Budget

SCAMMERS. COMPLETELY RIPPED ME OFF. FORCED ME TO ADD INSURANCE AND PRE PAY GAS. I WAS TOLD I DENIED THIS I WOULD STILL BE CHARGED. TOLD ME I WAS HAVING 250 added on as a deposit. I was not asked to sign I was told to put a line through the signature area. After that was done and printed I questioned why my fee was 890 and confirmed the 250 would be removed. I was then told no that I was charged more tax because of a convention in town that I had no idea about. I booked Thai rental weeks in advance and tax was Included. What's even worse is when my card was charged not only was I was charged 890 instead of 569.19 I was charged 1012 instead. The company ignored my messages. What's even worse then that is the car was disgusting. Smelled like cat piss and had finger nails in it when we got it. Not cleaned at all

July 27,2022. My wife rents a Budget rental (Ford Explorer) at the Columbus airport. The seven family members get to the house only to find the back smells terrible of cat urine. She takes the car back and gets a Toyota Highlander.

They drive it around and eventually go to Louisville to visit the rest of the family. Today she gets a notice that the explorer charges have been closed. She calls Budget - and this is where it gets crazy...

She asks how the account is closed when she still has the Highlander. They ask her for the VIN and they tell her that car is actually leased to an Avis customer and she's driving it illegally. In fact, if she gets pulled over, the police will impound the car. Better yet, it will take them five to seven business days to get it straightened out.

Columbus gives her the keys to a replacement car, let her leave the lot and do not register the car in her name.

The customer service (lack of) people tell her there is nothing they can do. She needs to speak to the Budget in Columbus - but wait - they don't take customer service calls.

Budget showed they could care less about a family of seven being at risk of getting pulled over because of their mistake and have the car taken away. There is nothing they can do.

No supervisor was consulted, no manager was called.

How do you in when you're renting from Budget that the car is really in your name? Clearly, if you run into issues you cannot count on Budget to help.

No pride in service - no pride in caring

This has been the worst car rental experience I have ever had. I very often go to Detroit Michigan with my wife and get a rental every time I go. But this time with Budget Car Rentals it has been the worst. I received the car extremely dirty and the smell of throw up all inside it. On the way to my hotel from the airport the car stopped on me and my wife twice. I was extremely worried so I called customer service and they gave me a location to go pick another one up. I went there the next day and the clerk there was very rude shouting at me "we don't have a car here for you go to a different location" multiple times. I called customer service again and they did not care about what happened, they just sent to another location. I went there and they too said the same thing. So, I called customer service again for the third time and they finally told me that they don't have anything available for me. My entire trip was ruined because I had to use Uber nearly the entire time I am in Detroit. Extremely disappointed at what happened and I do not recommend anyone to rent a car from Budget. They are careless and very very rude people.

Several months ago I booked a car with Budget for our 18 day family vacation. I chose a location close to Seattle airport, but not on-site so as to save the extra airport rental fees.
My flight was scheduled to arrive at 3 pm, and the car rental agency closes at 5 pm, so I asked what would happen just in case of a flight delay. I was told that was no problem, I would just have to pick up the car the following morning when they opened, and that I should call as soon as I found out about any delay to let them know.
Well, as luck would have it, our flight was delayed. So I phoned.
I spent over an hour on the phone sitting in the airport, my stress level growing ever higher, talking with four different people and spending oodles of time on hold. Each one of them told me that since I was not going to be able to pick up the car by 5 pm, my reservation would have to be changed, and that they would charge me their current rates. Their new rates varied, depending on who I was speaking with, but they ranged from $200 to $900 MORE than the rate they had agreed to when I booked the car.
I pointed out that they had not mentioned this rate change when I asked about the possibility of a delay, and that they should not be charging me MORE for having the car for LESS time. I was not changing the return time, just picking the car up later than planned owing to circumstances beyond my control.
I ended up so disgusted with this company that I booked a car with a different company for $300 more than the $600 I was originally supposed to pay, because there is just no way I would rent from Budget ever again.

I rented a car at the Denver Airport at the end of May for one week. The car had not been cleaned and had trash still inside. There was a crack in the windshield and various scratches and dents on the exterior. I took pictures but was not able to find someone to speak to without going back inside and waiting in line, so I took the car and went on my way. When I dropped it off I was an hour and half late due to my plane flight back. When I got my charge, Budget charges another full day of rental for the car. I call and complained and they took $27 off a $60 charge. Now 3 and half months later, I noticed a $187 charge on my credit card from Budget with no explanation. I thought that someone had stolen my credit card number, so I called Budget and ask what the charge was for. To my disbelief, the man said that it was for a broken window which was already cracked when I picked the car up. I told the man that and that I had taken pictures of all the damage when I picked up the car because I could not believe how bad of shape the vehicle was in. Luckily the picture of the windshield was still on my phone. The man asks me to email it to the company and they would investigate. I will never use Budget again or Avis since they are both owned by the same holding company.

