Budget Car Rental Ireland
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Warning, Check Your Vehicle Thoroughly and Watch for Questionable Sleazy Insurance Claims
I rented a car for 21 days in August from Budget Ireland at Dublin airport. I go to Ireland 5 to 6 times a year and always rent a car. My credit card covers the car insurance so I always refuse the insurance coverage offered by the rental car companies. The car I received (after waiting for more than 30 minutes after completing the paperwork because no car was ready even though I had a booking) had numerous serious scratches and dents that were not recorded on the paperwork provided by the company. I took photos of the visible scratches, dents and broken side mirror. Upon returning the car on August 10th the person inspecting the car asked me what happened to the side of the car. I showed him the photo that I took that confirmed that this significant scratch along the full side of the car was already on the car. He then asked me about scratching at the back of the car and I showed him the photo I had taken showing these scratches were also on the car when I picked up the car. He then pointed out a tiny dint on the door, so small that I had not seen it when I picked the car up. The dent was ½ mm. I measured it after the representative rudely told me that he was under no obligation to measure the dent in my presence or to provide me with a policy on the minimum size scratch under which a renter is liable. Because my credit card would pay for any damage I got the impression that the employee was obligated to nail anything at all on an unsuspecting or unprepared renter. I then had to fill out an “accident report”. Budget Ireland did waive the damage as a "gesture of good will" after I made the case that this dent was ridiculously small on a car that had serious damage that they had failed to document. This was all pointless and stressful. Does budget Ireland have a policy of renting scratched and damaged cars that are not documented in the paperwork to renters who cover their own insurance? I see from the reviews that there appears to be a pattern of this type of behavior. If I had not documented all the scratches my credit card insurance would have been on the hook for thousands of euro. Why is there no transparent policy on the size of scratch or dent over which a renter is liable? Other Budget franchises have this policy clearly outlined in the T and Cs. Without a policy the renter is liable for every miniscule dent. As I pointed out a ½ mm dent is so small that even upon a close inspection, this could be missed. My car was wet when I picked it up and it could have been mistaken for a drop of water it is so small. What is the point of engaging in such business practices? I will avoid Budget Ireland if I can , losing out on potential future revenues from me. What about the damage it does to the wider tourism industry in Ireland? It leaves a bad taste leaving Ireland. Added Oct 3rd. Budget Ireland's response to my review is indicative of a company that is tone deaf to its customers. They are sorry for my review, not addressing that I did get a car that was seriously scratched and dented and clearly was not inspected before providing to the customer. Also they did not address why there is no transparent policy on what damage a renter is liable for.