Budget Car Rental

Car at pick up, was not clean on outside or inside

Our flight arrived 4 hours late. Even though Budget closes at 8pm the agent stayed past 9:30 so we could pick up our car.

My husband and I have enjoyed Budget and are Fast Break members. We had a reservation for a Ford Edge/or similar. We actually phoned the Budget Milwaukee airport office the night before we were to pick up the rental. We wanted to make sure our reserved vehicle would be there and that we would be on track for a Fast Break pick up. We arrived around 7pm and went directly to the Budget Fast Break section in the garage. There was a note up saying that the Fast Break window was closed and that we had to go back to get in line at the counter. REALLY? Why were we not told of this when we called the evening before??? So, we stood in line for about 20+ minutes (only behind 3 people...SLOW counter working). When we were finally helped, we were given our keys and we headed out to the garage to pick up our Standard SUV. We were told it was a Dodge...okay, fine! When we got out to the garage...it was a Dodge Minivan...NOT an SUV as we had reserved. My husband went back inside and came back out to say that he was told that it had to be the Minivan OR a small Mazda CS-3 because they had no other vehicles. How is this possible??? We had to take the Mazda. I have a fear or riding in smaller vehicles because of a devastating car wreck I was in years ago. That is why we rented a larger SUV. That is why we called the night before to make sure it was there. That is why we paid for the larger SUV. How does Budget possibly rent out a car that is due to be picked up that same day by someone who reserved it?? I know that Budget doesn't really worry about things like this happening to the renters, but it isn't a good thing for Budget's image of being a good rental company.

I provide some limited concierge services at a hotel near the Milwaukee Airport, and I had a guest who came to check in and discovered that a personal item was missing. I spent 20-30 minutes attempting to speak with someone in person on the lot. The amount of automated responses is absolutely ridiculous. I never did reach anyone; the customer service isn't just bad, it's literally non-existent. I will be recommending to all hotel guests that they avoid this location.

It is easy, and priced better than other rental car companies. This most recent time I even got a surprise upgrade.nThe only reason it is just 4 stars is because when leaving the facility with the rental car there was an employee(?) who came to the car window to ask us questions before we left. He was leaning up against a car and was dressed unprofessionally (with no way to know that he worked for Budget). It was uncomfortable for my wife and I, and would've been much more comfortable if he had been wearing something to indicate that he worked for Budget, and/or had said something to that effect.