Budget charged us for 4 extra days

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We rented a car from budget on our last trip and just returned home on July 25th. We just noticed a credit card charge of $548 when the car was prepaid a few months back. I logged into our Budget account to see they show we rented the car for 8 total days, turning it in on 7/29 instead of 7/25. Of course they are closed now so we have to wait until tomorrow to call but has anyone had this happen? They didn't give us a receipt when we dropped off the car and I don't have an email from them. Aside from plane tickets I am not sure how to prove we turned it in.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ouch. Are you sure that they did not email you a receipt? That's standard procedure if you are a Fastbreak member.

There should be a RFID scan trail, though. About a year ago Budget started checking in vehicles via a handheld scanner rather than the agent getting into the car and recording the info manually. I've run into difficulty with the scanners before because they have a tendency to read a full tank as 3/4 if it is down by so much as 1/10th of a gallon, so I always stick around and make them verbally confirm the final charge after the vehicle is scanned. It is supposed to be scanned when you return it to the garage, again when it is run through cleaning and fueling, and a third time when it returns to the garage inventory, as well as being scanned out at the gate when it is rented. I can't imagine it sat idle for 4 days with the current scarcity, so the key is to look at your contract and find out the VIN number, then ask to see an activity report for that VIN for the range of days in question. If someone else took it out of the garage when it was supposed to still be in your possession, that's evidence that you did turn it in.

 

[Lewisc]

A copy of your BP and a copy.of your checked bag claim ticket might help
How did you get home from arrival airport. Copy of parking receipt, Uber receipt etc. Don't waste a lot of.time. Filr.a credit card dispute if Budget doesn't resolve it quickly

 

[FCDub]

Many years ago, someone in my family dropped off a rental car to an approved hotel drop-off location, only to be accused by the company of stealing it when some ill-trained employees parked it in a strange part of the hotel parking lot and never bothered to actually check it back in. ALWAYS get a receipt!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Budget is refunding the charge. They originally assigned us a car that was dirty and somehow the car we actually were given wasn’t updated in our reservation. So essentially we were charged for the next persons rental days. It’s odd we never got a receipt emailed, even when when was supposedly turned in late. We were prepared with all sorts of documentation but once they identified it was the wrong vehicle they took care of it. Lesson learned for next time, I’m demanding a receipt and taking a photo of it in case we loose it! Luckily they had great customer service to resolve the issue quickly.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Ouch. Are you sure that they did not email you a receipt? That's standard procedure if you are a Fastbreak member.

There should be a RFID scan trail, though. About a year ago Budget started checking in vehicles via a handheld scanner rather than the agent getting into the car and recording the info manually. I've run into difficulty with the scanners before because they have a tendency to read a full tank as 3/4 if it is down by so much as 1/10th of a gallon, so I always stick around and make them verbally confirm the final charge after the vehicle is scanned. It is supposed to be scanned when you return it to the garage, again when it is run through cleaning and fueling, and a third time when it returns to the garage inventory, as well as being scanned out at the gate when it is rented. I can't imagine it sat idle for 4 days with the current scarcity, so the key is to look at your contract and find out the VIN number, then ask to see an activity report for that VIN for the range of days in question. If someone else took it out of the garage when it was supposed to still be in your possession, that's evidence that you did turn it in.

you are right about that vin#! It was for a different vehicle. Luckily they have resolved for us but keeping these tips for future rentals!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Many years ago, someone in my family dropped off a rental car to an approved hotel drop-off location, only to be accused by the company of stealing it when some ill-trained employees parked it in a strange part of the hotel parking lot and never bothered to actually check it back in. ALWAYS get a receipt!

Yes lesson learned! We won’t ever leave without one now. Luckily they resolved the issue quickly but I’m also taking a photo of it next time just in case we misplace it. It really is the only proof you have of returning it.