Budget Rent-A-Car Consumer Reviews - Page 5

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- Budget Rent a Car dramatically overcharged me for a rental in November of 2005. While the company holds that this charge is valid, no consumer could possibly expect this outcome, given the circumstances. As part of a family trip over this recent Thanksgiving, I needed a rental car beginning Nov 24, returning Nov 28. The reservation was made through Southwest Airlines website in combination with my flight. The estimate for the entire rental was provided by Southwest to be under $150.

I picked up the car from Orange County/SNA on November 24th as scheduled, rental agreement #**. At the counter in Orange County, the estimate provided by Budget was $131.40 and was also written on the rental paperwork. The original route plan was to begin in Orange County, tour Disneyland with family, drive to my second home in Las Vegas for a meeting, then drive back to Orange County, return the car and fly home. As a result of the unanticipated Thanksgiving traffic we encountered on the Sunday the 27th drive to Las Vegas, it became clear that we would not be able to drive back to Orange County in time to catch the flight scheduled.

The next morning, Monday, I immediately contacted the Budget office I rented the car from to see if the rental could be changed. I was forced to leave a message, where I explained my situation and requested a call back with recommendations. I received no call back from Budget, so I made another call. I was again forced to leave a message where I again explained my situation.

After not hearing from Budget Orange County, I located the number for Budget Las Vegas. I spoke to a lady there and explained my situation, asking if I could return the car to the Las Vegas location. She simply said that was fine, and said so in a way that made it seem as though it was a silly question. I figured that the situation must come up often, and was relieved to know that I would be able to return the car locally. I thanked her and told her I'd be by to return the car on the agreed upon time. I then contacted Southwest Airlines, and was able to rebook my flight leaving from Las Vegas rather than Orange County.

When I returned the car later that day, a courteous gentleman checked the car in and gave me a slip showing the car had been returned and inspected, but not the receipt I usually receive. I went inside to the counter to get my receipt, and waited for 10 minutes, when I was told “you're all done, we'll send you the bill”. Although odd, I was focused on making my plane, and didn't inquire further. As a frequent business traveler, I rent cars often and have until this occasion, never had a problem, so I had gained a comfort and trust for rental car companies. I caught my plane home, on time, and figured that I had another successful trip.

No communication or receipt was ever sent to me by Budget after the return. I was shocked when I then received my American Express bill and found that Budget had charged me $1,101.45 (nearly 10 times the estimate, and an overcharge of $970.05). I immediately contacted Budget to report the error. I spoke to a nice woman named Jean in customer service and was told she could likely fix it, and gave me a file #**. She said it would take a few days and she'd get back to me.

Several days went by without a return call, and I contacted Budget once again. I was asked to give an account of what happened all over again to a man, who later told me that I had returned the car “without authorization”, so my rental contract was invalid and had been re-cast at Budget's highest rates. I explained that I had called both Orange County and Las Vegas offices and that the representative at the Las Vegas location not only told me it was fine to return the car, but did not mention there would be any additional fees involved. I was then told that the Las Vegas location is a “special location” in that it's a franchise or something, as though I should have known that.

I explained that no one at the Las Vegas location told me that on the phone nor did they tell me that I would face these high charges when I returned the car, because if they did, it would have cost me less to simply drive the car back to Orange County and catch a flight the next day. When I asked the Budget Customer Service Rep. what I could do further, I was told Budget would not budge, and to handle it through my credit card company, American Express. I've contacted American Express, and they agreed with me that Budget overcharged me and charged them back. Now Budget is threatening to send my bill to collections and hurt my credit.

Consumers need to know that even if they do all they can (as I did), unscrupulous vendors can still try to bilk them with hidden rules and charges. As a marketing professional for over 20 years, I know this is the right route to take to give broad visibility to a truly unfair practice.

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS -- I am writing this in regard of Budget overcharged me. I had reserved online a 10 truck to pick up at 5:30PM 09/22/2005 at Budget Worcester MA (500 Lincoln St, Worcester MA 01605) and drop off at 7:30AM 09/25/2005 at Washington DC Truck Rental (2605 Reed St, DC 20018).

