Complaint / Review
Budget Rent A Car
Budget Rental Watch out for Budget at, Israel Lod/Tel Aviv

I rented a compact car from Budget for two weeks. When I picked the car up, it had numerous, numerous dents, bumps and scratches, which was fine with me. The employee didn't seem to be thrilled that I had him confirm with me all the issues (some of which I am sure that we didn't find because the car was dirty outside). As with most rental agencies, he didn't mark/ID things clearly on the form but instead put little marks on the picture of the car.

When I returned the car, a nice employee named Tamir handed me the check out form. Then a manager-type came from the back room. I asked both of the if I was suppose to take my copy of the Check Out Form. That's the form that shows the dents, bumps and scratches we identified at the beginning of the rental. The manager mumbled "no" and at the same time Tamir said, "Yes. This is yours."

Not knowing that I speak fluent Hebrew, the manager chastised Tamir in for telling me that I could have the Check Out Form. That's the form that shows the dents, bumps and scratches we identified at the beginning of the rental. "I say no, and you tell him yes?"

Here's the rub. The manager then said to Tamir in Hebrew, "I'll go out to look at the car. I'll find something!" I took this to mean that he would find something wrong that wasn't noted on the form. I went out with him, and decided to tell him in fluent Hebrew that I had understood him, and that he had better not concoct damages. He looked at the car, seemed to approve it and went back in the office. I took a picture of him and Tamir. He became very, very confrontational at that point.

A while back, Israeli offices of car rental companies had a reputation for charging tourists for dents, bumps and scratches that were on the car at pick up. I rented a car three years ago from an Israeli company, and didn't have that problem. I hope that Budget's employees at the Ben Gurion do not take this approach, or that there was somehow (although I doubt it) a missunderstanding on my part.

I'll try to update this report when I get the final bill from Budget.