I don't like Budget Car rental anymore

[boswellnakia]

I have to vent. I book a lot of cars for people because I try to keep up with some of the discount codes. This past week, I used Budget for my trip. Boy, did I learn alot!

First, in the Tampa airport budeget location, it was the only one that had a line. First problem, I had to wait about thirty minutes to get to the count. Nobody at Dollar or Avis which were on both sides of Budget. I should have went to one of them. When I finally made it to the counter, they didn't have the car that I reserved.

Mistake #1 - I didn't realize they you are not guaranteed that car. The very rude Victoria said that my ressie just guaranteed me a car at thier site, not a class. Just a car and a minimum price for rental.

I asked what were my options, she said they did have a Sport SUV available, but it would cost me much more. She said they could check to see if one had come in today. I was furious at this time. So I asked if I could wait and have them check to see if there was one of the cars I thought I was getting available; she said it may take up to two hours for them to check. Haven't they heard of the phone?

Mistake #2 - I asked if they had any lower car classes available and they said no. Then I started going up the classes from what I had reserved. They had other cars in lower classes than what was offered. I then asked if they had any other cars in the class that I reserved...the answer...yes. Why didn't Victoria offer me one of them instead of offering the much more expensive car? I was even madder. I asked her and she saide "it was her job to upsale me." Boy, that hit me pretty hard. They had more cars in my class, but she didn't even mention them until I asked specifically.

Mistake #3 - after finally selling me a two car upgrade at the same price, she finnally offered it at the same price as the vehicle I had reserved. She insisted that I was getting a FREE upgrade. But if its not what you want, FREE don't mean crap. My FREE upgrade cost me more than my confirmed reservation. I had used my SWA Rewards number and she said they add a fee to my ressie because I want SWA Rewards credit which made my confirmed ressie higher.

LESSONS LEARNED - Budget will upsale you without telling you there are cheaper options availalbe. Their confirmed price may not be the price that you get. If you go to TPI, stay away from Victoria! She is a customer killer. From now on, I will travel with all of my discount numbers and 1-800# so that I could have other choices when confronted with rude customer service and misrepresented information.

 

[siobhan1997]

Did you prebook your car? If you did then your initial reservation had to be honoured. When we had a reservation that was booked to pick up at Tampa airport they tried to tell me that the rate I got was just for one week not two as my reservation paper stated. I would not let them intimidate me I banged my finger on the counter and said don't you dare try to change my reservation, you will honour it as that is Budget policy. He was really pissed at me but had no choice.

The terms and conditions state on the reservation that the reserved rate is your rate and that if that vehicle is not available they must provide you with another of that class or higher.

 

[Alexander]

My reservation says "Guaranteed Rate". They have to honor that. It would actually be fun to go a couple of rounds with an agent like that! DH would of course be under the carpet whispering "shut-up"

 

[boswellnakia]

I knew they had to honor the rate that I had prebooked. I had reserved a Mustang. When I checked in, Victoria said they did not have a Mustang. She then quickly offered to upsale me to the Sports SUV which cost more. She didn't mention that this was a five class upgrade. She also did not mention that there were other options in the same class as the Mustang available. All she was interested in offering were things that that cost me more. I finally mentioned the price that I had reserved and that is when she mentioned the other cars available in the class that I rented. Whey didn't she just say this ealier instead of trying to sell me something I didn't want.

 

[Alexander]

I believe, at least mine does...The reservations say "Mustang or similar". We too have a convertible reserved for April, they show a Mustang, but I don't think there is a guarantee of what kind of convertible we'll get. Both posters had trouble in Tampa, anybody have similar problems in Orlando?

 

[jodifla]

We stopped using Budget years ago when we had to wait 2 hours in line at Boston Airport.

The next year, we signed up for Avis preferred service. They take us straight to our car, we get in, and we're off. No standing in line at all.

It's not worth the money you save to be jerked around.

 

[boswellnakia]

It's not worth the money you save to be jerked around.

Are you guaranteed the specific car that you reserve? or is it a guaranteed price and you get what they have available at or above with Avis?

 

[jodifla]

We've always gotten the class of car we've ordered. One time, we got to the car, and our stroller wouldn't fit in the trunk. They immediately gave us a bigger car, same price. They are often more expensive, but worth it for the service. There's a little kiosk for the preferred customers out on the lot so you don't even have to go into the line inside.

The time we spent two hours in line at Budget airport terminal, we got on the bus only to stand in line again at the car terminal. And then, they didn't have a car for us! One of the managers finally gave us his Budget car.

 

[jaysue]

I believe, at least mine does...The reservations say "Mustang or similar". We too have a convertible reserved for April, they show a Mustang, but I don't think there is a guarantee of what kind of convertible we'll get. Both posters had trouble in Tampa, anybody have similar problems in Orlando?