RUN AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!
They know that when you rent a car, you are in hurry to have it so they add hidden extra fees in the contract without telling you face to face and when they invoice them to you, they cover their $#*! by telling you that you agreed for them as the contract was signed => they stole me 350$ for options I was not informed about while I rent a car for > 1000$ with full insurance! This happened in BUDGET LOS ANGELES.

Piity I can't give 0 stars!

Renting a car from here was a mistake. It seems cheap until you add a damage waiver. I was told it was about $30 a day for the damage waiver and somehow my charge for that for 4 days was $174? Called Customer Service and asked for them to explain the charges, the guy kept telling me what I already knew which is that I had the car for 4 days... thanks, I figured that one out. When I asked to speak with someone else he was acting like I was stupid and not understanding the math. He acted like he was transferring me to his manager when I know he just put me on hold. He came back and said the manager didn't answer and that one would be giving me a call the next day, been waiting to hear back for two days. I asked what his name was and he said Frank which I highly doubted it really was. When returning the car the lady said I could be charged for some crumbs that were on the ground and handed me a vacuum, with all the fees I was charged that's the least they can do is vacuum some crap when they handed over the keys with a bunch of bird poop on the car.

I rented a car from them a Toyota Camry 2022 when I went to pick it up it had not been washed I rented it for a week and had the lady walk around for damages before I left said it was good no damages then 2 and 1/2 hours later she said there was damage to front end that she couldn't see because if dirt and demanded me to come in at a certain time with my insurance I told her I was not and I called corporate the same day it took to and a half weeks later for them to provide pictures of what looked like someone smashing headlights in with a base ball bat I also have a witness that can verify the condition that the vehicle was in when I dropped it off do not rent from this company

I'd give zero stars if I could. Budget changed my pickup location because THEY temporarily closed my pickup site, then refused to refund my prepaid $$ when I canceled more than 48 hours before my scheduled pick up because I couldn't change my travel plans to fit their closure. Their online chat rarely works and their customer service reps just transfer you to a number in "Billing" that says your call can't be completed and hangs up or puts you on hold (I hung up after I was on hold for over an hour). It took well over a month, hours and hours on the phone talking to more than 15 customer service reps (I didn't write down all their names at first), and submitting a trouble ticket online before I got my refund. They promise you anything to get you off the phone but they do nothing and they keep any alternate/corporate contact info well-hidden so you are forced back to their worthless customer service number. DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH THEM AND IF YOU HAVE TO, DON'T PREPAY!

I have an upcoming car rental in May 2022. I got an email stating that my reservation was all set. It also had an option to do digital check in to save time. I stupidly bought into that option and when I selected it, Budget changed my reservation from what was agreed to on January 18,2022 to an increased rate today. There was nothing in the option that said my rate would be increased. I spent over 45 minutes on the phone trying to get this resolved. The first two customer service contacts told me there was nothing they could do about it. Since I had done the digital check in, the rate changes. I asked to reverse the digital check in and I was told that couldn't be done. The third customer service contact gave me an email address to send documentation so Budget can review and make a determination about my case? This is a scam. I can see how Budget has cheated many people out of lots of money with this scam. There is no one with any decision making authority that will talk to you. Never use Budget!

I decided to try Budget after finding a Groupon deal. I successfully reserved a vehicle and then called them to confirm the terms of the rental. My phone records all calls, which proved useful later.

The representative explicitly provided the terms for the specific location and car I booked. Upon arrival, the counter clerk was arguing with a customer regarding their rental terms. They bait and switch, as the terms changed for me too. Instead of honoring what their representative said in my recording, they refused to listen and passed me the phone to their so-called regional manager. She was unapologetic and also refused to listen to the recording. Instead, she tried to justify their bait and switch by stating they were a licensee and I spoke with "corporate." I explained that when there's a problem with your Big Mac, you don't care whether the restaurant is a franchisee or corporate; FIX THE BURGER. I was at the Courtland Ave location in Atlanta.

A straightforward rental policy should never be negotiable. If you actually want to rent a car, beware. Rent at a company that doesn't believe in budget customer service.

