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Budget Rent-A-Car Car Rentals Consumer Reviews - Page 2

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Very Unfriendly
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS -- I had the misfortune of trusting Budget for my car rental needs as I planned my family vacation to South Carolina this year. I had received a GREAT coupon for budget. So, I made my reservation & paid for my vehicle way in advance of our actual vacation. I felt like it was a done deal. I made hotel reservations the same way. To me, our family vacation was SECURE! I went to pick up the car at 5pm on July 29. I met with the man who runs the Tin-Cup Plaza location in St. Charles, IL and he even showed me the vehicle I would be renting.

We went back in the store & I was ready to get the keys. Anxious to get on the road to Myrtle Beach! I had a 16-hour drive ahead of me! I handed my debit card to him and upon running the card he told me I did not have good enough credit to rent the vehicle. I immediately felt tears start coming. He said "I am sorry there is NOTHING I can do". I offered to “phone a friend” to use their card. I called someone with a spotless credit history and a large amount of credit available.

He seemed a little put off that I wanted to try using another card. He reluctantly let me make the call. I had her speak to him on the phone and read her card number to which he announced "I am sorry but her credit is not worthy of Budget business either". Now it is 5:30 pm, and car rental businesses in the area close at 6pm. Budget was unable to immediately give me money back. I had to wait 3-5 business days. My vacation was on the brink of completely being ruined. Something I had been planning for months; no thanks to the care or concern of Budget or their employees.

He had no concern for me, and actually looked a bit happy with himself that he had just totally turned my world upside down. He said to me good luck. As I walked out of the store in tears I did the only thing I could do. I called Enterprise Car Rental Company on 13th Ave in St. Charles. The very friendly voice on the other end of the phone said, "come on over. We will take care of you".

I had to pay $580 vs the $220 Budget was charging, but I got a car & they were very hospitable and made me feel excited again about the vacation again. They had it cleaned and ready to go. I was home backing by 6pm. The extra $360 I had to pay cost my family nice meals and souvenirs while we were on the road, but we still got to go. No thanks to Budget!

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Just Initial Here
By -

You rent a car for a few days because you don't want to drive your 1998 Contour with 105,000 miles from Philly to Erie to see your kid play clarinet in the Pennsylvania High School Music Educators State Band. So you pick "Budget."

Here's what can happen: They offer you their insurance coverages. The total premium is about $53 per day. You say, "Nah, I've got GEICO (or Allstate or State Farm or Nationwide.) I'm covered." The kid behind the counter says "Okay fine, initial here and here and here and sign here." You do it quickly. It's 9:30 AM and you have to leave by 10:00.

Maybe if you weren't pressed for time you'd read what you just signed. Because what you signed is a binding contractual obligation. You drive to Erie. The trip goes well. That night, while you're eating dinner, some drunk slams into the rental car in the parking lot at Damone's. He leaves the scene. Amazingly, nobody saw anything except a black coupe with front end damage charging out of the parking lot with its lights off, making a right on red, and laying rubber into the darkness.

A few days after it's towed to the Ford dealer. The rented Taurus' damage is estimated by an appraiser hired by Budget. Believe it or not, there's $6800 of damage on Budget's vehicle! Budget hauls it away - they don't actually fix vehicles hit that severely - and you relax, because your "Insurance Guy" told you your insurance would cover the damage.

You're out your $500 deductible, but you can deal. Weeks later, back at Budget, they're preparing their demand for reimbursement from your insurance company. They list the $6800 in damages. They list the $200 tow. They list the $150 in storage at the Ford dealer. These amounts are no problem for your insurance company to accept. Your insurer is only too willing to pay them since liability is not an issue.

But then Budget gets creative. All rental companies are creative, but Budget is extremely creative. Because Budget tells the insurer, in their "Demand for Payment," that there's more to this request than the damages and the tow and the storage. You may ask, "What more can there be?" Well... there's "Administrative and Estimating Fees". "What are these?" Budget might reply with this: "Estimates don't write themselves. We had to have an Independent Appraiser go to the vehicle and write it. He charged us $125 for this service. Then there's all our paper handling so we added an additional $30 for that."

