I had been looking to rent a car for 7 days. I found a few but the Budget Rent A Car website had some discounts making it the least expensive. They offer a discount if you pre-pay your rental. So I pre-paid $220+ for a rental car from the Budget Rent A Car at ******* in Port Charlotte FL. ******. I Paid with a Credit Card as they have rules on using debit cards which are a pain, such as bring a utility bill and a $200 deposit. I paid Lyft $19+ for a ride to the rental place and went to the counter to pick up the vehicle. The lady there said i needed a deposit on the vehicle. I showed her the receipt and the rental policy/contract which states a deposit is needed with a debit card not a credit card. My card didn't have enough room on it for the deposit, I was going to call my husband for his and she said I couldn't use his, had to be in my name. I then said i would pay the deposit with the debit card, since she is following that policy anyway, i could have someone run a utility bill to me. As soon as I was willing to do that she added "well ....we need a credit check too". A WHAT? A CREDIT CHECK, I have already paid for the rental, and i have insurance! What in the heck would you need a credit score for? Now, after all this, i called the Budget customer service they too confirmed that there is NO CREDIT CHECKS mentioned anywhere in their policies! Along with NO DEPOSIT with a credit card! But even with that verified by customer service there still is "nothing anyone can do". They all said i will get my refund but who is overriding that to give me the refund? Is it really coming? Doubtful, I am sure "there is nothing they can do" . If there was i wouldn't have paid for 2 Lyft rides, and a $220 rental that i did not get.Now checking my Credit score? What is the cut off? 600?,650?,700? Could it be 750? Actually its whatever they make up at the time. You may wonder "why would they do this"? Well these are all ways to deny a prepaid rental. BECAUSE I pre-paid (lured in with the prepay discount); if its canceled after the pickup time, which this took over an hour, they keep the rental money and you get to pay your 2nd Lyft ride home!On the phone with customer service, after i tell them what happened, she offers a refund of the rental - less $150. I told her that would in NO WAY work, she then said the full amount but could not offer a confirmation. Likely to not have to deal with it, however i would doubt a company as crooked as this is going to give a refund when they didn't even provide a rental car that was paid for. DON'T FALL FOR THEIR SCAM....there was nothing i could do to actually get them to follow through with the rental, i would comply, they would add another ridiculous hoop to jump thru. Go to enterprise, or any other company that does honest business.I have found numerous posts about Budget stealing rental money, I just didn't look prior to paying. The good part of it all is we WERE going to rent their 26 ft. moving truck w/ a car hauler ($1100) in about a week for moving, they would have stolen 4 times as much with that! Now the rental will go to Penske whom i know does not create insane blockades that aren't policy,, or steal money from customers, All other rental car places state what you'll need at pickup right on the receipt, Enterprise states it right under the "balance due" that you need $150 or a credit card when picking up. Avis the same. Stick with the transparent, honest rentals and DONT pre-pay. I have a pic of the receipt with the information on rental policies attached, check it out!
