Budget Rent a Car Customer Service Issues

I initially made a reservation over the phone. When I arrived at the vehicle location, the worker asked for my credit card, inputted the information, and gave me a receipt that was difficult to read along with the keys. The amount charged was higher than the initial quote, but I decided to proceed as I needed the car. After a week, I extended my rental, and the operator informed me of a $[redacted] charge, which I was pleased to see was lower. However, upon inquiring about extending the rental further on the 21st, I was told I owed $[redacted]. I confirmed that I could pay on the 27th and was reassured. Upon reviewing my paperwork at home, I discovered an additional unauthorized $[redacted] charge. I seek clarification on these unexpected charges.

I rented a car in Salt Lake City on August 16, [redacted], with a return date of August 18, [redacted]. Initially, I understood the mileage was unlimited, but later realized it's [redacted] miles/day with additional charges. The paperwork provided had errors in the return date, fuel level, and initial odometer reading. Despite multiple attempts to contact Budget, I've been advised to speak with the counter staff, yet reaching them has been difficult with no direct numbers available. I'm currently [redacted] miles away and considering driving back for clarification. I urgently need assistance to correct the information and adjust the dates to avoid extra costs. Your help is greatly appreciated.

I recently rented a car from OAK to GEG via Expedia last week. My confirmation number is #[redacted]7US3 and the itinerary number is #[redacted][redacted]. I had booked a one-day rental from Aug 19-20 for a full-size car at a total cost of $[redacted]. However, upon returning the car at GEG, there were issues locating my reservation. After a long wait, it was discovered that I was charged $[redacted] for an SUV instead of the Kia sedan I rented. The staff assured me they would resolve the discrepancy and email me a receipt later, which I have not yet received. Initially, my credit card was charged $[redacted], then adjusted to $[redacted] by Budget. This experience has added stress considering our canceled flights and subsequent need to rent a car due to nearby fires. I am seeking clarification and refund of any overcharges. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

I am attempting to contact a representative at a particular rental location (SeaTac) to obtain location-specific information. Despite dialing the direct line for that site, all seven automated menu options redirect me to a central Budget call center. It appears the employees at the rental sites are unavailable by phone as they are primarily focused on the rental desks. How may I directly connect with someone at SeaTac?

I rented a car at Phoenix, AZ Airport on 11-8-21, returned on 11-11-21 at 5:15 am for an early flight. The rental staff assured me they would email a receipt, but I never received it. When I contacted Budget Customer Service and provided my rental agreement #, they claimed I hadn't returned the car and mistakenly listed the wrong vehicle. I actually had a Honda Passport, not a Toyota Rav 4 as they mentioned. I urgently need Budget to confirm the return of the car and provide me with a receipt. My Rental Agreement Number is [redacted]3US0.

Good evening, I am Amjad Hasan from Maaden Company in Saudi Arabia. I am currently facing an issue with the car battery. For over a week, my secretary has been trying to reach out to the Budget team but has not received any response. We have sent emails and made phone calls with no luck. As a result, the car is currently parked in the plant and cannot be used. I am very disappointed with the poor customer service provided. Sincerely, Ahmad Hasan Maaden Fertilizers Company OSBL Manager

Hello, I need assistance. On November 17, [redacted], I rented a car from Budget at Miami International Airport with reservation number: [redacted]3SEO. I requested full insurance coverage, the $70 highway toll eliminator, and unlimited mileage, being informed the total cost was [redacted].85 Swedish Kronor. Upon returning the car with a full tank and no damage, my credit card was charged an additional $[redacted].92, which was not previously discussed and came as a surprise. I suspect there may have been an error in the charges and would appreciate guidance on how to proceed. Thank you. Best Regards, Miguel R. W. Tel. [redacted] / Email: [redacted]

I made a car reservation through Budget's Fastbreak service using Rental Agreement #[redacted]46 for Car #[redacted]2. Despite finding better prices elsewhere, I've always trusted Budget for their quality vehicles and service. Upon picking up the car, everything went smoothly with a clean, prepped vehicle. However, the next day, after being parked in the sun, the car smelled strongly of smoke, which was unexpected for a supposed smoke-free fleet. Additionally, while the rental agreement stated the car had only 11 miles, its actual mileage was over 43,[redacted]. This differs from my usual positive Budget experiences. Since I'm already at my destination, I'm unsure how to switch vehicles and would like it noted that I'm non-smoker to avoid cleaning fees. A potential refund or credit for future use would be appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

