Lowest bidder, European car rental

Budget sucks! by Flemming Funch (courtesy Doc Searls)

I had quite a nightmare experience with the car we rented from Budget Rent-a-car 3 months ago when we first came to France. And it is no way finished, as it seems they succeeded in ripping me off of $3300 on top of the full rental and insurance we paid, where really it should have been them who ought to have reimbursed me for our extra trouble and expenses.

I think I found the very first thing that went wrong.

From the States I ordered a car for 3 weeks in Toulouse, Budget had the cheapest rate.

Now he knows. And it sounds like he'll be going back to another rental agency

I have rented a lot of cars, both in the U.S. and various European countries, and I've usually felt really safe and comfortable about the transactions. Minor problems like a broken taillight were usually accepted with a smile and a "Thank you for your business!" But then again, I haven't ever used Budget before. Avis has always been nice to me.

Written by Andrew Ittner in misc on Mon 17 November 2003. Tags: commentary