Budget Rent A Car offers discounts if you pre-pay your rental online. I spent an hour reading through their rules and decided it would be ok to prepay, seemed pretty cut and dry. I paid the $220 for the weeks rental. I went in the next day to pick up the vehicle with the credit card receipt and Confirmation/ Rental Policy. The lady at the desk said i needed a deposit, I gave her the paperwork to review as there is not a deposit when purchased with a credit card, only debit card. She didn't care what the receipt and Rental Policy said, she stated "its policy". i argued the obvious but she insisted. So I figured if she was going to treat this like a debit card transaction then i would use one. With the debit card she said they needed the $200 deposit & utility bill. So ok, ill get the utility bill. However, when it was clear that I would do that then all of a sudden I needed a Credit Check to rent a car. Say what? I already paid for the rental and i have insurance, what? I asked what the cut off is...a 600?, 650?, 700?, could it be a 750 to rent one of these prestigious compact cars they have ? She didnt know, in fact its not anywhere to be found. The website says nothing of this practice, the only practice it does mention is that they keep your rental money if I were to cancel after the pick up time. I was there a half hour early, had already paid for the rental, and Budget had other plans. They have engineered a way to increase their cost free revenue They deceive on the website, and if it works and you prepay, there is a good chance they are going to get it without giving you anything. Now I understand that not everyone's circumstances are the same, I didn't have enough room on my card to pay a deposit (even though I shouldn't have had to). I was going to call my husband and use his however again I was denied , card had to be in my name. After being blocked in every scenario possible she said the reservation would be cancelled. Now, after the pick up time, they kept the $220, all of it. Now I have been screwed around with before but never quite like this. I was told I would get my refund by the store clerk and by customer service. An hour later i received the confirmation emails that my money had processed , and then they stole my money. I didn't cancel...they cancelled. I needed to get a car..I am copy and pasting the policy and receipt, feel free to check their website for anything with the above parameters for a rental., its not there. I still would love to know what the credit score cut off is for a crappy, already paid for, rental car with insurance coverage.I imagine its whatever they want it to be.....is the car ready? No? Then they will need a 800 to rent this ride! That's BS. And keep the money? For what, my troubles? Budget cancelled the rental, not me. I want my money back! Extremely rude, soulless people repeating "nothing we can do, its policy" while holding the policy in their hand, completely void of any lingo regarding the above rules made.Anyway the text below is parts of the receipt, policy and Confirmation. <br />
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Your Car<br />
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Ford Edge or similar<br />
Mileage: Unlimited free miles<br />
Automatic Transmission<br />
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Estimated Total: $219.68<br />
Amount Prepaid: USD$219.68<br />
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This "helpful tips" is under the Amount Due on the receipt.<br />
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Helpful Tips<br />
• If you need to cancel 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time, we will refund the full prepaid amount, less a $50.00 USD processing fee. If you do not cancel your reservation within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time, a refund of the full prepaid amount, less a fee of $150.00 USD, will be charged. If you fail to pick up the car, entire prepaid amount will be forfeited.<br />
• Please bring your valid driver's license when you pick up the vehicle. If your driver's license is not issued in the US, then you must present your passport in addition to your driver's license.<br />
• A credit card is required in order to pick up the vehicle. Budget accepts most major credit cards. At the time of the rental, we will request an authorization (hold) on your credit card for the estimated rental charges.<br />
• If you are planning to use a debit card, please read our debit card terms and conditions for more information about the use of these types of cards. When using debit cards at airport locations, proof of a return flight that coincides with the rental must be shown.<br />
• If during your rental you connect or pair your mobile device with the car (for instance via Bluetooth® or USB port), please unpair your device and delete any personal data stored on the car's infotainment system upon returning the car.<br />
• If you have any questions in advance of your vehicle pick up, please call 1-800-218-7992<br />
• Modify/Cancel/Refund This Reservation<br />
• View full terms & conditions<br />
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If you have any questions please call 1-800-218-7992<br />
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Below is the confirmation that they stole it, (thank you for sending me a email showing it was stolen) reeeallly helps.<br />
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Your reservation is cancelled.<br />
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Confirmation: 1-----------------------<br />
Dear , msg.res.resConf.postprepayReservation<br />
<br />
Thank you , this reservation is cancelled. Please consider Budget for any of your future rental car needs.<br />
<br />
Sign In<br />
Your reservation is cancelled.<br />
Confirmation: 1---------------------<br />
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msg.res.resConf.postprepayReservation<br />
<br />
Thank you, this reservation is cancelled. Please consider Budget for any of your future rental car needs.<br />
<br />
Estimated Total (USD) $219.68<br />
Amount Prepaid (USD) 219.68 <br />
Refund Amount (USD) 169.68<br />
Fees & Taxes $38.24<br />
Cancellation Fee $219.68<br />
