Budget gas scam
 

I rented last week from Budget-had a free day coupon from their dropping Perfect Drive.I returned the car full of gas-attendant noted it and I left.A few days later a fuel charge showed up on my credit card statement.After 30 minutes on hold,the customer care person told me I was being charged $5.49 per gallon.Fortunately I had the receipt from the filllup close to the airport.The fee was almost 40.00 for less than 7 gallons of gas.

This cannot be an accident-Budget is the most crooked company I have dealt with.I left them long ago for Hertz,but returned for the free day.What a mistake-they have eventually credited my account after proved I put gas in the car.

I have discarded the other free coupons I have and will never consider Budget again.
Makes you wonder how much money they make from this scheme-my guess is that most of their customers to do not check once the car has been returned.

I have seen this mentioned in another thread, so I was aware of it. Yesterday morning, upon returing a Hertz car to SFO, I looked over the printout and found a charge for fuel. The slip stated "7/8 tank". I immediately questioned this, as I had just filled the car. The second attendant replied that "since I had traveled so few miles, and many people don't refill, hoping that it won't be noticed, they automatically add the charge for low-miles returns". The first clerk never asked if I had refilled the tank, just assumed that I hadn't, although the gauge registered higher than full. Looks like a new revenue enhancing scam being implimented by several companies.

That is the best time to question it, IMO. This happened to me and when I questioned the attendent he changed it right away. I make sure I have a reciept from the last fill up.

I just picked up a Budget car from downtown San Fran yesterday. I'll be returning one-way to Reno on Monday: $31.49++ a day AAA rate vs. $60 a day with everyone else. I've accepted Fuel Purchase Option, so I'm covered ;) !

KOA Hertz screwed me on fuel too.
 

I returned my car to Hertz at KOA airport. The attendant, Charlie, told me all the printers were down so he could not print me a receipt. Noting was mentioned about the fuel gauge. Upon receiving the receipt, I noticed a charge for fuel service. I called Hertz and the agent reversed the charge immediately.
KOA Hertz is crooked, be aware. This same agent, Charlie, screwed me when I went to pick up the car the night before.

Just rented from Thrifty and the car started out with 3/4 tank. I immediately called and made sure it was noted in the record. Always need to be paying attention.

Ya know, I see horror stories like this for EVERY company. Hertz, Avis, budget, enterprise, payless, ritz, national, alamo, thrifty, dollar.

the point is, lets take my location (avis) for example. The rover agents will roughly check in 98% of our total check ins on any given day, equating to 600-800 cars in an 8 hour period. Two rovers, 800 cars....thats 50 cars per hour per agent. At 45 seconds per transaction (flying), stuff gets missed. Although Budget is a Cendant Company along with avis, I must say that I am not in the habit of justifying for companies other than avis. But on this note, all it takes is one finger slip to charge someone gas even though its full.

THATS WHY YOU DONT WALK AWAY WITHOUT A RECIEPT. and if you do, get names, times, etc etc.

Ladies and Gents, at times, its not about the mistakes that are made.....it happens. For every mistake my agents have done, I can quote 7 mistakes made by the renter themselves.

its about how the company handles the mistakes. Do they put you though abnormal grief. do they tell you no outright.

Avis managers have tremendous latitude to correct mistakes. But if we can tell its totally your fault, like booked it for the wrong month (internet booking) or you went offroading and puncthred the oil pan and tried to say we rented you a car with no oil, we wont necessarily give it to you "your way."

At todays fuel prices, you should NEVER walk away without knowing if you were charged. And unlike my bretheren in the industry, I firmly believe that there are times when GSO is NOT an option.

It happened to me at LGB. There was some sign at the check-in desk about a $6.00 charge for not refuelling or something. When I returned the car, I was charged the $6.00. When I questioned the charge, he said something about "Didn't you see the sign?". I told him I refuelled. He then adjusted the charge. The whole thing felt slimy.

I've heard that Budget at LAX will charge you the $6.00 fee unless you can show them your gas receipt. I'm staying away from Budget from now on.

In the early 1990s I had to travel to Montana several times on business. Hertz of Bozeman, MT, had a policy of charging EVERYONE 1 gallon of refueling s/c because they said that one must have used some gas on the way from the gas station :td: . The only way out of it was to buy the FPO ( whole tank up-front.)

