And I thought my biggest problem was the $10 late fee... Is there a smiley for "Eating.My.Words!"? Maybe this works: ^
I feel that the following is really buried, discoverable only if you click on the link on the last rental page, "You're done! Your car is rented!"
The following terms and conditions apply for your rental:
additional fees & credit holds:
• To extend a rental from your originally scheduled return time, you must contact a Budget reservation agent at 800-824-6287. A service fee of $10 will apply and your original per-day rental rate may change. If within 7 hours of your originally scheduled return time you don't call to extend your rental, a $10/day late fee will apply.
• Your total rental rate is calculated based on the information provided at time of reservation.
• Vehicles are rented on a daily (24-hour) basis. There is a 29-minute grace period for returns. After 30 minutes late, a 3/4-day late charge + $.01 + taxes apply. After 90 minutes late, full-day late charges + taxes apply. There is no grace period for rental fees, surcharges and optional equipment or protections charges, so full-day late charges will apply for these items.
• If your plans change and you no longer require the rental, you must cancel this reservation before the scheduled pick up time or you will be charged a $75 US fee ($50 US for a pre-paid rental).
I was doing a series of two-day 2-day/5,000 SkyMiles rentals, keeping the same car, to capitalize on the promo. So the one day I was late returning on one rental, I was a no-show for the following one. But I "picked up" on a new rez the next day. Looks like I may be out the $75 no-show fee, as well. (Though, in the event, nothing was said.) I expect to see it on my Visa statement...
We should read the fine print, but this is a big change. I think there should be a highlighted warning. Until or unless it is, in the meantime, Budget is going to make a ton of money on this.
...which is a long way of saying, "It was in the contract, Bozo!"
^