- Report: #1191379
Complaint Review: Budget Car Rentail - Ontario California
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Budget Car Rentail
Airport Drive. Ontario, California, USA
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Budget Car Rentail Charged Fees due to Negligence on Budget. Ontario California
On September 7, 2014. I Chris Paez rented a vehicle from Budget Car Rental located at the Ontario Airport. I was given a Chevrolet Impala but then switched out to a Black Mazda 5SPT Van. After "inspection" by a budget employee, I took the vehicle off grounds and proceeded to my destination in Las Vegas. I noticed that the tire pressure light was on. I immediately tried to contact Budget Car Rental in Ontario to notify them but no one answered the front desk phones. When I first approached the car rental, no one was there to immediately help me. Employees were in the back fooling around. As I was half way to Las Vegas, there was a blow out in my left rear driver's side tire. I pulled over and checked my surroundings. I notified roadside assistance and explained to them my situation.
They tried contacting Budget Car Rental in Ontario and had no luck either. I spoke to two different agents explaining them my situation. I told them that I declined roadside assistance on my agreement but that I had Triple AAA and if I should use it. I did not want to get charged any fees later on when my Triple AAA could have been used. They were also aware that I denied Roadside Assistance on my agreement. They notified me that I did not need to use it. They stated that this was negligence on their part for not putting air in tires, letting me take it off the lot, for them not being able to get a hold of and that it was also a safety issue taking that I was in the middle of the desert with nowhere to go.
It wasn't safe to even change the spare myself. A tow truck came an hour later to place the spare tire on my car. The rim wasn't damaged on the car nor was anything else but the tire. It was also a safety issue driving the car with the spare tire to the nearest Budget open in Las Vegas. I drove more miles that allowed for the spare tire but Budget wasn't concerned with that. I notified them of my safety too driving that far on a spare tire. I finally made it to Las Vegas Budget and was able to switch out the cars for a replacement. On November 17, 2014 - Budget sent out a letter stating that I owe them $263.44 for Service and Repair expenses. I believe this situation is being handled poorly. It was negligence on Budget's service to take care of me from the beginning of the rental. This fee should be taken away. I have contacted supervisors and no action is being done to help me with this discrepancy. Chris, Ontario, CA.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Irvine,California,
You blew it...
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, December 04, 2014
Nice try but your update basically blew your entire "RipOff".
Now, I am not saying you didn't have a blow-out. I am basically saying that it seems you were negligent in your actions and may still not be telling the entire story.
In your original report you stated that they told you they were negligent for not putting air in your tires. What exactly did you tell them? Because you posted here that the light didn't come on until an hour into your drive.
I don't know how much you know about tires but if the tire was low the light would have been on when you left the lot..right? On average a tire looses perhaps 1-2 lbs/month. They don't just go flat for no reason. Did you ever think that *gasp* you could have run over something that caused you a slow leak? No..your mind went automatically to they MUST have been negligent.
The light went off 1 hour into our drive, mind you, it was already late in the evening. Bottom line is- it was the company's responsibility to give me a car that had the adequate amount of air in the tires, not mine.
According to you they did. The light was NOT on when you left the lot and didn't come on for an hour. What more would you have wanted them to do? Do they have some sort of crystal ball in their back room that would predict the tire loosing air?
You still FAILED to explain how you went from "immediatly" trying to contact them to having a blow out. Were you driving with the light TPS light on? Did you pull over and call them? If you pulled over how exactly did you then get yourself into a situation where the tire actually blew?
You still failed to explain if at any time did YOU take personal resposibility for your safety and get to a Gas Station and put air in it yourself? Yes, within 1 hour of Ontario is two major areas that have plenty of Gas Stations, Victorville and Barstow.
Oh wait...I guess you are so self-entitled and have time that is so valuble that you would risk your life and blame them instead of trying to get some air in your tire. After all even if you went back you stated the follwing
Id still be writing them a poor review because their negligence caused us valuable time.
So I guess your time is really more valuble than your life.
C.Paez
Pomona,California,
Where's the confusion?
#3Author of original report
Wed, November 26, 2014
The light went off 1 hour into our drive, mind you, it was already late in the evening. Bottom line is- it was the company's responsibility to give me a car that had the adequate amount of air in the tires, not mine. As a consumer, I'm expecting the car Im renting to be in mint condition so that these things don't happen. If they didn't take the appropriate measures to ensure their customers safety and satisfaction then that's negligence on their part. Yes, I could've turned back around and driven an hour to get another car. But guess what? Id still be writing them a poor review because their negligence caused us valuable time.
Robert
Irvine,California,
I am confused...
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, November 26, 2014
Trying to make sense of what you wrote it appears the following.
You left the Car Rental lot and noticed the tire preasure light on. Now it does appear you tried to call them instead of returning to the location.
But when they didn't answer you did what?...continue to drive the car?
So then at some point half-way to Vegas you had a blowout. Now, you pull over to the side of the road and even though you had no luck contacting Budget in Ontario you talked to two different agents explaining your situation...Uhh? So who in the world were these agents?
Now, these agents apparently "fess up" to being at fault for not putting air in the tire. But if that was the case how come when the light went on and they didn't answer did you not say "Ummm...let me check and see if they need air"? Instead you appeared to continue to drive until you had a blowout.
You talk about negligence on their part. Well again that seems like there is at least some responsibility on your part here.
Oh and as for the Safety issue..if you really felt in danger why did you not order them to come and tow it to Vegas. There are plenty of safe places before Vegas you could have stopped and waited for a tow? So I am curious exactly where in the desert did this blowout occur and when exactly did the light come on.
Now, I have no idea what the $263.44 is for and on that I can't say if you should or should not be refunded, but with this confusing report it looks like you may have been at least somewhat at fault.
