This caught me out last week in Dublin. I didn't even realise until I got to the (wrong) counter. No second driver, loads of paperwork as the Budget IT system is not compatible with Avis so my Preferred account was useless. The agent charged (not held, actually charged) 107 Euro to my CC for fuel, which was refunded on my return with a full tank. This was not part payment, not returning the car full would cost 107 Euro. Fortunately, exhange rate movements meant I made 71p on the refund. I was then sent to stand in the snow waiting for a bus transfer to the car park 10 minutes drive away.

Worse of all was the car. A 3 year old Astra with 70,000 km and more damage than the Titanic. The damage check sheet looked like someone had taken a hammer to the car. I commented on this to the agent and suggested that it was impossible to list all the damage on a small diagram and he just shrugged and said "what do you expect from a rental car".

Once bitten, twice shy but if that is the Budget standard, all I can say is they got the name of the company spot on.