Budget Rent a Car Customer Service Issues

My name is Larry D. and my Budget Rental Car Confirmation Number is [redacted]3US5. Due to my late arrival in Boston on Monday, August 29, I had to pick up my rental car from Logan Airport because other locations were closed. There is a Budget office closer to my hotel that I would prefer to return the car to at [redacted] Pond St, Braintree, MA [redacted]. I have been trying to contact the Logan Airport office with no success. Every call directs me to Budget's main Customer Service office, and I am unable to get through to the Logan Airport branch despite explaining my situation numerous times. I received a Customer Service survey where I requested assistance but have not received a response. I asked Budget to contact me at [redacted] or [redacted] to resolve this issue but have not heard anything back.

I rented a car with agreement number [redacted]96. During the rental process, I declined vehicle insurance but was told by the budget representative that there was a special offer with no additional charge if I accepted it. It was late at 12:05 AM, so I agreed without double-checking. Upon returning the car, I noticed charges of $[redacted] for a lost damage waiver and PHD SL charges of $[redacted], which I did not intend to purchase as my personal insurance covers rentals. I expressed my disappointment to the representative at the airport and believe he took advantage of me, as I have difficulty hearing due to being disabled. Please contact me at [redacted] as I am willing to pay a fair rental rate. It seems like he overcharged me at $5 or $12 a day, and I'm confused by the additional fees. Thank you.

I am dissatisfied with the service I received when picking up my rental car. The agent noted some grass in the vehicle before I left and later claimed it was excessive upon return, wanting to charge me $[redacted]. Despite her initial acknowledgment of the grass, she denied remembering it and was unapologetic. The manager eventually admitted the mistake after I cleaned another customer's mess, but the overall experience was unprofessional. I had ensured the car met the return conditions prior to bringing it back and even had to vacuum it myself. The minimal crumbs and dog hair I found were not my doing, yet I was nearly charged for them. This negligence and lack of accountability from Budget's staff have left me incredibly unsatisfied and doubtful about using their services in the future.

I am dissatisfied with the service I received when I picked up the car. The agent noticed grass inside the vehicle, but I was not informed about any charges. When I returned the car, the same agent wanted to charge me $[redacted] for excessive grass, despite initially acknowledging it. The manager later admitted their mistake. I had to clean the car myself, finding crumbs and dog hair I didn't bring. I felt the handling of the situation was dishonest and unprofessional. I had ensured the car was ready for return but still had to vacuum it. The experience has left me questioning returning to Budget for future rentals.

My boyfriend and I pre-booked a rental from Springfield/Branson airport in Springfield, MO, for this afternoon using the app under his profile. Upon noticing a discrepancy in the total price, I compared the same rental on the web browser, still open on his profile, just before finalizing the reservation. The prepaid booking cost us $[redacted].79, while the same details on the website showed $[redacted].01 – a $29.78 difference. The only variation was the booking platform used – app versus direct website. I have screenshots to substantiate my claim. Although we wish to retain the prepaid reservation, we kindly request an adjustment to the lower price. We understand the challenge, and every savings matters. We are willing to provide the screenshots once an email address is provided for correspondence. Thank you for your attention.

Hello, I rented a car from your company on August 17th, with a total cost anticipated to be between $[redacted]-$[redacted] (with a drop-off date of August 18th). I had pre-paid $[redacted] online for a minivan, but due to being under 25, my reservation was cancelled, and I was provided with a Nissan Rogue by your staff member Jacqueline. I agreed to pay the extra charge for being under 25, totaling $[redacted]. I returned the car before 1 PM on August 18th. However, upon checking my bank account, I noticed over $[redacted] was withdrawn by your company. Could you please contact me via email so I can provide you with all the necessary details and screenshots? Rental Agreement Number: [redacted]64

I arrived to pick up my rental after prepaying, but the computer at the location kept showing errors. The staff member advised me to contact customer service to report the system issue and request a full refund. I called, spoke with a representative, and was transferred to a supervisor. After investigating, the supervisor apologized and assured me that the entire amount would be refunded. However, I have only received a $45 refund. I am wondering about the remaining refund amount.