Next there's "Loss of Use". "What's 'Loss of Use'?" Budget might reply: "Since this car was damaged we weren't able to rent it to anybody else. And because this vehicle was out of service we MAY have lost SEVERAL customers (believe me, they didn't). So we used our formula (more secret than Coca-Cola's) to figure out our Loss of Use amount. We've calculated the amount to be $990!" Now most rental companies demand Loss of Use reimbursement from the insurer. But they might drop the demand when the Loss of Use is denied. Usually other companies are asking for about $350. $990 is the HIGHEST Loss of Use I've ever seen.

Finally, there's the piece of resistance of all the extra fees: Valued Customer, may I present... "DIMINISHED VALUE!" As stated, all car rental companies fool around with Loss of Use and admin fees when presenting reimbursement demands to the renter's insurance company. But Budget is the unmitigated "KING." And their Crown of Thorns is the godforsaken concept of "DIMINISHED VALUE." What Budget is saying with Dim Val is this: "We lost sales revenue at the auction on this vehicle when you wrecked it. And because we did we're going to charge you for our loss."

IMPORTANT: Don't let your eyes glaze over at this point, because what I'm going to tell you directly impacts not only your pocketbook but your, and your families', emotional well being.

Budget uses their in-house created "Diminished Value" worksheet. No expert on auto physical damage, no auto-rental-industry overseeing committee developed it. It's Budget's in-house created Frankenstein. When calculating how much Dim Val to demand from the insurer, Budget calculates how many of the replacement parts, and how much of the repair labor, and how much of the refinish labor is eligible for inclusion in their formula.

They enter these figures onto their calculation sheet (which they send to insurance reviewers like me, so I HAVE studied them) and they multiply a subtotal by a pre-determined mathematical factor, such as 2.35, (I'm NOT making this up) and this determines a final dollar amount which they present to the insurer as part of their demand. If the damage to the vehicle is significant, as with my FICTIONAL renter described above, this Diminished Value figure can be FOUR or FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS! Or more!

Budget then sends their demand to your insurer. It consists of the estimate amount (let's use the $6800 from above) PLUS the admin fee ($150) PLUS the Loss of Use ($990) PLUS the Diminished Value (say, $4600). So Budget says to your insurance company: "We want $12,450 for this $6800 loss!" Folks, your insurance company is NOT going to pay it. You can't blame them. They'll pay the $6800 plus the related tows and storage, etc. but they won't pay for the crap. Check your policy.

It may specifically state that they won't pay for this crap. Although I don't think they use that word. They won't pay for the crap because, as a "Third Party" to this loss, they only owe for "what we did" i.e. the damage to the rented vehicle which occurred while it was being used by our insured. They do not owe for Budget's subjective, unverifiable, costs-of-doing-business charges and alleged revenue-diminishing deletions. Insurers are NOT going to subsidize Budget's Profit Sharing Plan!

So Budget says this (and I had two claims I reviewed this week where this happened): Budget says, "We agree to your offer for PARTIAL settlement. WE WILL BILL YOUR INSURED FOR THE REST WHICH REPRESENTS THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION." Do they do it? You betcha! What if you, like any righteously indignant victim who senses a major league screwing approaching, says, "Go to hell, Budget!" They may send your unpaid bill for $6000 to a collection agency, one of those endearing institutions which calls your house every other day and leaves messages on your voice mail.

Or perhaps they'll leave an intimidating message with your teenage daughter - one she has to relay to you tentatively at the dinner table - saying they need a call back concerning a "matter of great urgency." And through this collection agent, good ol' Budget might threaten to contact Trans Union, which they'll say they really don't WANT to do. But, they'll add, we can avoid all this unpleasantness if we can come to a payment agreement.

But if we can't reach an agreement, your recalcitrance, causing us to initiate this action, could cause your FICO score to drop precipitously from its current, pristine, 788. This horror story has happened because you waived the insurance coverage and signed the rental agreement, an agreement which is a legal contract which states you'll be responsible for "Diminished Value," an amount which could be in the thousands of dollars. And then you had to go and select the wrong parking spot at the restaurant.

