Budget just cancelled my reservation!

[MinnieForMe]

I am so angry I could scream! No explaination, just an email that they cancelled it!

I even emailed customer service before making the reservation to see if I could use the travelocity code and they replied "absolutely and that I didn't need documentation". I was printing it out to take with me to the airport in case of a problem.

Has anyone had a company cancel a reservation before? I will NEVER use them again so they lost a repeat customer too!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Did you contact them and ask why your reservation was canceled? Did you try and rebook?

 

[goofy4tink]

Did you give them your flight info when you booked? I think that if you book now, you have to give them flight info. I'm heading down in Oct and really want to book my car now, but I can't since I'm flying Direct Air and they haven't opened up their window for the fall yet...arrggghh.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Yes, I gave them the airline and flight #. They also waited a few days to cancel my reservation.

I emailed them immediately and asked why they cancelled but I have not heard yet. I'll let everyone know once I hear.

Back to the drawing board with codes! I need to match or do better than $528 for a minivan for 10 days around Easter week. I was shocked to spend that much!

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I used budget once. When we arrived at their counter I was told they did not have any cars left and come back the next day. I will never use them again.

 

[katallo]

I have it happen with Budget and Enterprise. Budget told me at the counter and then offered to give me the same car at a much higher price. It's terrible because it's made me feel unsure each time I book a car.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
Customer Service reinstated it and told me they don't know why it was cancelled! Do I trust them? Now, I'm terrified of getting to MCO and having a cancellation.

If I pay before I arrive and go straight to the garage, do they have to honor the reservation?

 

[backyardponder]

Wow, I've rented cars for years and never had this happen. Maybe I've been lucky.

If you get to the airport and they don't have a car for you, be aware that Budget and Avis are the same company and often share cars. If Budget doesn't have your car, maybe they can get something from Avis.

Good Luck!

 

[OhMari]

Hi:
Customer Service reinstated it and told me they don't know why it was cancelled! Do I trust them? Now, I'm terrified of getting to MCO and having a cancellation.

If I pay before I arrive and go straight to the garage, do they have to honor the reservation?

They can give you a similar vehicle, that will hold 5 people.

We rented a Tahoo in Phoenix and when we got to "Nationals" counter, they told us, they didn't have anymore Tahoo's, and they tried to give us a 5 passenger vehicle. We definately needed the 6 and I took my print-out and it said Tahoo-7 passenger. He called down to the garage and they said they had 3 Tahoo's on the lot. If I didn't have that paper ressie, we would of ended up with nothing or the 5 passenger. When we got to the lot, the attendant told us to pick out any vehicle, and we actually took a Suburban. I had my son run back and ask him if he was sure we could pick anything from that row, and the attendant said yes. So we got a Suburban. I was scared when we dropped it off that we would have to pay the difference, they wanted almost double for a Suburban, but they honored my ressie.

 

[seashoreCM]

If they give you a hard time at the rental counter, stop the conversation and go to the other end of the office and call the national reservation and customer service number using the pay phone on the wall there (or using your cell phone). Speak to someone there, i.e. corporate headquarters.

 

[PatMcDuck]

OhMAri we had the same thing happen to us. I had booked a standard or full size SUV, and at the time it was described to seat 7, and hold 4 large bags, several small ones, etc. I printed out that description too. I got a good price via Costco (we are members). We have a son who is special needs and uses a large Convaid chair, and there were 6 of us all together...... we get there, and look all over, do not see an aisle with Standard or full size SUVs. When we ask, they say, oh, we have to go "get those", etc. After a bit, on 100 degree August heat, they admit they have none, andoffer the mid SUV, seats 5. Then they offered a minivan. I wanted the SUV! I said, if you do not have it, you should offer something "better", but they said NO. They HAD Surburbans, would not give one to us. We went round and round. I had my printout, but they kept saying, it was for that vehicle OR SIMILAR. I said, Similar means is seats the same # of people and holds the same amount of luggage, just a different make or something. It was a MESS, this was Alamo. Supervisor would not help. Finally they offered the 8 seater Toyota Sienna minivan, with the large well in the back. We took it, the kids were melting, esp, the handicapped DS. It was fine, those vans hold alot, but I was annoyed at all the drama. There was lots of yelling, DH likes to argue. But we started out VERY nice, patient, we did not provoke this.

I have used Alamo since, they often have the best prices. Sigh.

 

[Detailor]

Hi:
Customer Service reinstated it and told me they don't know why it was cancelled! Do I trust them? Now, I'm terrified of getting to MCO and having a cancellation.

If I pay before I arrive and go straight to the garage, do they have to honor the reservation?

We've had no problems with Budget the few times we've used them - once in Tampa, a couple of times in Orlando.

