Budget : Watch what you sign for!

[The Bodger]

Had a good experience with Budget at MCO last year, total opposite this year! Pre-regestered on Budget website to save time at airport so bypassed desk in main building with about 7 people in queue, good I thought, flight was 5 hours late so any time saved was a bonus.Got to kiosk with no one else there,handed paperwork over, she asked to see driving licence then printed receipt, showed it to me and said the total was [about?] $180! Asked what it was for and she said it was for Budget's full insurance and a full tank of gas.I explained a few times that I had full insurance with the company I rented car from but she said that Budget had 5 levels of cover and I only had the basic two levels of cover.Stood my ground and refused insurance much to her disgust and said I would bring car back full, she ripped up paper and printed off another but still with the tank of gas added, $62.08. Just wanted to get going so signed for this. When I returned car 2 weeks later the receipt I got for the total charges was for $72.59 which I thought was for the fuel but when I looked at it later its for things I don't know what the abbreviations stand for : SSU $28 TBS $0.14 VLF $4.90 CFC $12.50 tax included comes to $45.54 but why is the total $27.05 more and where is the charge for the fuel at? Checked credit card but there is nothing on there yet,just returned car on 23rd. I don't know why they give you such a hard sell at the kiosk as this puts you off using Budget next time.

[SteveandJan]

I have never had any problems with Budget, I always book my car hire via this site and I usually have the silver service. There is never any additional insurances and it's up to me to either pay for a full tank up front which is better if you don't want to worry about filling up before returning, or take it back full.

[Katys Grandad]

It's amazing how the smiling "welcome to ...." turns into scowling and apathy when they get the message that you aren't going to spend money on the 'extras'.

It's not limited to Budget but my own experience is that they are the most pushy. I don't rent from them any more on principle but I know others have had good experiences with them.

[karenk]

It may be just a Budget at MCO thing as we have never had any problems when we have flown into Sanford but have noticed a distinct hard sell creeping in when picking up the car at MCO. Sign of the times perhaps, less bookings more extras need to be sold.

[deborah blair]

I have booked through this site with Budget, now I am getting really worried after reading all the negative comments, I really dont want to be pressured by pushy sales people at the desk. I have never collected from MCO before has always been Sandford, used alamo last time and had no problems but went with budget as it was cheaper but now thinking of cancelling and changing to dollar or alamo ?

[lafifille]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by deborah blair
I have booked through this site with Budget, now I am getting really worried after reading all the negative comments, I really dont want to be pressured by pushy sales people at the desk. I have never collected from MCO before has always been Sandford, used alamo last time and had no problems but went with budget as it was cheaper but now thinking of cancelling and changing to dollar or alamo ?
[/quote]

Well I'm sure you'll find people very unhappy with Dollar and Alamo too. Truth is you might have trouble with any company.
Our experience with Budget at MCO has been fine. We had pre-registered so went straight to the booth. The guy advised us to check on the convertibles he had in stock so that we could pick one which would fit our luggage. No hard sell. Next day we had to change the car because the top wouldn't come off properly, it went very smoothly at the closest depot, and we actually got a nicer car (according to DH). When we gave the car back they lifted the $12.50 charge because of the problem we encountered.
Last time I got an unexpected charge was with National, which owns Alamo now if I'm not mistaken. The charge was eventually lifted, although it took some e-mailing and threatening. But I've had many good experiences with Alamo too, so....

[SteveandJan]

Deborah, I would not worry. We have used Budget on many occasions and always found them to be excellent, good service and a free upgrade once. Never had any problems with paperwork, always book my car through this site on silver service; you either pay for your tank of petrol or take back full with no additional insurances or the gold package including full tank of petrol. I have always been really happy with budget.

[deborah blair]

Thanks for the comments and info which is reassuring

[Lyn]

I try never to be rude but I always firmly say that I have hired cars in the US many times before and I know that the level of car I have hired is more than adequate for my needs and I do not need an upgrade thank you. This usually works although they may still try to tell you you haven't got enough Insurance, do not waver, a firm no thank you should work, then they give up. You just could do without it after a long flight. In January we booked with Alamo paid for a 'full' tank of fuel and as we were driving out of the airport realised that we had barely half a tank so had to turn around a drive back! So thats worth checking.

[normajohnp]

I have used Budget on many occasions and can say in all honesty I have never, never had a problem with them. Yes they do try to "sell you" the extras but I always politely point out that I have the gold cover with uscarhire and I am happy with that and need no extra`s. I do realise that after a long flight people just want to get on there way but it only takes seconds to scan the receipt and check to make sure there is nothing added that you do not request.

One thing I always find amusing is that the whole family try to go to the booking desk together ( more so at MCO )and the children are twittering on and this can only cause more hassle. Why oh why do groups not stand to one side have the main driver go to the desk do there bits and then they go stand to one side with the children and let the other drivers do there bits. Then no matter how tired you are check ALL your paperwork before you leave.