Budget - Corp. rates and ½ points!

While looking at my statement yesterday I noticed that for the last two months I have been getting only half points and no on-line booking credits have been given. (I have been renting from Budget for 14 years and never once changed my profile.)
I called up customer service, explained the situation and asked why I was only getting ½ points. The CSR (who was very nice and empathetic) explained I had been getting corporate rates for the last two months. I explained I had not asked for corporate rates, do not remember changing to corporate rates and this had only changed when Cendant re-arranged our point structure and web site. He went on to say it must have been my company that changed the rate to corporate. I related that no, my company asks that we rent from Thrifty.
Bottom line, there is nothing they can do for me on my past 2 months of rentals (4 weeks worth). Has this happened to any one else?

For consulting business, I am required to use the company's corporate travel agency to book flights/hotels/rental car. As such, all my rentals are booked with the corporate discount (as they have a contract with Avis/Budget and Hertz).

I hate the 1/2 points as well, but I do like saving a little $$.

I feel your pain. :(

Im in the same boat as you. My company books my rentals and I have been getting half points for the last few months. I am very disapointed with the recent changes to the program at Budget.

Has this happened to any one else?

It has happened to me even though I pay for my own rentals without any kind of corporate affiliation.

When I called about it I was told by a phone rep that the 5% discount I get for being a Fastbreak member means I am getting a "corporate rate" and therefore only half-points. Between the big points devaluation, the removal of previously-available account activity detail from the web site, and now this half-points nonsense, Budget is acting like a company that is trying to drive away its customers. I joined Hertz gold last month and 4 of my 5 rentals since then have been Hertz. The double-miles promotions have been great, and I haven't paid any more than Budget would have charged for the same car.

While looking at my statement yesterday I noticed that for the last two months I have been getting only half points and no on-line booking credits have been given.

Bottom line, there is nothing they can do for me on my past 2 months of rentals (4 weeks worth). Has this happened to any one else?

I suppose that the only consolation is that when you book online, they will award you double points . . . effectively bringing your point credit up to what it would have been had it been a personal rental - but I hear ya . . . it’s completely a bad policy and Budget is going to lose a lot of their frequent renters this way. Of course, car-rental points are worthless to begin with. I think I have one free day during weekend, non-peak season by now. :(

I've gone back to 1/2 RR credits on Southwest rather than the 15 points a day I was getting in my Perfect Drive account.

This happens every few years: one rental agency develops a great frequent renter program, then slowly neuters it, then kills it off, and then waits to come back with another plan.

This is Budget's 2nd plan in the last 6 years. Alamo killed theirs off a few years back, so it's probably their turn to roll one out next.

I've gone back to 1/2 RR credits on Southwest rather than the 15 points a day I was getting in my Perfect Drive account.

Yeah, I can see where you might find this more appealing considering that any decent merchandise reward (like a Callaway driver) is upwards of 20K points. I’ve actually taken the time to figure it out - dollar for dollar, you would have to rent vehicles at that rate for 1,300 days, spending roughly $40,000 to buy one golf club! :td: Again, car-rental points are really worthless.

Yeah, I can see where you might find this more appealing considering that any decent merchandise reward (like a Callaway driver) is upwards of 20K points. I’ve actually taken the time to figure it out - dollar for dollar, you would have to rent vehicles at that rate for 1,300 days, spending roughly $40,000 to buy one golf club! :td: Again, car-rental points are really worthless.

Yes but the bragging rights of owning a $40,000.00 driver is priceless. I agree, the only point usage I do is for free rentals.(Except for a pair of Bolle’ sunglasses last year. ;) )