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Beware of Budget Car Rental's Bait & Switch

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!

 

Beyond Her
Community Concierge

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.

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

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