Beware of Budget Car Rental's Bait & Switch

[PauleH993947]

After searching this community, I see that Budget Car Rental has several complaints. Let me just recount ours. After booking and paying for a week's rental through the AARP emailed travel offer, I received an email confirmation of a hybrid Prius model sedan to be picked up from a nearby airport terminal. Thought all was in order.  

My call to the office 3 hours prior to pickup revealed that Budget did not have a Prius anywhere in the area. Their replacement was a Chrysler Pacifica gas model -- not what anyone would call a "comparable car." Furthermore, each subsequent emailed confirmation was markedly higher in price than the original agreement. I cancelled the order and took my own car, which is exactly what I had wanted to avoid.

My contention is that this is a classic bait-and-switch tactic, but Budget claims it isn't (?). They offered me three days of coupons, but how is this being held accountable? They blatantly did not honor a written contract.

I'm also upset that AARP doesn't seem to be able to help, although Budget is a regular advertiser, and it was an AARP email that I clicked through to have this horrible experience. I thought AARP was watching out for us?

 Lastly, I find it disturbing that anyone I've told about this experience has had a similar rental car dispute with Budget or another agency. Where are the class action suits? It's like the old Seinfeld episode: "You know how to take a reservation, but you don't know how to KEEP a reservation." Standard business practice for these pirates, evidently.

I've filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Texas Attorney General's office. Please join me!

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi PauleH993947. We take complaints about our benefit providers seriously. We're listening and would like a chance to help. Please contact us by chat text or phone, so we may get some additional information about your car rental experience. Visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA for our contact information. - Brandon C.

[BethM708862]

Good luck! Let us know what happens. I feel like we have zero consumer protections in this country.