Rented with Budget twice in Sept - both one-way between Ft.Lauderdale in town location and MIA. There is no sign posted in the in town office which is an independently owned Budget licensee. MIA has a sign of the $6.00 surcharge at the airport counter. However the surcharge now is $9.50 and it would automatically show up on the receipt but get adjusted out at the bottom. We filled up the tank on both occasions (about 1.5 gallon each time for a 35 miles drive). The in-town location does not require to see the receipt and would adjust the surcharge out as long as the gauge reads full, according to the lady at the counter.

On another note, when we rented from Ft.Lauderdale in-town office on Sept 1
, the gas tank was only 1/4 due to power outage the day before, they were not able to refill cars returned not full. The same lady hand-written the gauge reading from a computer print out of 8/8 to 1/4 - we dont understand why it could not be noted in computer as only 1/4 - and that later gave us some trouble when we returned it at MIA the following day. The rover agent marked the tank was 1/4 on return, and agreed with us the gas was refilled (started with 1/4 and returned with 1/4, and a receipt from a gas station less than 1/2 mile away from Budget MIA location, with only 35 miles driven). But he could not adjust it because the computer said it was 8/8 out. We had to go to the counter and took the counter agent 2 tries to take out the fuel charge (which was a lot higher than $6.00 btw) - she eventually gave us a receipt showing the car was out 0/8 !!! but no fuel was charged - and she explained it was the only way she could take out the fuel charge. It was on Sept 1. I have checked my credit card statement periodically, and hope nothing would show up.

When the computers are up but they haven't filled up the tank yet, rental agents enter the low amt. of starting fuel. If you return it full, most co.s pay U a refueling fee which is > the price U paid but often < what they would charge U for the reverse.

The best defense is a good offense
 

I always try to fill up about 50 miles before returning the car, so that the gauge will still show "full".

That is insurance for the problems that might otherwise occasionally arise as discussed by the OP.

Just to clarify-I am the OP-I filled the car about 3 miles from the airport,the agent checked it in as full and I had the receipt where it was noted as full.Budget still charged for fuel several days after the rental--there is where I find it hard to believe that Budget is not purposely charging for fuel and hoping that customers do not follow up on their credit card statements.

I also emailed Budget and Cendant when this occurred to let them know about this situation,as of today I have had no response.

I realize that Budget could not care less that they have lost a customer,but as I am on the road at least 2/3 of the year,I will continue to use Hertz,as I have never encountered a deception problem there.

My response to that claim would be: Well, you are probably right that some gas must have been used on the way from the gas station. However, this also means the car I rented must not have been completely full since some gas must have been used on the way from wherever you filled the tank before it got onto the lot where it sat when I picked up. Since the fuel gauge read full when it left your lot at pickup and also reads full now upon return, unless you can prove I have returned the car with less gas than it had when I rented some other ways, your refueling charge would be considered fraudulent!

LAX

SMF pre-warned about $9.50 fee
 

I rented thru Hotwire this week and there was a sign at SMF and a verbal explanation given that if I was traveling less than 75mi I should bring my receipt for fuel or I'd be charged $9.50. Didn't mind, as long as I was given the info, although I sympathize with those who weren't told.

Spot on LAX !

Tip: (especially if you're in one of these 'notorious' locations) -- on pickup, stop at the first pump you see and top off .. if it's more than a reasonable fraction of a gallon, you'll enjoy having that receipt in hand when they try to stick you on the return ... ^

(Best Defense school of Negotiating) :D
/.

Gas-Scam.com
 

Gas-Scam,

Yes, I agree, some airport locations are a gas-rip-off and if you don't have a receipt from closest station, you won't have a leg to stand on when you learn of the additional rental charge that they will try to slip in on you. BEWARE.

Good luck, Mike

I read this thread prior to my most recent Budget rental, showed the gas receipt, the agent was too busy (and I was in too much of a hurry) to print me a rental receipt at the time.

The $9.50 STILL showed up. I called, they promised to reverse it. No sign that it's been reversed yet.
I'm giving it another few days, then filing a formal dispute with my credit card company. Perhaps if enough people complain, they will end this "policy" of attempting to swindle an extra $10 per rental.

Cendant and Budget can rot. I make one attempt a year to hope they've changed, when they throw me a lowball price too good not to ignore, but at this point, I've decided I will pay ANY premium to book with another company for hotel/car. Never again, not one cent. Life's too short to have to be :mad: at these companies and fighting them to get MY money back.

The DUB Budget routinely charges a 50 euro gas deposit upfront, and if you return the car full this fee is supposed to be refunded...return less than full, and they are supposed to refund the difference. Every time I've had to battle to get my 50 euros back:( Usually I'm taking an early morning flight back to the US, so it's dropped off before they open and I can't discuss it at the time.