To the concerned party, I am reaching out regarding a recent issue post-contract. I received a vehicle with visible white markings and a strong smell of paint. Upon arrival at my hotel, the driver's side door malfunctioned. This resulted in needing help to exit the vehicle. While en route to an interview, the car emitted smoke, causing me to miss the appointment. After an extensive wait time with roadside assistance, I managed to initiate a new contract following advice to cancel the initial one. It is unsettling that Budget charged me $[redacted] prematurely prior to the contract end date and an additional $[redacted] for the subsequent agreement. I have been assured a full refund for the original contract.

Hello, I would like to discuss my previous late rental payments. I understand the importance of your business protocols, but I wanted to offer some context. Recently, I faced challenges due to personal issues involving my relationship. I take full responsibility for any inconveniences caused by my late payments. I have now addressed the situation by removing the root of the problem from my life. I apologize for any past attitude issues and hope for a chance to rectify the situation. I respect your decision to block me but kindly request a review of my case. Thank you for considering my request. Christopher D. Phone: [redacted] I appreciate a callback.

My partner, H.D., and I rented a Budget moving van in Santa Ana for June 31. When we arrived, we were told there were no vans left and given a truck instead. The first truck had an empty gas tank, apparently siphoned the night before at that location, a common issue. The second truck also had gas siphoned, indicating a lack of safety checks. Luckily, we got extra insurance. While packing for an 8-hour move, we discovered the gas line was cut by the tamperer, endangering us. We drove back to the site, risking harm to ourselves and others. This negligence cost us time and disrupted our plans. Despite discussing the matter with Budget representatives, we haven't received a satisfactory response. We filed an incident report and requested a call from a supervisor, but no one followed up. We demand quick action and a resolution. Contact me at [redacted] promptly.

Budget reservation #[redacted]5US3 was initially quoted at $[redacted].25 USD for a 3-day vehicle rental at Cancun Airport from May 17 to May 20, [redacted]. When picking up the car, a vehicle monitoring fee of approximately $9 USD per day was added due to providing a Mexico Liability Insurance Policy. This resulted in an increased total of $[redacted].74 USD, which was $27.49 USD over the original quote. Upon returning the car, a deposit of $45,[redacted].00Mxn was held on the credit card. The rental invoice reflected a charge of 3,[redacted].44 pesos, converted at an exchange rate of 22.[redacted] MXN to 1.00 USD, totaling $[redacted].60 USD. This exchange rate was much higher than the actual rates during the rental period (19.94 MXN on May 17 and 19.85 MXN on May 20). The customer is seeking a detailed explanation for the monitoring fee, a refund for that fee, and a reimbursement for the inflated peso charges. Thank you, Thane Chase.

This afternoon, I rented a car at Charlotte Douglas Airport upon arrival. While driving my 92-year-old mother home, I noticed the driver side mirror reflecting strangely and appearing wavy, making it challenging while changing lanes on the freeway. Upon reaching my mom's community in Rock Hill SC, I realized the mirror had fallen out when I shut the front door. As the mirror is crucial for safe driving, I am unable to use the car without it. I am currently in Rock Hill SC and the rental car details are as follows: Reservation # [redacted]2-US-5, Budget car # [redacted]4, Plate # NC JEP8786, and the pick-up location was [redacted] Josh Birmingham PWY, Charlotte NC. I need assistance on how to resolve this issue promptly as I rely on the car during my stay here.

I rented a Budget car at Charlotte Douglas Airport today, 6/30/22. While driving my 92-year-old mom, I noticed the driver's side mirror seemed strange as I changed lanes on the freeway. When we arrived at mom's community, the mirror unexpectedly fell out when I closed the car door. The Budget car details are: number [redacted]4, plate number NC JEP8786, SILVER NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN, picked up from [redacted] Josh Birmingham Parkway, Charlotte, NC. I am currently in Rock Hill, SC. Is it possible to get a replacement car here? Our schedule won't allow for a return trip to the airport, and we have plans. I urgently need a functional mirror. Thank you for any assistance.