The location manager's behavior at Gibson in Henderson, NV was disappointing. Despite multiple calls to confirm charges, upon arrival, I faced unexpected deposit fees. The two front desk ladies, Tania and Olivia, handled customer issues professionally while the manager, Kayham, remained disengaged. His lack of assistance and arrogant demeanor soured the experience. The delay in getting the rental caused me to miss an important business meeting, impacting my family and me. I believe a refund or compensation is warranted given the circumstances.

Dear Sir, I have made two reservations with the following details: Confirmation numbers: [redacted]1HK5 (Kam Wai Bun Lawrence) and [redacted]8HK0 (Chung Wai Wa Alan) We would like to pick up the cars at Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel on 24/7 and return them to Amari Nova Suite Pattaya on 30/7. Additionally, we are interested in purchasing Package B insurance: Super Damage Waiver (SDW+TP+PAE) for [redacted] Baht per day (Excluded VAT), which includes zero excess insurance for repair or damages from traffic accidents. This insurance also covers Personal Accident and Effect insurance (PAE). Kindly assist us with the above requests. Looking forward to your prompt response. Thank you and best regards, Ms Lam

I rented a car from GSP after midnight on April 27, [redacted], and returned it to the Sears location in Asheville. However, upon arrival, the office was closed and relocated to the mall, leaving me unsure of how to return the car. The staff at AVL advised me to leave the keys in an envelope under the gate, which I did. The Asheville Mall office confirmed they received the keys. Later, I noticed an overcharge of $[redacted].80 on my bank statement, $[redacted] more than expected. After contacting Budget, they assured me the excess amount would be refunded to my Master Card, under case # Budget [redacted]1. Despite the reassurance, the refund is taking longer than anticipated, and I'm still waiting for the return of the $[redacted]+ overcharge to my Master Card.

I am inquiring about a one-way budget 16-foot truck rental for a move from Novato, California to Tracy, California to assist my senior parents. I am disappointed with the automatically assigned pick-up day of Saturday at noon which did not allow for enough time due to heavy traffic on freeways like [redacted]. We were stuck for 4 1/2 hours, arriving in Tracy with only an hour to unload due to storage facility hours. I am upset about potentially incurring an additional $85 fee. I hope for assistance in extending the return of the truck without extra charges to resolve this issue.

I left my silver HP laptop in a gray fabric case in a budget rental car. The car was rented from the Hartford, Connecticut BDL budget location on June 7th at 4:19 p.m. and returned to the Baltimore Washington International budget location on June 16 at 3:39 p.m. The rental agreement number is [redacted]76 and the vehicle number is [redacted]4. I would like the computer returned to [redacted] Oak Street #8 via the fastest method, and I am willing to cover the costs. My cell number is [redacted]. My name is Diana Wood, and my email is [redacted] I was traveling with John Breckinridge; his email is [redacted] Please get in touch to confirm that you have received my request.

Regarding rental agreement SLC[redacted]8 and reservation [redacted]3US4. On January 25, [redacted], I was involved in an accident, and the vehicle was taken to Bracken's Auto at 86 South [redacted] East, St. George, UT [redacted] (Phone: [redacted]). The next morning, I went to retrieve my belongings from the vehicle but was informed that Budget rent a car had already taken the vehicle with all my items still inside to a repair shop. I am eager to recover my belongings promptly. The items in the vehicle include 4 director-style camp chairs, a multicolored bag with medical supplies, a black jacket with "Intermountain" on the chest, a black and gray stocking cap, Sony wireless earbuds, USB charging cables, an AC adapter, a white Nikon 1 J4 camera with a red lens in a white leather case, and a silver camera bag with 5 lenses, 3 batteries, and a charger.

I rented a red Ford Escape with NY plates, HZY5436, from my local Budget office in Rockville, MD on 7/10/19 with a planned return on 7/11/19. The car was rented with one key, which was unfortunately misplaced. After returning to the rental location and not finding the key on 7/12/19, I called Budget roadside assistance. I was informed there would be a charge of $[redacted] for key replacement and at least $[redacted] for towing. Feeling uncomfortable with the aggressive tone, I sought an independent towing service. Upon contacting the Budget office near where the car was parked at 99 H Street NE, Washington DC, I was directed to have the car towed there. However, upon arrival, the manager was unhelpful and demanded additional payment. I am now trying to retrieve my belongings from the car, including a backpack with residence keys, shoes, and gift tote bags. The situation has been challenging with inconsistent information and unprofessional treatment from Budget staff.

