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February 2024 by Mohammed Bin Hamsa
Poor customer service. Returned the car and wanted to get a different one. They said they didn’t have any even though there was a lot of options online. Very weird and rude.
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February 2024 by Phoenicia Lewis
I prepaid to pick up a car in NE DC but the location did not have a car. They told me to call customer service, which I did. The rep called around and found 2 locations with cars available. Only the farther location had cars. I called and was told to modify the reservation. I tried and the website would not allow me to because it was after the time I was supposed to pick up a car. She told me to come in and she would do it. I had to uber across town to get there before they closed and also because I needed to drive 4 hrs and was already hours behind when I planned to leave. When I arrived at the Connecticut ave location the woman helped me, gave me the keys and told me where to get a car. I was in a rush so I checked the exterior for scratches and got in the car and headed out. As I was driving to get back across town around 3 on a friday I realized the car smelled like weed, it was not subtle. The smell was making me nauseous but I was in such a rush I did not have time to turn around. On my way to up north I realized I was not given an ezpass, which I assumed was required because that has been my experience with rentals. So I called customer service, the rep told me to go to the nearest Budget and get one, I told the young woman I was on I-95 and did not know where a budget was, so she researched for me and all of the locations in the area were closed. She said I could do it in the morning when they opened. I had plans all of Saturday so I told her I would do it on my way back to DC sunday.I stopped on sunday on my way back to DC. The man at the location said I did not need the ezpass since I prepaid for tolls. I told him about the smell of the car he took all of the information and said I would be refunded some of the cost. I was not. After I returned the car I received a bill that was more than what I prepaid. I called customer service and they said it was the wrong bill that I actually owed less than I prepaid, but they could not refund me anything. I am so disappointed I will avoid budget if i need to rent a car again. I only gave them 2 stars because all of the people I spoke to both in person and on the phone, were kind even though my overall experience was so poor.
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October 2023 by Lefki Liontiris
Disappointed Customer.I made a reservation and within 24h called to made a change in the pickup day.I received a confirmation email that the day had been changed so I did not go back to their website to check further from the moment I received a confirmation email, couple days later at the reminder email the pickup day was the same as the initial reservation.I called them back and they told me the change of the day happened online. Yes, I changed the day and I choose a day that I do not need the car because I want to pay more money.Now if I modify reservation I have to pay extra. It seems this company make money this wayI lost my trust to this company and I promise even if their rental is the cheaper in the market I will never choose to go through this stress again.
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October 2023 by Fritz Florian Bachmair
2 weeks ago, they did not have any car (despite a reservation - the same was true for all other customers that had reservations). Today, they say they had no car at all all day and I was lucky to get a car at all. I reserved a small electric car and received an SUV
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August 2023 by Angela Goldstein
Easy pick up and drop off. I didn’t have to wait at all both times. Highly recommend. My only negative is that my car smelled like cigarettes but I think that’s common in rentals.
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August 2023 by Andy F
Customer service person was ok but definitely rushing us to complete even though no other customers. Car was dirty outside and inside and we were told they didn't clean the cars.
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August 2023 by Max Kohn
Car wasn’t ready at check in time (three hours late), when we did get the car it smelled like cigarettes, and there was no compensation or attempt to make it right by the company.
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July 2023 by Owen T.
Ok service. Customer service representative didn't explain the pricing situation well leading me to believe that I was going to be charged $165 to return the car to the airport rather than $165 total for the 2 day rental. Didn't know how I was being billed until I got the receipt.
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July 2023 by didi green
ZERO STARS! BEWARE!!!!!!I too did not read reviews a out this location! ?? We called the 1 800# to change our pick up time and HIDDEN FEE was added(?) Why? No one could tell us and the representative, on the phone, said, this location charges for such... WHY and where is it WRITTEN? No Answer!We arrive, ask the same ... they still can't show us, but said the same... again, Where is it WRITTEN?!Next, proceeding with the rental an error message comes up for Equifax... huh?! Logically thinking, I said... it may be the fraud alert, because of recent identity theft... the instructions said to call Equifax... my Partner tries his card, same message? (we used debit cards) bank/credit union... before we step away, we ask if the we're ok to step away and call, the rep says, Sure!Equifax says, your credit file is fine... there is an error with the business and they need to call our business line...I go back in, the rep refuses... says she has other customers... we only swipe your card here, I don't have the system to do anything!We THEN realize... this is an AFFILIATE set up! The Fee was a Scam ... and Equifax saved our A$$$!The rep did call a 'manager' on a cell... but, I was rudely interrupted by another rude customer...We left and got another rental ... same day and same credentials! ?
