Poster: A snowHead
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Just wanted to pass on my tale of car hire woe in case any others out there have hired through Budget........
Back in may, having booked flights for a ski trip 2010, I booked 2 4 x4's with Budget, Geneva. I'd previously booked with them and had good cars - good service and very good price. These were 'on request' but after a bit of chasing the vehicles were confirmed at a great price.
In september this year we were at the car hire in Geneva airport and noticed the Budget desk closed with a sign telling people to use the Avis desk. On my return home I rang Budget, they confirmed that the desk had closed but it didn't affect any bookings. Last week I spoke to Budget about ski rack hire only to be told that mysteriously my booking hadn't been transferred between the systems (presumably Avis and Budget) and Geneva have NO record of our booking at all
Now several days and phone calls later I'm still waiting to see if they can confirm the car hire, if I want to hire through someone else it's now a lot more expensive as it's closer to the dates and 4 x 4's are not only pricey but also seem quite scarce:x
So if anyone has hired through Budget it might be worth checking up on.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nightmare...
I wonder if this is an extension of the hire-car squeeze that has been engineered in the Med sun resorts over the summer - the big players sharpley tightening up the supply side to inflate prices?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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skimum, thanks for the heads up, 2 of my 5 bookings for the coming season are through Budget. I'll be on the phone tomorrow checking
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Just checked, and it's 3 with Budget and the other 2 are Hertz. Have to admit the Budget desk was nearly always the quietest at Geneva (one of the reasons I liked booking with them ).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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red 27, not sure it was quite as calculating as that. My understanding was that the credit crunch meant the rental firms couldn't secure funding to replace the fleets as regularly so were forced to run cars for longer and have smaller fleets (still I imagine demand was down anyway).
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skimum wrote: |
if I want to hire through someone else it's now a lot more expensive as it's closer to the dates and 4 x 4's are not only pricey but also seem quite scarce:x
So if anyone has hired through Budget it might be worth checking up on. |
Bad luck, but I really woulnd't stress about the 4x4, if you've hired from the swiss side should have winter tyres so get them to throw in some free chains and you'll be all good..
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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midgetbiker, umm, do you not have a confirmed contract that would at least allow you to hire elsewhere on insurance at the going rate (or force Budget to comply, etc.)
Tedious though.
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skimum, that's a real pain for you, but bertie bassett is right. Absolutely no need for a 4 x 4. I have spent the last 7 winters in the mountains with very ordinary family cars and have never even got close to being stuck. And you might have heard my favourite story of towing a Frenchman in a big top-heavy Porsche 4 x 4 out of a snowdrift with my Fiat Multipla. Save the extra dosh for a nice meal out.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Rang Geneva this morning (Budget desk number no longer works so ring Avis desk on +41 22 929 0330) & they have confirmed that they have all 3 of my bookings (2xJan+Mar) which were all made in last few days of Nov first few of Dec. Presumably I'm ok as I booked after the system migration and skimum was unlucky as she booked early and then got lost during the migration.
I liked Budget as it was always quiet and gave me upgrades (maybe as a repeat customer, maybe because I asked) anyone know what the Avis desk is like?
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Car hire always goes wrong one way or another. Like ordering a "Focus or similar" in manual and actually getting an auto Citroen C1 or some other margarine-tub-with-rollerskate-wheels P.O.S. because "sorry, that's all we've got".
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You know it makes sense.
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midgetbiker, really glad you're bookings are ok, I phoned yet again this morning and I'm now waiting for a manager to get back to me. We've never had a problem with Budget before this and I'm still hopeful it can be sorted out. I know we've used Avis before and I don't recall any problem but with one desk handling both companies I'm wondering how long the queue will be
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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skimum, did you book direct with Budget or through an agency?
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Poster: A snowHead
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skimum wrote: |
but with one desk handling both companies I'm wondering how long the queue will be |
this is down to how many staff on the desk really isn't it, one desk adequately staffed is better than two understaffed. Worst of all I quess is one desk inadequately staffed (a la Alamo/National). Most of my pick ups are on a monday mid morning so at least it's not peak time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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you might be able to get money back from your credit card company too (whisper "section 75 of Consumer Credit Act" in their ear...).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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