the car wasn’t her problem to worry about. So Heidi didn’t worry. That is, until a few days later when Turo sent her a $640 repair bill for the vehicle.
A vacation rental management company in Nashville charged guests $1,000 for damaging a mattress after a one-night stay. Even more frustrating, the agency told the shocked travelers it didn’t need proof that they had caused the damage.
Can our advocacy team come to the rescue of these consumers?
Let’s find out.
You’ve probably heard about the couple jailed in Mexico after filing numerous credit card chargebacks over timeshare fees. They reversed nearly $120,000 in charges from their timeshare company and advised others how to do it too.
Publicly.
The couple gave their awful exit advice on a Facebook group for disgruntled timeshare owners. However, they weren’t the only ones lurking in that community.
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© 2025 Consumer Rescue / Michelle Couch-Friedman
