Punta Gorda Budget is the worst rental car location on EARTH. I am convinced it is run by a criminal. It is definitely staffed with idiots.
Booked a one way Prius rental, drop off at Miami International.
Went to the airport to pick it up in the evening, but received a Ford Mach E with less than 60 miles of charge - I did not like this switch. I tried to change to a different vehicle but was told that "Corporate does not allow gas cars to do one way rentals. Only electric." This was obviously a lie.
I was told "you can charge it at any Tesla charger." So this solved that problem as I was visiting my parents and they have a Tesla. But when I get to their place, guess what? The plugs are completely different!
I call Budget - "What I meant was wherever there are Tesla chargers there are ALSO charger for Ford." Yet strangely that rule does not apply at my parent's home! Then I am told EXACTLY which resort has a charger - I went there, MANY Tesla chargers, no others. I spoke to the concierge who actually walked with me around the resort to try and find the charger (turns out that charger had been removed 2 years previously). Call the criminals at Budget AGAIN - "I didn't know the charger had been removed. You can charge at any WAWA Service Station." I drive to a WAWA near my folks - big beautiful new station no charger of any type - I have video of the manager saying they have no charger but some other WAWAs do have! Definitely not all.
Then I found another resort that actually had a proper charger. I had to download the app, link my credit card, etc. FINALLY the car is charging I am thrilled. However then I notice a white circle drawn on one tire, I look more closely - the circle is around a HUGE chunk missing from the tire - I can see the fibers - Obviously Budget had circled it and then rented it to me to drive across the State!
As the vehicle was finally charging, I called roadside assistance which is actually nothing to do with Budget - that was another hour of frustration as the car 'charged'.
After an hour of trying to get assistance (failure) I check the charging process only to find that the range has increased 6 miles in one hour of charging and cost $11! Therefore, to get 200 miles to Miami would require 33 Hours (at this late hour I only had 14 hours before my flight) of charging and cost $366 in electricity!!!!! REMEMBER, I booked and PAID for a Prius.
So, 3 hours after pickup, I return the vehicle to Budget and ask for credit for the electricity and a full refund - huge argument, at which point some scruffy looking dude comes out and says, "I'm the franchisee, what seems to be the problem?" Then he proceeds to refuse any sort of refund and basically tells me to go F myself. I ask, "Are you SURE this is YOUR franchise?" "Fing right it is!"
The next morning as I drove a fine Enterprise car to Miami the actual franchisee called me to apologize and listen to my story. He was very sympathetic. He said he would zero out the charges and although he couldn't refund me the electricity he said he would send me coupons for free rental the next time I return. He also said he was firing the imposter franchisee. So after this long conversation I felt much better. The coupons never arrived - yet another lie.
THEN I reviewed my AMEX bill and see I have been charged the full amount!
THEN TODAY, more than 3 months later I get a letter stating they are charging me $150.75 for the damaged tire with the white magic marker circle around it!
ABSOLUTELY UNPROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS.
FYI - Enterprise gave me very good service and I made my flight to Bangkok, no thanks to Budget/Avis.
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