Suddenly a trip of pleasure has become a long journey into a dark night of tension and turmoil. Budget seems to practice one of the worst traits a corporation can exhibit: Callous disregard and lack of empathy for their customer. True story: I looked at a demand from Budget this past week and saw a $7000 estimate to repair Budget's car. I looked at their demand sheet which accompanied the estimate. They wanted $13,700.

I know when I refuse to pay these outlandish fees, as I WILL do this coming week, (I left a message for their rep this evening) a return call will be received from "**" or "**" or "**" or "**," one of Budget's underpaid, easily exchangeable, improperly-seduced-into-believing-management-opportunities-exist, twenty-something employees (check out rental car company's employee turn-over rates.)

And with all the intimidation she can muster, she will say something like this: "Well, we'll just have to bill YOUR insured ( Note, this person is Budget's customer, too!) for the balance!" As loan sharking is to banking, so too is "Diminished Value" to car renting. Buyer beware! Stay away from Budget!

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Gross Overbilling!
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON -- Budget is terrible if you have to resolve a billing issue! I have used them for years, and never had a problem. But I have a problem now, and I am discovering that they really don't give a flip about retaining customers. So guess what? They just lost one!!😃 In the end, the customer is always right; because if a company mistreats a customer, they will never come back. Any CEO that can't figure this out is incompetent. Paying attention to customers pays dividends.

I booked Budget through Costco, for a 3-day rental. I absolutely fulfilled the parameters of the Costco contract, but Budget overcharged me by $574.55! And they cannot tell me what for! They credited me for part of their overcharge, with no apology nor explanation. They didn't say why they kept the other part. I asked for an itemized bill, and they have ignored me. No way to treat a customer you value. So I have contested with the Visa company. It needed never have reached this stage if they gave a flip about treating me as a customer.

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Worst Customer Service From ANY Company Ever Experienced
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

SOUTH SALT LAKE, MISSOURI -- My Fiance's rental broke down. She tried calling roadside assistance and after being on hold 20 minutes they hung up on her. She called back. I also called and experienced the same thing. I called reservations and they sent me back to the same roadside assistance number. I called corporate, they also sent me back to the same roadside assistance number that was hanging up on us. After an hour of trying to get help, she had to leave the vehicle and pray that she wouldn't miss her flight. This is the absolute worst customer service I've ever experienced from any company. I will NEVER rent from them again and I would encourage you not to unless they change their behavior. Budget does NOT deserve your business. Ever!

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Charge Me $140 More Than What They Said
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

DENVER, COLORADO -- I made a reservation with Budget rental car. In my confirmation email the price was going to be $110 for three days because of my military discount. I served in the Marine Corps. When I arrived in Denver they said they did not have the same car that I reserved so they were going to upgrade me for free. I said I would not like to upgrade if it would be more money and I showed them the email for my reservation. They said, "No it will not be any more money. You will still be charged $110."

After I dropped the car off and got home I saw that on my credit card I was charged $240. When I called Budget they were very rude and told me I should've read the fine print for an upgrade. So when you are at Budget and they tell you they're upgrading you for free do not listen to them because they are lying just to make money. I will never rent from them again. And I see how Budget rental car treats the military. Please to all my military friends out there do not ever rent from Budget rental car again.

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Do NOT rent from Budget Rent a Car!
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

DENVER, CO -- This company uses SCAM tactics, DO NOT RENT FROM BUDGET!!! If I could give Budget Rent a Car a negative star rating it would be a -5. Rented a car at Denver International Airport and they "upgraded" our car for free. However, when we returned the vehicle they charged us an extra $30 a day on top of our original quote!! In the fine print on page 4 of the contract they have a clause that they reserve the right to charge you for all upgrades.

DO NOT listen to the representative when you check in. They will lie to your face that they will not charge you extra for upgrades! Read your contracts and ask them to show you in the contract where they will up charge you. DO NOT RENT FROM BUDGET! I will never again!

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Rental Car Overcharge
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- Rental for three days returned in two. Was charged for three because they stated I missed the drop off by 29 mins.
Everybody needs to look at how they start charging, it's when you sign the paperwork while standing at the counter.
Then the car was not in the location to be picked up at, we asked a porter the location of the parking area the car should be located and we had been pointed in the wrong direction. This after being on the wrong floor in which we had been told to go to.

