Budget Australia Reviews

Adding to my previous experience, I want to share that even though things eventually got resolved, I remain frustrated by how I was handled. After being denied a rental due to being on a 'blacklist,' they kept my advance payment of two thousand dollars. When I followed up after the promised seven to ten business day refund period, I just got lies. After waiting three more days without a response, I filed a chargeback with my credit card company. Budget never even tried to reach out to me about the situation. I can't endorse them or Avis given what I went through. Their conduct was completely unethical. Stay away from them. Honestly, I'd rather take the bus.

I ordered a one-way rental online for my employer, a large national organization. I was picking up in one city and dropping off in another to retrieve a delivery truck that broke down. At the counter, I had to fill out far more paperwork than usual, even though I'd rented from them many times before. Suddenly they demanded proof of my identity, my phone number, my work number, checking everything. Then they asked me to bring a property tax notice or utility bill to verify my address matched my license. Apparently being a local resident meant I was treated with suspicion and heavily scrutinized, whereas a traveler or someone visiting from out of state probably would've had zero issues. I was mortified in front of other customers. Other rental companies told me they couldn't believe Budget's behavior. This Budget location is ridiculous. Go somewhere else where you'll be treated better and the process is simpler. This is not how you run a business.

I wouldn't suggest this to anyone. Getting ahold of them was difficult from the start. When I finally picked up the vehicle, it had mechanical problems. These folks really need to get their act together.

Complete scammers. Be warned that they'll take your payment and then you won't get a vehicle. When you call their customer service, it's terrible. I can't fathom how they operate the way they do, but they represent everything unethical about modern commerce with sketchy and illegal practices.

I'd give zero stars if the system allowed it. The customer service was abysmal and they overcharged me without legitimate reasons. An older blonde woman working at the terminal desk was extremely rude. She told me to snap photos of any damage on the car and let the return location handle it, saying the time-stamped pictures would protect me. That was completely wrong information. You're supposed to report any scratches or damage before leaving the depot. The staff at the return location were fantastic and even filed a complaint about the checkout location. I was charged an extra six hundred dollars. For a month I kept calling demanding an explanation and pushing for my refund. The checkout place also charged my holding deposit instead of just holding it like they should have, then refunding it at return. Once my bank stepped in, things moved faster. Different Budget employees gave me different stories about what happened, which only made things worse.

The whole process was straightforward and fast. The vehicle was immaculate and the checkout went smoothly. This rental came through when I really needed it after my own car had problems.