Been ok at MCO having used them a number of times - we always rent Midsize SUV or Minivan (they probably have lots of these) so I am not sure I would take much comfort from our experience

What annoys us is that fastbreak closes I think at 11pm or maybe earlier so we have to wait in line for the counter folk often when we fly in - hence we switched to National Emerald to avoid line ups

cheers
jaysue

 

[ATB]

We swore off of Budget a few years ago after a number of bad expirences. The major isue we had was car cleanlyness. The expedition we reneted at BWI for our wedding party had mustard stains all over the front seat. Then at DTW we got a Sable that smelled overpowringly like wet dog. We went back in and there was a line of at least 5 people withe the exact same problem. We got another Sable that smelled better, but the steering wheel was so dirty(stickly, black) I had to clean it when we got to our destination.

Soon afterwards I signed up for Hertz Gold. Their cars have always been clean and with Gold you can reserve a specific model at most airports (including MCO) and walk right to it with no wait in line. Once at FLL I was "upgraded" from a Mustage coupe to a Toyota SUV. When I mentioned this was not an upgrade to me, I was immeadiatly re-assigned to a Mustang.

So, Hertz may cost more but I find it is well worth the cost for the headaches and time saved.

 

[jodifla]

We swore off of Budget a few years ago after a number of bad expirences. The major isue we had was car cleanlyness. The expedition we reneted at BWI for our wedding party had mustard stains all over the front seat. Then at DTW we got a Sable that smelled overpowringly like wet dog. We went back in and there was a line of at least 5 people withe the exact same problem. We got another Sable that smelled better, but the steering wheel was so dirty(stickly, black) I had to clean it when we got to our destination.

Soon afterwards I signed up for Hertz Gold. Their cars have always been clean and with Gold you can reserve a specific model at most airports (including MCO) and walk right to it with no wait in line. Once at FLL I was "upgraded" from a Mustage coupe to a Toyota SUV. When I mentioned this was not an upgrade to me, I was immeadiatly re-assigned to a Mustang.

So, Hertz may cost more but I find it is well worth the cost for the headaches and time saved.

Exactly!

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

Wow...so sorry to hear about all the bad experiences with Budget. they are the only place I ever rent from and I've never had any problems. I rent out of the Pittsburgh Airport. Never have to wait in line and the cars are always so clean. I've even rented a Ford Escape and it only had 4.5 miles on it when I got in. Boy, were they shocked when I bought it back with a little over 3000 on it !!! Another time, I had reserved an Escape, but when I got there, they didn't have any. The gave me a Mitsubishi Endeavor, which was an upgrade, for the same price as the Escape. I just reserved a Chrystler Sebrig for our March trip, so we'll see how that goes!! Hopefully, I won't have any trouble with them, but if I do, I know how to scream and throw a fit until I get what I want !!! Of course, my sister always runs out the door of whereever we're at when it comes time to pay or to deal with people !!!

 

[stacieps]

I had used my SWA Rewards number and she said they add a fee to my ressie because I want SWA Rewards credit which made my confirmed ressie higher.
QUOTE]

Did you have to pay more to get the SWA credit? I've reserved through Budet for April just because of the partnership with SWA, but I don't want to pay more than my quote.

 

[boswellnakia]

It wasn't much, about $2.00 to get my SWA rewards credit. I'm like you, Budget was the cheapest, but I more so wanted the SWA credit to help me get that free flight quicker.

After being yanked around by Victoria, when the amount didn't match my reserved price, I was just boiling. I guess I will be checking out Alamo, Dollar or Hertz (usually a lot more) from now on to get my SWA credit.

 

[DVC-Don]

Alamo pulled the same stunt with us in both Tampa and Orlando.

 

[boswellnakia]

I know I fussing over less than two dollars. Since this was the extra it cost me to get SWA rewards credit at the time of rental. What would happen if I waited until after I rented with Budget or whoever and faxed in a copy of my receipt and SWA number? The SWA rewards site says I still can get rewards credit for car rentals that I hadn't give my number to at the beginning just by faxing the receipt. This would be a way to save that money, heck I could buy an extra coke at the parks. Oh no, aren't the sodas $2. 50 now? Shucks, losing again...

I just don't like surprises. I can handle almost anything as long as I know what I'm getting.

 

[CarolA]

Just a note, I think a LOT of the rental car companies are now charging for mileage credit. I know Hertz does and for some reason I think National does too.

 

[CPer'sMom]

Is Budget located in the terminal in Orlando? How's the service been there?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Yes Budget is located in the airport as well as:

Avis
Budget
Dollar
L & M car Rental
National


Hope this helps

Patricia

 

[Alexander]

Just a note, I think a LOT of the rental car companies are now charging for mileage credit. I know Hertz does and for some reason I think National does too.

Yes, they (National) do now too, but I really think it's the airlines charging the car rental agencies. When we have our credits go to our United FF account there is a fee, but when we have our credits go to our Northwest FF account there is no fee.