Originally Posted by You want to go where?

While I understand that it may be common practice in the industry to pile on extra charges and mislead customers into paying more than they had originally signed up for, I feel like this thread is giving Budget too much of a free pass on this. Just because other rental car companies also employ these practices doesn't mean we shouldn't be critical of Budget (as well as the others) and should have no sympathy for the OP.

It seems pretty clear that the OP is young and inexperienced in car rental matters, and unfortunately learned an expensive lesson. It is worth pointing out to the OP that it is not just Budget so that s/he won't fall for it again, but it is a bit depressing that we are all so inured to these practices that we seem to feel that it is OK for Budget (and the other rental car companies) to engage in these practices.