On June 16, [redacted], I reserved a standard SUV, specifically a Ford Edge or similar, for July 28 to August 6 at the [redacted] Baseline location in Boulder, CO. Upon arrival, I was informed that no cars were available. Despite my urgency to reach Estes Park shortly, they couldn't accommodate me. After some waiting, a smaller Jeep Compass was offered instead. Although unclean, we accepted due to limited options. However, the rental cost escalated by $[redacted] for a smaller vehicle. Negotiations reduced the price marginally but still higher than the original booking. The space in the car was inadequate for our luggage, and the car design made entry and exit challenging. Additionally, critical details about the car operation were missing, like lights and emergency brake. The total charge of $[redacted], including taxes and fees, seemed excessive given the circumstances. The manager's suggestion to contact customer service for a resolution left me dissatisfied with the entire experience.

Dear Customer Service, I am writing to address some concerns I had with my recent rental experience. I have been a loyal FastBreak member for over a decade with the Rental Agreement number: [redacted]34. Recently, I encountered significant issues during my rental pickup at the airport. Despite there being only three people in line ahead of me, I had to wait for 35 minutes at the kiosk, which was unexpected. After finally receiving my rental, I drove to the security gate only to be informed that I had the wrong vehicle. This caused further delays as I had to go back and wait again for the correct one. Upon driving off, I noticed a strong smell of cigarette smoke in the car, which was unpleasant as I am a non-smoker. Due to time constraints, I couldn't return the vehicle immediately and had to endure the smell during my trip. I parked the car at my son's house in Tampa without using it further due to the issue. Upon returning the vehicle, I informed the attendant about the smell and also noted that the fuel tank was only 3/4 full at the time of rental. This experience has been disappointing, especially as I have always had positive experiences with Budget in the past. I hope to resolve these issues promptly. Thank you, L. B.

I went to Denver, CO on 7/30/19 from NC and rented a car from Budget for the first time. I had prepaid $[redacted].86 for a compact car from 7/30/19 to 8/2/19 at the Denver airport. When I called on 7/26/19 to confirm, Budget's rep put the reservation under our new Fast-break number, giving us a $[redacted] discount. We picked up and returned the car on time but were unexpectedly charged $[redacted].86 on 8/5/19. Despite explaining and providing proof of the credit, the new rep insisted we owed the balance. I lodged complaints with the BBB and AMEX. The issue has been unresolved for over a month. I will not use Budget again due to this poor service and will stick with Hertz. Budget should honor the $[redacted] credit and remove the new charge from my AMEX account. They need to respond to the AMEX dispute promptly.

I rented a car on 9-09-19 for a couple of days. I told the clerk that I would initially pay the $28 insurance coverage, but if I needed to rent it for more days, I would use my own insurance from State Farm. The clerk assured me to come back and they would adjust it so I wouldn't be charged for insurance again. Upon returning, I informed the clerk I had full coverage with State Farm now, and he said everything was fine. I asked him to confirm so I wouldn't be charged for insurance anymore. He mentioned not to worry as they had my insurance information. I reminded him I had provided my insurance card on the first day. When I checked my charges on Saturday intending to extend my rental, I noticed they had charged me $28 for insurance for all days due to a misunderstanding. I explained to the lady it wasn't my fault, as the same person who handed over the car also worked as a clerk, causing errors in the system. She suggested contacting customer service to have the charges reversed.

I have a request for reimbursement regarding a purchase of oil based on the advice of the budget office in Linz. The cost was 35 euros, and I have the receipt. When we tried to return the vehicle, the Avis attendant couldn't assist us as our contract was closed. The service desk at the return location was also unable to help, providing a non-functional service number. The web number we found is not operational on weekends, and we will be out of cell service next week. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I rented a car through Costco with Budget using Confirmation number [redacted]4US4 for a total of $[redacted].28. Due to a diverted flight to Ontario Airport instead of Santa Barbara, I contacted Budget 8 times to explain the situation. Each time I was transferred to Customer Service, requested a representative, but faced communication issues where they couldn't hear me. I was able to get the car the next day on Nov. 4, but Budget charged me $[redacted].82 instead. I am seeking a refund of the overcharged amount back to my credit card. Despite attempting to reach out three times about this issue, my calls were dropped each time. The lack of communication with Budget's customer service has left me feeling frustrated.