Never. Ever. Will I rent from this place again. I've never gone out of my way to write a bad review in my life that's how bad my experience has been. When we first got our car we had to wait 4.5 to get our car - only to have it wreak of smoke and found a pack of cigarettes under the seat. Please tell me if how if they are taking "extra cleaning precautions due to covid" they missed a whole pack of cigarettes that my son found...

After an emergency we had to move the drop off location to 3 hours away from our original spot ( not a different state... just a different city... and they charged us $1700. $1700! Not total- Just to transfer our drop-off spot
After being on the phone for 3 hours with customer service we were hung up on 3 different times.

Do NOT rent from this company. The price may look good up front - and they'll get you in the end. We're now sitting here boggled wondering what the heck were supposed to do. Its 4 times more than what the whole week for renting the car was! I feel literally sick to my stomach. This is a TERRIBLE company.

ZERO STARS!

If you want a smooth encounter without any issues DO NOT rent from budget. This has to be the worst company I have ever done business with. I went with the online route to save money and time and was so upset with how the process turned out. First they gladly took my payment online once I ordered my desired vehicle. The next day when I went to said location to pick up the car, the employees said they did not have that car available that I reserved and failed to try to help me. They're only response was they could give me a smaller car than what I needed. Mind you I had me and my family's bags packed in the car and was needing to leave immediately. After I refused they failed to help and send me to another location. Long story short I went to 2 more locations which did not have the vehicles ready or didn't have them at all. The last place I went to offered to give me one after it was cleaned but told me I had to cancel my reservation and reserve the vehicle through their location. Not only so they charge you to cancel the reservation but will not refund you your money.

I was furious. I spoke to four different employees through the costumer service line on 4 different occasions and they all told me I could get my refund in different days. One said 1-3 days. Then I called and they said 3-5 then they said 10 days. The last tome I called the employee said I had to call MY bank because sometimes they hold refunds!

So unprofessional it's been a month and I still have seen no refund. Save yourself the headache and go with someone else.

Budget does not car about cleanliness or the health and safety of renters. I rented a car from Longmont CO. Right away I noticed a smell in it. I went and bought air freshener. Next day driving down the highway we noticed a lot of flys coming from the dash. As trip continued we started getting bit. My daughter found bugs inside her jeans when we stopped at a rest area. I had also found a used Mask in the console from prior renter and a cell phone in glove box. Obviously they do not clean their cars. Budget apologizes for the inconvenience? Not an inconvenience it is a nightmare. It was a Horrible ending to a trip as now everything in the vehicle was affected. Pillows blankets and suitcases. I have had to clean everything and throw some things away. I have had to wash and dry and bag everything. I don't believe I was able to stop the infestation getting into the house. As the first day I rented it not knowing I wore my clothes into the house. I am having a miserable time battling this. Budget doesn't care. Giving me 150 dollar refund does not cover my expenses to rid of the infestation or the mental stress it has caused. Do not rent from Budget!

Lying scam company. This was my first (and last) rental ever with Budget. After pre paying for my reservation through Costco, I paid an additional $227 for their useless insurance. I didn't even use 1 first day of the rental due to flight delays. I called the customer service and let them know. They didn't extended the reservation (as I wanted) but they said not to worry and I wouldn't be charged extra. Then, I returned the car with a full tank and in the same condition it was rented. After I turned my car in I get a text that my total due was $227. Okay, fine. Once I returned home I was charged an additional $250 that I did not authorize. Also, I never got a receipt to show what that fraudulent charge was even for. When I called the customer service to discuss it there were no notes on the account and the guy I talked to was very rude. I will NEVER EVER use Budget rent a car ever again. I'm so frustrated that I got a car through Budget. I will tell everyone I know how bad this experience was and that they should avoid Budget no matter what. I WANT MY $250 BACK SCAM ARTISTS!

I recently rented a car for 838$(ridiculous) I was told I would get 400 back and still have yet to receive any money back after getting lied to from the manager in Peoria IL and no help from the corporate office

To Nora Henry and all,
*******123
*******@avisbudget.com

Rental date: 07/25/2019
Rental#: U*******
VCR#: VCR*******
Case#: *******

Why should I have to pay $253.70 (total expense for services & repairs) for your mistake in giving a rental car (VW Jetta) that has defective tires and no spare tire.
You all have not reported it to the federal agency as this is a safety issue and could cause injury to other people.
We were given a 2nd car in Orlando airport with same issue until after a 3hr ordeal they gave us a different car. I have all the pics even from the towing company.
It is not my fault and you all need void this bill in full.

Manavi Sallick
*******866