I have no problem with it if you elect the choice when you rent - "I'm going to drive less than 75 miles, so I'd like the $9.50 charge in lieu of filling up the tank, please." That's fine - you can buy a whole tank of gas, or refill, or pay a flat fee - I have no problem with giving folks a choice.

What REALLY burns me is that a few weekends ago I rented from one location that does not charge the fee, returning to another location in town that apparently does charge the fee - which I had never heard of before. The guy who checks your car in is not allowed to fix the charge (and doesn't even mention it - you have to be savvy enough to go through your receipt and catch it), then you have to go inside, stand in line, and waste half an hour while they "fix" this charge. It seems to me Budget assumes that some people, perhaps even most, either (1) will not notice the charge, or (2) will not be willing to put up with the headache of going inside, standing in line, etc., or calling, waiting through the queue, faxing receipts, etc. (I daresay that most people who rent cars have time that is worth more than $9.50 per half-hour, and it's just not worth their time over 9 or 10 bucks).

I'm not renting from Budget anymore because of this - I'd rather pay more to Hertz or another agency, which is at least honest in their dealings with customers.