A site that advocates for you
Behold, the buying calendar.
It’s the ultimate consumer tool. If you’re planning to spend money in 2018, you need to get organized. Why? Because businesses are. They know when you’re likely to buy and are constantly trying to manipulate you with sales, a barrage of ads and armies of highly trained sales associates who don’t take “no” for an answer.
What should you leave at home when you go shopping this summer? Jennifer Boaro prefers this strategy: Put your credit cards into a cup of water. Then store it in the freezer.
Thomas Bell assumes he’s covered by Budget’s optional collision-damage waiver when he rents a car in Costa Rica. But now the company wants him to pay for a new set of tires. Can it do that?
When Noeleen and Eddie Newman got back home to Ireland, they were shocked to find an extra $1,200 charged to their credit card by Budget Rent A Car for their rental while visiting the U.S. After we got involved, Budget offered them a partial refund. Is it enough?
After Bikiran Bayan returns his rental car to Budget, he receives a $250 invoice for smoke odors. But Bayan doesn’t smoke. So why is Budget billing him?
When the “check engine” light comes on in Jonathan Drew’s rental SUV, Budget tells him to keep driving. Then PurCo sends him a bill for damage he didn’t cause. Can our forum advocates persuade PurCo to drop the claim?
Sometimes, it all comes down to who you know.
That’s how Judy Nagy, one of our forum advocates, responded to Michael McDougall when he shared his ridiculous, improbable, and
When Kate Gunnell’s daughter was touring the University of Washington campus, her family focused on fees for tuition, room and board, books, and the various activities that she could participate in as an incoming freshman — but not car rental “processing fees.” One year later, Gunnell is wondering why Budget is trying to charge her $30 for a ticket she doesn’t even remember receiving.
When Nickolle Preaseau’s rental car has a flat tire, Budget promises her new one — but doesn’t warn her about the charges. Then the company sends her an invoice for $550, which she thinks is unreasonably high. Can our advocates convince Budget to eliminate the fee?
If you look up the phrase “jerked around” in the dictionary, you might see a picture of Savannah Wilson next to a Budget logo.
I’m only half-kidding. Her recent trip to the Caribbean island of Martinique with her fiancé was a disaster because of Budget, she says. And after you read what happened to her, you might agree. Unless, you work in the car rental industry.
A new class of service coming to an aircraft near you: “basic” economy — also known by its street names, “economy minus” or “last class.”
This is a story about a mysterious fee and how it mysteriously vanished from Merlyn Klaus’ bill.
Sally VanZandt was trying to help her son, Kyle, by making a reservation for his rental car in Milwaukee. Kyle
When it comes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), can less be more?
Nancy Maguire could use a little help with contacting Super 8. So could we.
I’m excited to bring back a weekly feature that probably belongs on every consumer advocacy site: “Is this a scam?”
Budget wants Guilhem Ibos to pay $3,000 for damage to his rental car. But wait! Is that Ibos’ rental car in the photo? No, it isn’t.
Susan Young has waited too long to file a damage claim with here credit card company. But it’s not her fault – a car rental contract employee told her to do it. Who’s responsible?
The car rental insurance scam is a fairly well-known “gotcha” for international renters, and it’s a trap Doreen Murphy believes she walked right into when she rented a car from Budget in Northern Ireland recently.
Anyone who reads this site probably knows my position on rate errors, which is to say I think it’s wrong
Brandon Chase’s car rental company says it’s made a mistake on his bill, and reverses a discount long after his rental. Is it allowed to do that? And what are his rights?
Something about the $667 repair bill that Enterprise Rent-a-Car recently sent Jerry Bitting looked suspicious to him.
The car rental industry is in trouble. And this time, it can’t be fixed by quietly settling out of court with their customers or lobbying a few state lawmakers.
Nothing extraordinary happened when Paul Candia rented a car from Budget in New York recently. There’s no frivolous damage claim, no extra fee, not even a rude employee to complain about.
Just in case you thought my recent critique of the car rental industry’s damage claims practices was over the top — and I assure you, it wasn’t — let me introduce you to Jonathan Kiluk.
When Todd Ramsdell’s wife rents a car from Budget, she’s told insurance is required. But it isn’t, and now she wants her money back. Why isn’t Budget budging?