Rental Car - Is it me? It is them? Is it a scam?

[ILoveMyDVC]

I present the following:
A few weeks ago -
1. Entered required info to rent a car MCO to M03 via the Budget website. Pay now rates appeared. Entered credit card information received a system error; tried again later (as in 1 minute, 5 minutes, hour) - Pay Now rates were no longer available.

2. Tried again a week later - Pay Now rate not available; Tried chat - agent could see my ghost reservation; system had actually put ghost charge on CC - he could not duplicate the rate; referred to CS 800 # - 3 x on hold - each with a slightly higher rate - I agreed to the first two she quoted which then her "system would not let her process'. I balked at the third and told them I would report them to the AG's office. I have the screenshots.

Tonight

3. keyed in everything - no special codes - right off their main link from Google - awesome rates - both pay now and at counter - clicked Pay Now; the next screen had an extra 100 added to it - NOT the fees and taxes (107.00) - the CAR RATE. I tried it a few times = same result. I clicked on the pay counter rate; same story - extra 100.00 IN ADDITION to the fees and taxes.

4. Called customer service - answering agent immediately said the price difference was 'fees'; I told him it was not - agent did not speak English well and I cannot converse well in any other language so I asked for a supervisor

5. a "supervisor' picked up 3 minutes later (in a call bank) and asked me every question in a very exaggerated way (yes, he spoke English well). He asked for the information and I told him and I do speak well (but type atrociously) - So you want a car in Nashville TN, Me - No, Orlando Florida. What is the return location? Me - I don't know - the code is M03 (could be Orlando, Lake Buena Vista - who knows). Agent - So you DON'T KNOW where you are returning it? Me - I do know - it is a hotel near Downtown Disney - Doubletree - I can see it - Lake Buena Vista. He repeated aloud and laughed at everything I said.

He claimed his system could only see a counter rate (and it was high). I told him I had the screen right in front of me; he claimed it was impossible (I HAVE THE SCREEN SHOTS); he stated, "I am absolutely certain there are no cars available at MCO for pay now rates on 1/17." I told him that I would be documenting the call with the screen shots and hung up.

So not sure who is crazy but I know who is sleazy. Looking for a 7 day 19 hour rate - Left National a few years ago because their rates were 2-3 times Budget's- they want 800 for a full size for 1 week + 1 day. INSANE.

Thoughts?

 

[DVC California]

Either:

1) The credit card you were using was bounced for some reason (near limit, expiration date, too many ghost reservations, etc) ...or

2) Some glitch in the reservation system when doing both a one-way rental and a pre-pay rate...or

3) Budget sucks eggs

In any case, I'm not sure how much response you will get from reporting their screw up to another 800 supervisor. I would let it go and move on to another agency.

My two cents, Steve

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Not sure. I went to Budget and put in your rental and saw the car rate and then the tax listed below for a pay it now rental and everything looks fine.
But if it were me I would not be buying a rental car now because rates get cheaper closer to the trip date.


And your return location is
return
DOUBLETREE @ WALT DISNEY WORLD - M03
ORLANDO , FL

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Either:

1) The credit card you were using was bounced for some reason (near limit, expiration date, too many ghost reservations, etc) ...or

2) Some glitch in the reservation system when doing both a one-way rental and a pre-pay rate...or

3) Budget sucks eggs

In any case, I'm not sure how much response you will get from reporting their screw up to another 800 supervisor. I would let it go and move on to another agency.

My two cents, Steve

1. - It was my one and only attempt at entering my CC for any car reservation in a year. I could still accept that somehow my cc was at fault (who knows what happens at Visa/MC) but it does not account for the from scratch rate that mysteriously added an extra 100 dollars to itself on the next screen on both the Pay Now ant counter rates.

2. Yes - I agree - *they* should fix it - and their CS should be able to adjust a system error -

3. I vote #3 - although I have rented from them MCO - MCO and MCO - M03 (last year), I will not do it again any time soon. A quick Google search yielded a large number of complaints.

Thanks for playing is it me or is it them

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Not sure. I went to Budget and put in your rental and saw the car rate and then the tax listed below for a pay it now rental and everything looks fine.
But if it were me I would not be buying a rental car now because rates get cheaper closer to the trip date.


And your return location is
return
DOUBLETREE @ WALT DISNEY WORLD - M03
ORLANDO , FL

I hope you are right. With less than 3 weeks, I am concerned but not desperate - can always ride DME. I usually grab a reservation 30 - 60 days out and then watch for changes. The Sat to Monday (2 days) from National MCO - MCO was 198.00. 650 before taxes and fees for the 7 + day one.

I used to enjoy the rental car game - not so much anymore and I hate outright deceit.