MetaChat - Budget Rent-a-Car Sucks

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03 January 2007

Budget Rent-a-Car Sucks →[More:]I recently returned a rental car to Budget after filling it with gas. They charged me a $9.50 refueling fee. I had driven the car less than 75 miles and they claim the fuel gauge doesn't register accurately if you drive less than 75 miles, so their policy is that they charge you to refill the car with gas if they can't tell whether or not you got gas, plus, they treat you like a liar. They would've waived the fee if I'd kept my gas receipt, but I didn't keep it because every time I've ever rented a car all they do is look at the gas gauge to see if there's gas in the car. It didn't help that the manager was a smug asshole who refused to waive the fee regardless of my logical arguments. So they got their $9.50, but I won't be renting any cars from them again.

post by: kirkaracha at: 17:13 | 10 comments

Write them an angry letter and be sure to mention the smug asshole manager's name. Tell them you won't patronize them anymore. You might get a free rental out of it.

posted by mudpuppie 03 January | 17:22

I'm with pup. Complain-y letters sometimes result in free stuff, and it'll make you feel better in terms of stickin' it to the smug asshole.

posted by Specklet 03 January | 17:32

Do write to them. I complained to Best Western hotels and got three free nights. We spent a long weekend in Chicago.

posted by arse_hat 03 January | 17:38

Also, write to consumerist.com.

posted by matildaben 03 January | 18:11

Did you ask for a copy of their policy? What is the wording of the refueling clause in the contract?

posted by mischief 03 January | 18:26

I rented a car from Budget in early December, and they make it very clear that you have to keep your gas recipt if you don't want to get charged the refueling fee. I can't imagine how you overlooked it.

posted by cmonkey 03 January | 19:03

In fact, they actually gave me a brochure that said as much in a colourful 16 point font.

posted by cmonkey 03 January | 19:04

I've only rented from Avis, Hertz and Sixt and never get charged if the needle looks full. I've never been asked for proof of topping off the tank. Since I travel on business I've gotten in the habit of keeping all of the receipts I get on receipts so I'd always have it if they challenged me.

I've never had to rent from Budget but after your story -- and the prices that aren't as competitive in non-compact cars -- make me less than likely to use them in the future.

Complaining may help, but if they are cheap bastards they might give you an upgrade on a car [intermediate for a compact] so you'd have to buy from them again. But complain and let them know you rent cars all the time from their competitors and never had such a problem. Even if you don't rent cars "all the time", you might someday.

posted by birdherder 03 January | 21:04

I usually rent from Enterprise and they've NEVER pulled that crap with me.

posted by brujita 04 January | 02:18

They didn't mention the policy or give me a brochure when I rented the car. I didn't think to ask for a copy of the policy.

posted by kirkaracha 04 January | 08:48

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