Budget - $25 in Budget Bucks after 2 2-day rentals through 3/31

http://app.budget.com/enrollb/signup.cfm?s=26

Must be a FastBreak member to register (free to become one), can be any car including economy, and doesn't seem bad except the wording is vague as to whether a coupon is allowed or not:

Second bullet's "Complete two fully paid rentals of two consecutive days or more each..."

vs.

Fourth bullet "Rentals made with any of the following discount codes or profile types will not qualify for the promotion: ..." and does not list coupon code as one of the restrictions.

Other than that, it's a good way to earn some leisure gift certs if you are a weekday renter, and a great way for weekend renters if coupon codes are allowed as well.

aka www.budget.com/bucks

I am registered for the Budget Bucks promo. Last rental, I got the Southwest Airlines triple credit and it also counted as one 2-day rental. So, I used all the discount/coupon codes for the WN promo Budget rental and still it counted as one of the necessary two rentals for the $25 Budget Bucks.

Registered for the bucks promotion shortly after I saw this post. Prior to the registration, I had 6 Budget rentals in January. Got notified yesterday that I've earned bucks! Surprised they did it retroactively but not complaining...thought I'd pass that experience along :)

Unfortunately, for whatever reason I see Budget prices have zoomed northward into the stratosphere, and without the pull of the 5x Southwest promotion, not a chance I'm renting again with Budget until the situation improves. Just got a heck of a deal through Priceline for SJC with Hertz, even beat advantage's prices!

"Loyalty can be fleeting, sorta like a giraffe chasing an acorn"

aka www.budget.com/bucks

It looks like it's been extended to 12/31.

Wondering why this isn't attracting more interest? It's not quite the 1-2-FREE promo that everybody always runs in the fall/winter, but it's valid all year.

EDITED: HH 5,000 point promo was listing yesterday as 12/31 expiry. Today it's listing as 4/30. :( My attraction to Budget is therefore quite diminished...the real value here was stacking the two promos to effectively yield better value than the typical National Executive Selection rental and its associated rewards.

Still, this $25 offer may continue to have usefulness later in 2010 when/if Budget goes through another good partner promotion...something like a 3x/4x WN offer...

Well I have been getting statements from Budget and a non-qualifying rental was one for 1.95 days. I can't believe you will be charged for 2 days if you return car 2 hrs into 2nd day but if you return it 1hr early prior to 2 full days it won't count towards this promo.:mad: Just a heads up for all those doing this.:eek:

Well I have been getting statements from Budget and a non-qualifying rental was one for 1.95 days. I can't believe you will be charged for 2 days if you return car 2 hrs into 2nd day but if you return it 1hr early prior to 2 full days it won't count towards this promo.:mad: Just a heads up for all those doing this.:eek:

Wow... :eek: That would be a deal-buster for me, as almost every single one of my rentals this year will be in the 36-hour range. At every agency I've ever rented from before, that is firmly into the 2-day-rental category. Sometimes a 26-27 hour rental turns into 1 day + grace period + an hourly rate. But never anything beyond that.

Did you ever communicate with them about it? Is it pretty clear that <47 hour rentals will not count?

Coupled with your report on HH points not posting, I'm thinking Budget may not become my (temporary) new home after all.

Wow... :eek: That would be a deal-buster for me, as almost every single one of my rentals this year will be in the 36-hour range. At every agency I've ever rented from before, that is firmly into the 2-day-rental category. Sometimes a 26-27 hour rental turns into 1 day + grace period + an hourly rate. But never anything beyond that.

Did you ever communicate with them about it? Is it pretty clear that <47 hour rentals will not count?

Coupled with your report on HH points not posting, I'm thinking Budget may not become my (temporary) new home after all. I called Budget up on the 48 hr deal and that's what a rep told me however reliable that is. As far as HH points stackable and even (Carlson) Goldpoints I have yet to call/email the respective programs about that, but frankly, because of being sick the last couple of weeks, I haven't had time to dig into this. It might be in the original T&C that no bonus pts will be awarded until promos are over.

stop talking to Budget "customer service representatives", and send off a letter to Larry De Shon, Executive Vice President of Operations. Ask him how to explain that you're getting charged for 2 days, but don't get the benefit of promotions that target a 2-day minimum. Over the years when I've chosen to fight certain battles (I pick my fights), going right to the top is the most efficient use of my time and effort and always gets results...these "guys" care; I won't say "customer service agents" don't, but their knowledge and interest vary so much, getting a straight answer that "sticks", impossible. Plus, they don't have a macro view of your request, the "guys" in the corporate office do, and very few take the time and effort to communicate their words there... S

Add'l note... oddly (?) I've had no problems with Budget in over 6 months, everything has posted timely, and I think I've already gotten 4 or 5 of those $25 awards, although given the rental car industry behavior, I have no loyalty; Budget rates are currently insane, so I've switched to Hertz off airport locations for great deals until normalcy returns (if ever)...