Sadly, they are generally much cheaper than their competitors, so even if I lose 50 euros I'm still saving money.

Now I'm so happy that I rented from Hertz in Dublin this March. Pickup in town, dropoff at airport 10 days later.
Too bad their office wasn't downtown-- I had to pay a E15 taxi fare from the Westin :( !

Had to go inside to get the charge removed - ridiculous
 

So much for being a loyal FASTBREAK Budget renter for years - I have had it! Since they started this gas charge scam, its not been much of a hassle for me because I have only rented a few times, and it was removed outside when I returned the car. However, yesterday, I returned a car to MIA - showed the guy my receipt and was told I had to go inside to have the charge removed. Of course, the place is full of Thanksgiving travelers and the lines were so long people actually had to sit and wait until their names were called. I got in the "return" line and after standing there for about 15 minutes walked up and inquired if there really is a 'return' line or am I just wasting my time. Another 10 minutes later he finally lets me come up. This is just ridiculous. I will never rent with Budget again. I ask him what's the point of being a Fastbreak member if you now have to deal with this nonsense every time you rent a car.

Sorry ezmonee, that doesn't cut it.

It's the rental firm's JOB to get it right. What you're saying is 'we shortstaff our locations, and any mistakes that result are the customer's resposibility.'

It don't work that way.

I wish I had seen this thread before my rental at SEA last week. I got the rental through priceline, and my return to SEA was at 5:00 a.m. There were no attendants on duty, so I noted fuel level, mileage, time, and that I had purchased fuel. I even provided a receipt.

Yesterday (4 days after the return), I received a receipt from Budget with a charge for $9.44, even though "Fuel In" on the receipt shows "8/8." There's a handwritten note on the receipt:

The 9.44 is the cost for gas through hot wire

I'm not sure what "hot wire" has to do with it. I consider charging a customer for something (gas) that the customer did not consume (I replaced what I used) fraudulent, and I told Budget so in an email. If they do not reverse the charge, I will contest it with American Express.

This is the second consecutive bad experience I have had with Budget (a car picked up in DEN last month only had 1/3 tank of gas), and I will do all I can to avoid them in the future.

Just returned a car to avis--they now charge 14.50 as their gas retainer. Rented again today, and will put about 120 miles on it--let's see what they come up with for this one (might balance out the 20 miles from yesterday)

I just got caught in the $9.50 scam at DCA. They automatically charge the $9.50 for any rental under 75 miles because the "computers are programed that way" and told me to go inside. When I went to the Fastbreak booth, they initally told me I had to go downstairs to the counter. I then said I was Fastbreak and they said "Oh, we can do it here".

It is a scam being done by the corporation to skim money from customers who do not have time to contest it.

I have just made the decsion to give all the business to Hertz for any low mileage rental despite the cost.

LAX scam continues
 

Budget LAX - rented last night, drove 19 miles (I always set the trip odometer) and returned just a short while ago.

I ask (each time) about the 75 mile rule for gas at the Fast break checkout - they say we can remove it at return in the lot as opposed to going inside.

So today I return after putting $3 in 2 miles from LAX. I show the receipt before he even scans my car for return. He says I need to go inside. I said, last time they did it outside (First I got the 9.50 then a 2nd receipt was printed without it). and he tried but said I can't do it. I go inside, they take it off and told me they've been told that they can't do it outside anymore. I don't believe them because they would have told me that outside.

I need to start carrying a copy of the one that they took off outside to shove in their face when they say that they can't.

Its just a scam to see who will go inside. Most won't as they are in too much of a hurry. Its just a way to gouge another customer.

Another time I called our corp rep at budget who took it off. I'm calling her again to lodge a complaint. Then calling travel at work to lodge another complaint then I will see if I can get everyone who travels in my office to make a complaint with out travel office. We are a big enough company that maybe we can negotiate this charge off our contract.

Budget $ucks, I never use them for personal travel.

So, I'm confused. Is this happening at all Budget locations nationwide or just some of them. I was just about to book with Budget at PBI in March and now I am having second thoughts based on this thread. I will be traveling with my wife and 18 month old and I am already trying to strategize the logistics.

When I drop the car, I want to leave and not make my wife and child wait long times for any misc fuel charge to be reversed.

Thanks for any info.