On June 16, [redacted], I rented a car at Washington National D.C. Airport for a one-way trip to Detroit, Michigan. Unfortunately, the car wouldn't start after refueling in Niles, Ohio. I notified Budget about the issue, and after a three-hour wait, a tow truck arrived. The tow truck driver, instructed by Budget to go to Cleveland, Ohio, instead took the car to Pittsburgh, Pa. and dropped me off at Fairfield Motel in Warren, Ohio. The following day, a Lyft driver arranged by Budget took me to Cleveland, Ohio Airport where I was informed by an agent that no replacement car was available, requiring me to rent another one to continue my journey to Detroit for an extra $[redacted].15. The total cost for both rentals amounted to $2,[redacted].04 when I returned the car at Detroit Airport on June 17, [redacted]. Rental agreement number: [redacted]. Thank you for your attention. Miguel H.

I rented a red Kia Sportage from Newark Airport in the USA on June 26, [redacted], and returned it the next day in Arlington, VA. Initially, I had booked the car for pickup in New York Manhattan but changed the location to Newark Airport, agreeing to pay an additional USD 25 for this adjustment. Upon picking up the car, I noticed that I was charged twice for the rental. I had already paid USD [redacted] during booking and then paid USD 25 for the location change. Attached are my bank statement screenshots and the invoice for your review. I paid USD [redacted].94 when I booked the car on April 9, [redacted], and was charged USD [redacted].72 again on June 27, [redacted], during pickup. I kindly request a refund for the duplicate charge. Thank you for addressing this matter promptly. - Rupal

Hello, I travel frequently to the USA and typically use Budget for my trips, but this time was a disappointment. I made a reservation through AUTOEUROPECAR.com and purchased both Liability and CDW insurance. However, upon arrival at the JFK airport counter, I was informed that I did not have liability insurance and was pressured into buying SLI and a gas fueling option. I was assured by the staff that I could cancel at any time by calling customer service, but when I did, I was told I could only cancel at the JFK location, not at a local rental office in Boston. Despite being able to cancel the gas option, I felt the entire process was a scam and extremely frustrating. It was my third trip to the US with Budget, and this was the first time I encountered such issues. I kindly request a refund for the SLI charges as I believe I was misled since I had already purchased liability insurance. I have attached my booking document for your review and would appreciate a breakdown of all charges, as the online receipt was unclear. Thank you for looking into this matter to prevent similar incidents in the future. Let me know if you require any further information.

I rented a car through Costco from Budget at Logan Airport in Boston. The experience had various issues. Upon arrival, we found another customer in the car assigned to us. The representative assisted in getting us a new car and contract promptly. The replacement car had a strong tobacco smell, which Budget advised us to exchange at any agency. However, we had trouble finding a nearby office in Cambridge and ended up at a downtown Boston location. Despite initial challenges, we were provided with a car that met our needs but had expired plates. The staff's demeanor was not up to standard at both locations. Ultimately, after a long delay and unexpected additional costs, we managed to secure a satisfactory vehicle. The whole experience was frustrating and impacted our vacation negatively. I believe some form of compensation is warranted for the inconvenience.

I was a passenger in a rental car booked by my friend, Chris Hubbard. The Budget rental number is #[redacted]26 for August 18th to 22nd in Louisville, Kentucky. Unfortunately, I left my cell phone in the vehicle. Chris filled out a lost and found claim and received case number #[redacted]8. I have been trying unsuccessfully to check the status of my report every day. I struggled to navigate the online service and when I finally reached the rental location on August 30th, they reported nothing was found in that rental. I am frustrated and disappointed as I am not getting any answers online or over the phone. Your assistance in locating my lost phone or confirming that it is indeed lost would be greatly appreciated.

I recently rented a car from Charlotte/Douglas Airport with Budget, using Rental Agreement number [redacted]20, in my name as Ronald M. I picked up the car on September 29, [redacted], and found it dirty with litter inside. Upon returning to the airport, I requested a replacement and was given a Chrysler Pacifica Van, similar to the one I handed in. Despite being informed there would be no additional charges, I received an E-Receipt for $[redacted].60 on October 22, with an extra $[redacted].35 debit on my card that was supposed to be removed. The Budget staff at Charlotte Airport were understanding, assuring me of no extra fees. Please address this issue by canceling the $[redacted].60 charge and the $[redacted].35 debit. I await your response and the credit adjustment. – Ronald M.