I called Budget up on the 48 hr deal and that's what a rep told me however reliable that is. As far as HH points stackable and even (Carlson) Goldpoints I have yet to call/email the respective programs about that, but frankly, because of being sick the last couple of weeks, I haven't had time to dig into this. It might be in the original T&C that no bonus pts will be awarded until promos are over.

Well I have been getting statements from Budget and a non-qualifying rental was one for 1.95 days. I can't believe you will be charged for 2 days if you return car 2 hrs into 2nd day but if you return it 1hr early prior to 2 full days it won't count towards this promo.:mad: Just a heads up for all those doing this.:eek:

I noticed that too. I was charged for a two day rental but had credit for 1.79 days so nothing toward the promo.

Well, bummer. :(

At this point, I've canceled my 6 planned Budget rentals and will remain with National. It truly sounds like I'd simply be setting myself up for stress and wasted time arguing for points/coupons after the fact - time that would probably end up being worth more than the coupons anyway.

My rentals are always evening pickup, morning dropoff, around 36 hours and no way to stretch 'em to 48.

Thank you guys for sharing your experiences here. I have a feeling they've saved me some future hassle. :)

I finally rcvd email saying I'll get a 25$ Budget Bucs voucher in the mail after successfully renting twice. When I returned my 2nd rental early I explained the situation and the agent just changed the hrs so as it made it returned in 48 hrs. I rent from them a lot so no big deal to them w/few keystrokes on their computer. Now about getting those 5K HH/goldpoints bonuses...

My summary showed up with 1.93 days - I am heading back to Hertz. :td:

I finally rcvd email saying I'll get a 25$ Budget Bucs voucher in the mail after successfully renting twice. When I returned my 2nd rental early I explained the situation and the agent just changed the hrs so as it made it returned in 48 hrs. I rent from them a lot so no big deal to them w/few keystrokes on their computer. Now about getting those 5K HH/goldpoints bonuses...

Yeah, but it sounds like you had to talk to someone with a computer. That's a deal-breaker for me. When I return at National, there's a guy with a handheld device there. He can't do much of anything with that device...in fact, I'm diligent in telling him I bought gas because if he miskeys it he can't fix it. I then have to invest time to get it fixed by someone else.

I guess I don't want to be in this situation where every time I rental a 1.5 day rental I have to ask someone to fix the return time, knowing that somewhere I'm bound to run into (a) a handheld device guy that can't, (b) a line to talk to the counter agent, or (c) a counter agent who won't change my rental because he/she thinks I'm trying to do something unusual, which I kind of am...

I wonder if Budget reads these posts. Even more, I wonder if they realize that their promo is getting more bad will than good will. I wonder if they even care.

The more I think about this, I am wondering whether to write my state's attorney general about this. If the T&C says 2 days and I can show him my receipts where I am charged for 2 days even if I keep it for less. What grounds does Budget have for denying me my bonus bucks? It's not clearly defined in the promo as 2-24hr periods in order to qualify. Really they get their 2 days worth of $ even if I return iit after 26 hrs so what's the difference? (plus it's back in their fleet for potential rental faster).To me it seems misleading and if everyone in their respective state told their AG about this, it might get Budget to loosen up on this.

Totally agree with you. If you want to expend the effort go for it, although I'd also encourage you to send off a letter/email/fax to Budget corporate office (NOT Budget customer service). Pick the president or any of the high corporate officers...but definitely agree, if we're getting charged for 2 days, that should be the end of the story.

I don't know...it sounds like a noble idea and all but travel companies, and rental car agencies in particular, get away with so many unethical practices that if I had the ear of an attorney general I think this promotion would be far, far down on the list.

I'd be focused more on hotel resort fees or, in the case of rental cars, gas scams and other hidden charges.

But yeah, if I had a whole day with an attorney general, I'd manage to get this in too. :)

Totally agree with you. If you want to expend the effort go for it, although I'd also encourage you to send off a letter/email/fax to Budget corporate office (NOT Budget customer service). Pick the president or any of the high corporate officers...but definitely agree, if we're getting charged for 2 days, that should be the end of the story.

I agree that you will get further with the top brass than with customer service. You might mention that this program has generated more badwill than goodwill. That might (or might not) get their attention.

On April 4, I returned my car after 23 hours and 14 minutes on a two day rental. My Budget Bucks Rental Statement‏ showed a rental period of 1.95 days and no qualifying days for the rental. I complained to Budget by email and they did provide credit for the rental for the Budget Bucks Promotion. Regardless, Budget is not a company I would rely on to fulfill any promotional promises.

As I spoke with an agent trying to tace back HH 5000 pts he told me that budget bucks is not compatible with point/mileage earning... I have no clue if this is true and probably won't deal with budget any time soon.

i've received both, consistently. miles+bucks

As I spoke with an agent trying to tace back HH 5000 pts he told me that budget bucks is not compatible with point/mileage earning... I have no clue if this is true and probably won't deal with budget any time soon.

I noticed that too. I was charged for a two day rental but had credit for 1.79 days so nothing toward the promo. I paid for 2 days, used 1.95 and got the promo. Huh?