I believe it is select locations based on my experiences (we have to use budget for domestic rentals at work)

my last stop prior to this one, didn't do that, the lady said "oh we don't do that here"

other places have said the same things while others try to gouge you for every last 9.50's worth but LAX is real bad

Just had this experience today at BWI. Had to rent from Budget (last minute reservation and Hertz and Avis were sold out) for business. Got to the airport yesterday, and yes I hate the new central facility, and the nice clerk offered me a minivan for my mid-size. I politely declined. :rolleyes: Finally found a mid-sized car, but then it took them another 10 minutes to bring it around. Upon returning the car this morning, the $9.50 automatic charge showed up, even though he checked it in as full. Of course, he couldn't correct it there, so I had to go inside. What a hassle. All 3 rentals with Budget have been a pain for me. Luckily, my new company uses Hertz, so I shouldn't have to deal with them again!

I rent at LAX almost twice a month. I 've never had any problems with them. I've never driven less than 75 miles though. I wouldn't stand in line at a major location like LAX. Whenever the bill is wrong, and it usually is whenever I use a discount coupon, I simply call them from home the next day. I have never had a problem getting the credit back.

its a test market in select cities nationwide. thus far at some locations its proven to be extremely well liked, others hated. I dont think it will ever roll out nationwide, but it will be kept in specific markets.

What the heck is there to like about it at all, let alone "extremely well" :o ?

well thats the issue for those of us who come in for a day and drive < 75 miles, they put the fee on. If you drive > 75 miles then of course you would never have a problem.

Many businesses perfer it for their frequent in and out renters. The price is fixed and part of a single expense, instead of two. Whether your company warms to the idea or not is still up in the air, but some companies like knowing exactly what each rental will cost them well in advance for budgetary reasons and also less hassle of two reciepts.

Some hate it cause they feel they arent getting the best deal. Its all about how your company mindset is.

Believe it or not, the opportunity for the $9.50 charge is the reason I switched my business from Avis to Budget. I rent every week, and always drive about 45 miles. I was refueling at a cost of about $5.00 each time.

The problem is, the flight schedule is such that my weekly meeting usually ends 1 hour 15 min or so before the flight. Stopping at the gas station for $5 worth of gas often made me lose enough time to possibly miss the flight. I called Avis and asked if I could work out a deal, but this was before they had the $14.50 charge, and they turned me down. The only option with Avis was to prepay for an entire tank ($55-$70) or to pay about $7/gallon at their ridiculous mpg rate (in which most vehicles get about 10 mpg) for a cost of about $30.

The $9.50 charge is a great convenience for me. I know the cost upfront, don't have to fill up the car, don't have an extra receipt to mess with when I fill out my reimbursement, and the extra $4.50 spent on it is well worth my time to not stop to fill up. I could not really justify the $30++ charges.

I've been happy with Budget as their pricing is better than Avis, and I seem to get the same cars - I think Budget and Avis share cars at the location I frequent.

My only complaint is that even though I am a Fastbreak member, they don't ever have the contract printed out when I get there - it is still a 5 -10 minute wait and waste of time. This alone may make me go back to Avis, since they now have a $14.50 refueling option. Also, Budget seems to have no perks for frequent renters (at least none I can figure out), but I would guess that is due to their lower prices.

Thank U, CL & Ezmonee! U have answered my ?? & provided me with a perspective which I didn't expect.

I think a very, very small % of people will actually benefit from this as you pointed out, instead of paying $7/gal x 5 gallons they might just pay the smaller charge...

but any rental company that charges customers for forgetting to get a receipt is bascially inferring the customer is lying, and the customers won't be very happy with that.

MANY times as soon as I've driven off a rental lot I've watched the car go from full to 7/8ths, meaning the renter before me didn't fill up, OR worse yet the renter before me was charged the fuel fee but the agency didn't fill it up.

Yes, avis and budget share fleets. They are the same company. Avis and budget are test marketing the fee to see where it is received well. Its still a DM option and some are dead set against it because of fear of complaints. When other locations with great business travel seem to have a greater sense of empowerment from it. Their customers get out faster, have less complaints, and are friendlier.

One reason is "IF THE CAR ISNT FULL TO BEGIN WITH, YOUR PRICE IS STILL THE SAME".

so the business people drive and forget. no worries.

Valid point, but with the fixed fee, you wouldnt have to waste time worrying about it. no matter if the gas is 7/8th or 3/8 or full. Your billed flat rate for miles to a point.

So if time is an issue, this will be a godsend.

And right now, the last market study paperwork ive seen has shown the following.

45% Avis Customers Approve and will use
34% Do not aprove and will never use
the remaining did not answer survey or were indifferent.

budget
38% approve
40% do not approve and will never use
remaining did not answer or were indifferent.

The difference between the brands reflects Avis=Business, Budget=leisure.

Business travelers find that more of a conveinence than leisure travelers.

The numbers vary by location.