We had shown up at the Budget Worcester MA before 5:30PM in 09/22/2005 (Thursday), however we were told that the manager of this office had gone home. Therefore we could not pick up the truck at the reservation time. Consequently, we had to show up again at 8AM in 09/23/2005 (Friday) in order to get our truck. So this wasn'€™t our fault to not show up or change the reservation. We had dropped off the truck around 7:45AM 09/25/2005 (Sunday) at Washington DC Truck Rental. This place however closed on Sunday so we only dropped the truck there and left the key in the box.

The total amount of renting the truck in the online reservation is $375.99 before 5% tax, and $100 refundable deposit. I had called the Budget Worcester MA four times since 09/26/2005 as I would like to know how much I would have to pay for rent the truck. However for the first three times, officers at this place told me that I had to wait, and they put me on hold more than 5 minutes each time. Finally, for the third time when I had to call them back again and again, they told me that the manager was out. I was very upset about the behaviors of these officers.

I called back in 10/06/2005 after seeing that I was charged twice by Budget: $50 in 09/29/2005 by Budget Denver CO. $457.60 in 10/05/2005 by Budget Worcester MA. At this time, these people again said that I had to wait; they put me on hold and still didn't answer me. After talking on the phone with some officers at the Budget Customer Service, I was told that $50 was for no-show, and $457.60 was charged because Budget Worcester MA had made another reservation and charged me with the new price. In addition, the Customer Service couldn't consider my rental agreement because they couldn'€™t find this rental agreement in their database.

The fact is that I had shown up before time, and the Budget Worcester MA didn'€™t do their job. Then they made up another reservation without noticing me, and then lately used my debit card number in order to charge me twice with their new made-up price. And still, there was no phone call or mails or emails in regard of letting me know what I had been charged for.

I am very unsatisfied with the behave of Budget Worcester MA after all. I honestly hope that Budget should replace the manager of this place because he had stolen work-time to go home, been not straightforwardly and honestly with his client by making-up a new reservation and a new rental price without noticing the client.

In addition, Budget should send a copy of the final contract which shows how much a client will have to pay for renting after the client has dropped off the truck. It is because in my situation, if I haven't had online banking, I could never know that I was charged twice for unknown reasons. My bank also suggested me to do a secure to Budget because they have been used my bank account twice without noticing me. Thanks for reading my complaints.

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- This is as SCAM CAR RENTAL.
They charge you way more than what you are told at the reservation.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Don't rent from budget, scam to tease you with a low rate then have all sorts of excuses that I should have noticed the fine print. When I escalated to management, I was told that it was my fault and there is nothing they were willing to do. Really poor customer service to get an extra $200 from me. I'll be back with Hertz forever

MIAMI, FLORIDA -- This rental car company is the worst. I will never use them again. It seems that they continue to accommodate customers that are not ready to rent cars and make us customers that have reservations and that have already paid standing in line for an hour while they figure out the issues. I WILL NEVER USE BUDGET AGAIN. And I have instructed my company to do the same.

PHOENIX -- Long lines 1-2 hours. Too few employees working on a (Tuesday for goodness sake).

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- Worst rental company. People just don't have a standard service ethic that other companies do. Prices are cheap, but they make sure you come out with what you give for the price. If you speak up, they give you coupons, discounts, or a reduced price rate per day. But if you don't then they rip you off! I would any day prefer or suggest Enterprise over this. Enterprise is a heaven when you compare this unethical company.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- Rented a car from Budget at the BWI airport location. I returned the car and returned it early and they changed the daily rate because I returned it early by 300%. This is total ridiculous and when talking to customer service they acted like this is their normal practice and I should have read the small print. I will never rent from Budget again and I am a frequent traveler for work and rent a car every month.

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- Declined LDW and they still snuck it onto my agreement. Be wary and check each box carefully before you sign!

NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA -- The posted hours were 8 to 6. Spent morning trying to reach them and kept getting transferred. By the time they picked up at 845 [I] canceled the rental service, representative didn't even ask why. Took my business to Enterprise.