Budget Car Rental Review

Overall Rating

My son and I happily made advanced reservations online for a fourth of July trip which was to be started on July 3rd.We made reconfirmations 3 days prior (i am always organized and timely)We were to be picked up by 8 am on July 3rd.At 8 am we called and got a gruff voice that stated"i don't know anything about that i can't leave here i have 21 reservations and i am alone.When the manager arrives i will call you."This went on till 9:30 am when we decided to drive over there.He insisted for me to drive there and leave the car there even though there were numerous signs saying you will be towed if left there.I was reassured otherwise.I had my paperwork all ready but was told he did not know where the car was coming from.We waited some more and was told they would be there and was on its way from Daytona beach(2 hours away) and that the paperwork was overlooked.I was told the car would be there by 12 noon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when i insisted on an arrival time.Car was 4 hours late with no pick up at home.You haven't heard the rest yet!!!!!Listen up----------He swiped my card and told me eqifax was saying do not rent to renter and that it didn't mean i had no money.(this time the car arrived but according to them i did not qualify to rent it.I told them it may be a protection for identity theft.I called the bank immediately and the bank rep told me that it wasn't even showing any attempt to remove funds.He hadn't swiped the card it was a phony attempt!!!I told the budget rep to redo transaction and it went through.Were it not for my persistence they cared nothing!!!!!!!The member of staff said he would give a 10% discount for the inconvenience(i was already missing an important function being 4 hours late.On Monday i returned the car in one piece gas level where it was and the rep is asking me where the level was when i took it.Next the transaction rung up over $100 extra.the budget rep (same one barking at me he couldn't pick me up)states it was a late fee return plus an additional day.He stated he was new and that i should return 09:30 next day for manager.I did and was told he was in a meeting.Finally i drove in at 11:00 AM and he pretended never to know me nor the previous circumstance.I told him about the extra day and the 10% discount he had calculated prior to taking the car for the inconvenience.nothing done for 4 hours late for me but 2 hour late return has late fee of $10 plus full late day charge of $80.Go figure that disparity!!!!I was refunded the $80 after i told him i was going to write this review and then he stated i couldn't have the 10% and $80 off one or the other.Then he asked what kind of work i do?I guess if they don't think you are a lawyer you are in deep doo-doo. I am glad afterall i never allowed him to taint the roads and pick me up in my community.I have learnt my lesson and will stick to enterprise.They are very professional and timely.Only they did not show a convertible.and we wanted a convertible.Never ever use budget no matter what!!!p.s. by the way my son of 12 years did the math and showed the rep the incorrect charges!!!!!!!!!!!!!