So, my point is this we lost time in the beginning of the rental with screwed up directions, start time while standing at the desk, being directed to the wrong floor, wrong location for the car and then the car was not in its spot. So this 29 minutes of being late is a bunch of crap. Rent from somebody else. What a bunch of thieves.

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Extend rental....
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

UNION STATION WASHINGTON DC -- In all the reviews I have seen, clearly this is not a good company. Wish my wife had checked beforehand. My wife rented a car for three days giving herself an extra day as she only needed it for 2. Well her wallet was stolen while she helped an elderly man at a restaurant with our kids there. So we filed a police report. She called the rental company. They would not extend the time even if I faxed my info over and credit card.

However they held 300 plus, took the 144 and then they said she would have to pay 45 an hr in cash. Yet she called to extend the rental and her contract stated 10 fee and 61 for the extra day which we were fined with? All because the police held her up due. Mind you she was driving a rental 200 miles with 4 kids, 2 that are toddler's.

The manager of the Union station was not nice to her on the phone and she did not want to deal with him due to the language he used on the phone with her. She paid the drop off fee for another location. The young lady at that location in Rockville was vary friendly and nice my wife ended up paying in cash 230 for 3 days.

I am an executive for an international company and I would never tolerate what the union station manager did to my wife and the language he used. I have a fleet of trucks rented through National car rental or better known as Enterprise. Go with them as this was the first time my wife did not have the option of renting with them, they were closed... Better over all prices and services!

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Fraudulent Charges
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

PHILIDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA -- I picked my car up at the airport. It had a half of a tank of gas. I returned it with three quarters of a tank of gas. They charged me for 9.78 gallons of gas. They never indicated that I needed to return it full. They did not have me sign any contract. I drove a total of 119 miles, I put in 10.587 gallons and Budget charged me for 9.790 gallons for a total of 20.377 gallons. This would indicate that a new Mustang would get 5.84 mpg, highly unlikely.

When the car was dropped off they agreed it had 3/4 of a tank. The tank is 16.2 gallons yet they charged me for 9.790 gallons more than twice what would fit in the tank. THIS IS FRAUD. I tried to deal with this at the local level and was laughed at, I called the customer service number they provided me and they said "good luck with taking it to court, it will go nowhere." I have tried repeatedly to reach people and you only end in loops or leaving a message and no one calls back.

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BEWARE- Customer Service at Budget Rental Car is HORRIBLE!!!
StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarBy -
Rating: 1/51

ACROSS THE US -- Is there a 1 star? I have been a Budget customer renting cars through my corporate account for two years. I have received poor customer service at every level! They do not credit rentals with your Rez number or Southwest partner points and then do not want to correct it. Really?? Even Panera Bread will credit the salad I bought for lunch if I forgot to give my number for up to 30 days! They cannot provide any product knowledge on their vehicles. I have been told multiple times that a car has Bluetooth only to find it does not.

Walking back and forth through the snow to three different cars just to get an IMPORTANT safety issue is unacceptable! (It's not like I am asking [for] Sirius Radio or heated seats!) When I call customer service, they are unhelpful. I even had a representative hang up on me!!! I was not being rude or using inappropriate language - I was just direct and asking for a resolution. The few times I have encountered even remotely good customer service (I'm talking maybe two out of 50 encounters), it has been by overworked, stressed, but kind and caring people at the service desk in the Indianapolis Airport and Kansas City Airport.

I was told by corporate customer service that the Kansas City Airport was not one of their corporate stores - it was independently owned. (So the Rapid Rez-Rewards don't count there.) Really, I am not shocked, because they actually seem to have caring employees on occasion. Budget needs to take a look at their priorities. I teach customer service classes across the nation - I make it point to talk about my negative experience at Budget every time!

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Budget Rent-A-Car Car Rentals Rating:
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1.1 out of 5, based on 69 ratings and
194 reviews & complaints.
Contact Information:
Budget Rent-A-Car
Customer Relations Mgr, PO Box 111580,
Carrollton, TX 75011-1580
800-214-6094 (ph)
www.drivebudget.com
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