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July 2023 by David R P
This location on Connecticut Ave is so easy to in and out and return, the staff friendly and efficient, no waiting whatsoever - so superior to my experience previously at another location - renting a car is rarely, if ever, so hassle free
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June 2023 by S B
I finally managed to pull out of the lot yesterday after a ton of waiting. They "upgraded" me from my tiny compact to a SUV. No thanks, I prefer better gas mileage, but I was stuck. I literally ran several miles to get there and would have been S.O.L. if they were out of cars. The one they gave me -- even though I prepaid -- smelled like an ashtray and was already running on fumes. That said, I feel bad for the staff. Clearly, Budget just overbooks them and provides zero support. She even managed to figure out how to get me the car despite their system indicating my credit card didn't match the one I reserved with (it did, their system was wrong, and I had everything to prove it). If you're furious about this location, it might be better to contact Budget corporate and yell at them. These poor souls bear the brunt of terrible corporate overpromises.
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June 2023 by Elizabeth
It is difficult to describe the incompetence and unprofessionalism displayed by the Budget Rental office at 4400 Connecticut Ave-Days Inn Hotel. I reserved a car for pickup on 5/21 at 4 PM. I planned to use the car for business travel on the morning of 5/22. I arrived at 4 PM and the door was locked. A staff member inside waved me away. I knocked until she opened the door, and I told her that I had a car reserved for pickup at 4 PM. She repeatedly said "WE'RE CLOSED" without listening to me or bothering to look at the reservation number that I repeatedly tried to show her. Meanwhile, a male customer arrived with the same issue as mine (a reservation for 4pm). We pleaded with her to call someone, like her manager, to help resolve the fact that we had cars reserved for the time when the office supposedly closed. (NOTE: This new closure time of 4 pm was posted nowhere publicly.) The staff member refused to call anyone and told us to call Customer Service. She shut the door in our faces. Another male customer arrived with another 4 pm reservation. She repeatedly said, "WE'RE CLOSED" and shrugged when we asked her for help. A woman arrived to return her rental car and the staff member (who said her name was "Wendy") told her that she would not wait for the woman to retrieve her bags from the car. The staffer "Wendy" locked up the office, got in her car, and left. I frantically made a reservation for the next day, and was told I would have to pay more. I called Customer Service, explained what happened, and the representative promised I would be charged "the same rate." Meanwhile, I was charged more money. All because Budget Rental is massively incompetent and hires rude and incompetent staff? I have to pay more money for your mistakes? I almost missed my business meetings because of this sham of a company. Budget Rental is the personification of carelessness, arrogance, and laziness. I will advise anyone and everyone NOT to go here.
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June 2023 by Marlyn Bruno
Regret not reading other reviews before “reserving” a minivan here through a third party site. When i arrived, person told me the best they could do was give me a midsize SUV but I could try to exchange it for a minivan at Reagan. I tried doing so and they were out of minivans at Reagan. When I pointed out that I saw several minivans outside, they stated those were reserved for others. Got intel from the customer service agent who explained at Reagan they only make reservations when they can guarantee the desired vehicle and that it’s not the case for “other” Budget offices like this Connecticut Ave. one. Seriously, save your time and money and look elsewhere for a rental.
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May 2023 by Elizabeth E.
It is difficult to describe the incompetence and unprofessionalism displayed by the Budget Rental office at 4400 Connecticut Ave-Days Inn Hotel. I reserved a car for pickup on 5/21 at 4 PM. I planned to use the car for business travel on the morning of 5/22. I arrived at 4 PM and the door was locked. A staff member inside waved me away. I knocked until she opened the door, and I told her that I had a car reserved for pickup at 4 PM. She repeatedly said "WE'RE CLOSED" without listening to me or bothering to look at the reservation number that I repeatedly tried to show her. Meanwhile, a male customer arrived with the same issue as mine (a reservation for 4pm). We pleaded with her to call someone, like her manager, to help resolve the fact that we had cars reserved for the time when the office supposedly closed. (NOTE: This new closure time of 4 pm was posted nowhere publicly.) The staff member refused to call anyone and told us to call Customer Service. She shut the door in our faces. Another male customer arrived with another 4 pm reservation. She repeatedly said, "WE'RE CLOSED" and shrugged when we asked her for help. A woman arrived to return her rental car and the staff member (who said her name was "Wendy") told her that she would not wait for the woman to retrieve her bags from the car. The staffer "Wendy" locked up the office, got in her car, and left. I frantically made a reservation for the next day, and was told I would have to pay more. I called Customer Service, explained what happened, and the representative promised I would be charged "the same rate." Meanwhile, I was charged more money. All because Budget Rental is massively incompetent and hires rude and incompetent staff? I have to pay more money for your mistakes? I almost missed my business meetings because of this sham of a company. Budget Rental is the personification of carelessness, arrogance, and laziness. I will advise anyone and everyone NOT to go here.
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March 2023 by Hector Sepulveda
Great locations to pick up and drop off the vehicle, moreover, the people who work at their locations are very nice. Also, the car was clean and free of strange smells.