Glitches happen though. I'd suggest printing out all of the paperwork - original reservation, cancellation notice, the email that you got telling you that it was reinstated. You should be able to go online and find your reservation by its confirmation number for current status too.

I suspect that you won't have any further problem but you never know.

Dick Taylor

 

[seashoreCM]

Glitches happen though.

This is where the customer is always right should apply.

If it is some consolation to the vendor, this should not happen often.

Once I had a rental car agent tell me something like "This car has only three cylinders and can't go up hills". I simply said "I will take it anyway" although I could have embellished "There is just one person, me, in it and I don't speed so (my unilateral impromptu unresearched unsupported unproven declaration) it will have no problem."

We went round and round. I had my printout

After you get back home, write to corporate headquarters and ask for a small rebate. The purpose is to encourage upper management to improve customer service and come down on those who don't practice same. Now just a custom made letter of apology might even be better than a form letter accompanied by a dollars off voucher.

 

[toywaltz]

Budget at MCO is pretty bad. Just wait until you stand in line for an hour to get a car from them. I've had a lot of seat time in rentals and I can give you bad experiences from all of them though. Avis probably the least so which doesn't make sense with Budget and Avis being in bed...but they seem to be very different on the customer service side.

 

[robinb]

Hi:
Customer Service reinstated it and told me they don't know why it was cancelled! Do I trust them? Now, I'm terrified of getting to MCO and having a cancellation.

If I pay before I arrive and go straight to the garage, do they have to honor the reservation?

Just bring your written confirmation and you'll be fine. Go ahead and make a back-up reservation somewhere else if you are especially nervous.

 

[OhMari]

OhMAri we had the same thing happen to us. I had booked a standard or full size SUV, and at the time it was described to seat 7, and hold 4 large bags, several small ones, etc. I printed out that description too. I got a good price via Costco (we are members). We have a son who is special needs and uses a large Convaid chair, and there were 6 of us all together...... we get there, and look all over, do not see an aisle with Standard or full size SUVs. When we ask, they say, oh, we have to go "get those", etc. After a bit, on 100 degree August heat, they admit they have none, andoffer the mid SUV, seats 5. Then they offered a minivan. I wanted the SUV! I said, if you do not have it, you should offer something "better", but they said NO. They HAD Surburbans, would not give one to us. We went round and round. I had my printout, but they kept saying, it was for that vehicle OR SIMILAR. I said, Similar means is seats the same # of people and holds the same amount of luggage, just a different make or something. It was a MESS, this was Alamo. Supervisor would not help. Finally they offered the 8 seater Toyota Sienna minivan, with the large well in the back. We took it, the kids were melting, esp, the handicapped DS. It was fine, those vans hold alot, but I was annoyed at all the drama. There was lots of yelling, DH likes to argue. But we started out VERY nice, patient, we did not provoke this.

I have used Alamo since, they often have the best prices. Sigh.

Glad you got a larger vehicle. I never go anywhere anymore without my print out of any ressie. Just having your number isn't good enough.

 

[Detailor]

Budget at MCO is pretty bad. Just wait until you stand in line for an hour to get a car from them. I've had a lot of seat time in rentals and I can give you bad experiences from all of them though. Avis probably the least so which doesn't make sense with Budget and Avis being in bed...but they seem to be very different on the customer service side.

I agree that a car rental experience can be horrible and time consuming if you have to wait in a line at the reservation desk in the airport. But so many of these rental companies allow some customers to go right to the garage to pick up your car.

If you're going to rent a car - JOIN THE RENTAL COMPANY'S FREQUENT RENTER PROGRAM SO YOU CAN SKIP THE LONG RENTAL LINES IN THE AIRPORT!

Most of these programs are free - and most that charge to join can be free if you use the mousesavers.com links to join. It does not matter that you only rental a car every so often to join a frequent renter program.

When you join you'll provide your driver's license and credit card info which makes the rental a less expensive administrative process for the company and a quicker pick-up/drive away for you.

Dick Taylor

 

[Alexander]

I agree that a car rental experience can be horrible and time consuming if you have to wait in a line at the reservation desk in the airport. But so many of these rental companies allow some customers to go right to the garage to pick up your car.

If you're going to rent a car - JOIN THE RENTAL COMPANY'S FREQUENT RENTER PROGRAM SO YOU CAN SKIP THE LONG RENTAL LINES IN THE AIRPORT!

Most of these programs are free - and most that charge to join can be free if you use the mousesavers.com links to join. It does not matter that you only rental a car every so often to join a frequent renter program.

When you join you'll provide your driver's license and credit card info which makes the rental a less expensive administrative process for the company and a quicker pick-up/drive away for you.

Dick Taylor

I agree 100%! I belong to all of the car rental programs but we only ever rent from Avis because I get great rates using my company's rates.