Arul C.

Beware predatory practices of Rentalcars.com and Budget Scammed 20,000 Kr = 880 US$! Long story short Charged damage claim for minor scratches on tyre rim see attached picture.
Long story: I am a professor at Singapore University. We went as a family to Prague for an academic conference and got hit by a huge damage of almost US$ 900 for scratches on the tyre rim of a rental car, which frankly I think were there before we even left. I booked a Budget car through rentalcars.com through the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer partners programme using a KrisFlyer credit card.
1. Went through Krisflyer booking prre-paying online for the rental car, which includes insurance.
2. Immediately get an email saying that "your Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) doesn't cover, such as tyres and windscreen", and recommends to buy additional insurance from Budget. Also "If you do buy a policy from Budget, that contract will be between you and Budget. Since rentalcars.com - A partner of Singapore Airlines will not be involved at all, we won't be able to help if you're dissatisfied with the cost of their policy or the cover it provides." Suspicion level 2.
3. At Budget rental car counter in Prague airport, once you to sign a contract you don't have time to read at the pickup; and mark less 'damage' than is on the car, also because you just want to go. The parking lot at Prague airport is a distance away, so they just hand you a blank sheet with no mark-up of damage, and say "no worries, minor scratches do not count". Suspicion level 2!
4. Return car at Prague airport with flight at midnight, and sudden discover the scratches, and refuse to let you go till you acknowledge damages, knowing full well that you are in a rush. Again tell you "that this is minor scratches, and just a reporting detail". Suspicion level 3!
5. Even before you reach home, and they email you an invoice of the 'damages', with no report, and the credit card is immediately charged. Suspicion level 4!
6. I wrote to Singapore Airlines Krisflyer customer service, which refused to have anything to do with this, stating "We have brought the matter that you have highlighted to the attention of the relevant team and they have since gotten in touch with Rentalcars.com for the team at Rentalcars.com to address your concerns." And then silence. Suspicion level 5!
7. I wrote repeatedly to Budget and Rentalcars.com on 13 July, 31 July, 02 August, 14 August, 17 August, 18 August, 9 September, 8 October, 12 Oct. They delay, sorry to hear about level of service, promise to look into it, ask for documentation, then apologize for delay, then talk amongst rentalcars.com and Budget, claim that they are exchanging documents, and then finally, after 4 months, state "we are not in a position to dispute these charges on your behalf".
8. Final resolution from rentalcars.com "If you are unable to reach an amicable resolution to this dispute with Budget directly, then another option available to you is to contact your card provider". Basically refusal to deal and acknowledge the scam being run by Budget Prague.
9. Then they move onto running the insurance scam with the next customer with the same 3 scratches on the tyre rim of the same car.
10. Avoid these unscrupulous companies, Budget and Rentalcars.com. Singapore Airlines should be wary of associating with such companies.
Prof. Chib
Singapore University