Budget - How to see if a location is "participating"

The BCD I use (and am eligible for) includes limitations on damages in the event of an accident. Specifically, Budget can only collect up to $5,000 and waives loss of use, administrative, dimunition of value and other fees.

The car was rented using the BCD and there was an accident. The franchise operator is now trying to collect the various fees (damage wasn't $5K) which total around $1K. They say they aren't participating with this BCD. Of course, there is no information anywhere on the rental agreement stating they don't participate. Forgetting the unfair trade practice issues, is there a way to see what locations are "participating" with BCD's?

It is almost impossible to figure out in advance which franchise participates in a particular promotion. There is nothing on the reservation website, calling Budget's 800 number for such information is humorous and totally unreliable, and even calling the franchise location itself is no guarantee unless you get something in writing in advance which of course is nuts and not practical. There has been a long history of concern on this subject as evidenced by past posts on flyertalk in connection with big bonus miles associated with particular coupons and whether a particular establishment is "participating". I have another recent post here in which I was advised (after the fact) that a non-airport franchise location is no longer giving out ANY miles, not even the base miles for a rental. When I contacted the franchise owners, they had NO knowledge of the change, and only found out after they contacted the budget district manager.

It is absurb. No advance notice in many cases, as in yours, that a particular location does not participate, and even when a promotion says "participating locations only" there is no practical and easy way to find out which ones that includes.

Budget customer service types when they do respond, are inconsistent and in more cases than not, provide boilerplate responses.

So to answer your question, no. The effort you'd have to expend to properly protect yourself and document the representation that they are participating, in advance of your rental, would be reasonably ridiculous. So either rent from someone else or take your chances and be prepared for an argument.

These folks have totally lost touch with customer service, especially when it comes to frequent renters. Go figure, in this economy.




The BCD I use (and am eligible for) includes
limitations on damages in the event of an accident. Specifically, Budget can only collect up to $5,000 and waives loss of use, administrative, dimunition of value and other fees.

The car was rented using the BCD and there was an accident. The franchise operator is now trying to collect the various fees (damage wasn't $5K) which total around $1K. They say they aren't participating with this BCD. Of course, there is no information anywhere on the rental agreement stating they don't participate. Forgetting the unfair trade practice issues, is there a way to see what locations are "participating" with BCD's?

As a follow up, after raising complaints through the system, the franchisee's colllection agency ultimately said "never mind," we understand you used a BCD number in connection with the rental. Of course, they knew that up front and immediately responded with this isn't a participating location. I suspect Budget must have put pressure on them to waive their fees.