I rent cars quite frequently, therefore, I get really good rates on rentals. However, I stumbled across something last night that I had never seen before, and had to nearly throw a fit to get changed.
Yesterday, at 8am, I rented a '07 Charger (fully loaded with leather, no less), to make a quick 300 mile trip. Sure, I could have taken the Silverado, but I was in a mood to drive somethig a little different. The daily rate that I was quoted was $29. 10 cents a mile to drive someone else's car? Sure!
I decided to go ahead and return the car last night, so I wouldn't have to deal with it today.
Filled it with gas and returned it. While walking back to my truck, I glanced at the receipt. Bottom line was that I had been charged $55.00 for the rental. Whoops. I don't think so.
Walked back in and informed the agent that I had been overcharged by quite a bit. The agent reviewed the paperwork and told me that I hadn't, that I had been charged an HOURLY rate for 13 hours, instead of a DAILY rate. Since I had returned the car after only 13 hours, it wasn't considered a day.
Again, I don't think so. After the agent told me that there was nothing he could do about it, I grabbed my cell phone and asked for Budget's Customer Service phone number, while telling him how many times a year that I rent cars from them. At that point, he called someone else over to see what could be done.
After 2 minutes, the two of them were able to "correct" my rate, and charge me the $29 that I had been originally quoted.
As it was pointed out to me, on the rental contract, it clearly stated that my $29 rate was for a minimum of "1 day". I understood that. However, it never occurred to me that 13 hours wouldn't be considered as also being "1 day".
The good part? I still got 22.5 miles to the gallon, even with a hemi under the hood of that bad boy. That's about what I would have gotten with my Silverado as well, so that was a wash.
Yesterday, at 8am, I rented a '07 Charger (fully loaded with leather, no less), to make a quick 300 mile trip. Sure, I could have taken the Silverado, but I was in a mood to drive somethig a little different. The daily rate that I was quoted was $29. 10 cents a mile to drive someone else's car? Sure!
I decided to go ahead and return the car last night, so I wouldn't have to deal with it today.
Filled it with gas and returned it. While walking back to my truck, I glanced at the receipt. Bottom line was that I had been charged $55.00 for the rental. Whoops. I don't think so.
Walked back in and informed the agent that I had been overcharged by quite a bit. The agent reviewed the paperwork and told me that I hadn't, that I had been charged an HOURLY rate for 13 hours, instead of a DAILY rate. Since I had returned the car after only 13 hours, it wasn't considered a day.
Again, I don't think so. After the agent told me that there was nothing he could do about it, I grabbed my cell phone and asked for Budget's Customer Service phone number, while telling him how many times a year that I rent cars from them. At that point, he called someone else over to see what could be done.
After 2 minutes, the two of them were able to "correct" my rate, and charge me the $29 that I had been originally quoted.
As it was pointed out to me, on the rental contract, it clearly stated that my $29 rate was for a minimum of "1 day". I understood that. However, it never occurred to me that 13 hours wouldn't be considered as also being "1 day".
The good part? I still got 22.5 miles to the gallon, even with a hemi under the hood of that bad boy. That's about what I would have gotten with my Silverado as well, so that was a wash.
