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Getting around Bonaire: Budget rent a car
Bonaire Talk: Getting around Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2006: Archives - 1999-06-07 to 2002-09-10: Budget rent a car
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr on Monday, November 26, 2001 - 11:24 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I had the displeasure of renting from Budget in Late September. It was a nice change to have a truck, so we could shuck off our wetsuits sand free. I was told the spare tire was locked up underneath. Our tire was stolen, and Budget was helpful in getting another tire and we changed trucks as well, there being no way to store the tire on the truck we had ( the cable was cut by the thieves).
All this would be a too bad story, except that Budget tried to charge me over the deductible, and in fact they did that. Then when I complained to the manager Dird mehorst, he responded that I had been overcharged and that he would credit my card. Instead he charged me again! When i complained, he denied his office had charged me. When I further complained that it was the same amount from my bill, that the transaction numbers were consecutive, and that it was the same day, he wrote me back that "american express will take care of it." As if it were not his job to do so. I strongly reccommend you NOT use Budget rent a car on Bonaire, they are uninformed incompetents.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 8:31 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

It is unfortunate that you had a bad experience but it sounds like there were compounded errors. I have always relied on American Express to straighten things out and though it may take time, they generally get to the bottom of things. Budget has a very good reputation here and to broadly condem them is a bit harsh. They have been reliable and a fair company to deal with.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By thomas brossard on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 9:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have rented from Dirk at Budget on each of my last 4 trips & had nothing but good expereience - although I would not be happy with what happened to you!

But like Michael, I think one 'bad incident' shouldn't be reflective of the entire operation...If the complaints contine to come in, well...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 2:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am glad some people have had good experiences with Budget. I was continually misinformed by the staff there myself. Though they did try to be helpful, they did not have any system in place to deal with a stolen tire. I had to run around making police reports and getting them translated into english, for no good reason that I could see. The double billing was a particularly annoying way to issue a credit, and Methorst's knee-jerk denial that his office never made two charges was the last straw in my little haybale of patience.

I will also weigh in concerning the locking system on the spare tire under the trucks. The small lock is probably only going to stop ME from changing the tire. The locks should be lubricated and sealed in a baggie or condom. The man at Lisa Gas had the lock soaking in lubicant to get it open on another truck they gave me a new spare tire from.
Also I think that painting the rims a bright color would deter theft much more than the little locks, maybe white with red polka dots. I was going to get a nice length of stout chain and a good lock and lock the tire to the frame of the car. That way if the tire is stolen the thieves have not also ruined the cable system that carries the tire. All we really are talking about is an hour or so's worth of security to do a night dive.

 


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