Kaukab Naseer sent a message to Ronald Nelson that said:
Dear Mr Nelson
Please tell me why I should tolerate how I was treated by Budget Rent a car?
Me and my wife both are Pediatricians and we had arranged a trip to Philadelphia, PA.
I needed a car there, I searched "Rental Car", Expedia popped first, I clicked Expedia, entered what I needed, Budget Popped first, I clicked first location and selected. Easy breezy done? Should have booked at Airport location, yeah, but not a big deal, its easy to get Lyft or Uber, so I reached 200 S. Broad St. Down Town Philly. Not that easy, as Budget rent a car is involved.
So, I reserved a vehicle with Budget/Avis at 200 South Broad Street, Philadelphia PA, through Expedia.
Reservation number 00703739US1 on 26th January 2019.
When I went to pick the car , without any greeting, first thing I was told was " We don't have a car for you, if you want car from Budget, you should not use third party". I was refused rental, claiming they have NO car, I told him that's not acceptable, I came from airport, I need a vehicle to do my work in Philly and It should not matter whether I reserve directly or via third party. I was told "we don't work for Expedia, you booked through them, get car from them". I called Expedia, and your customer service, I was told its arranged at another location. My wife told them that she will report it to state comptroller how we were given a run around. While we were leaving for the second Budget location , my wife asked for the names of the people at counter so she can report the experience, they refused to give their full names. Person at counter said, "You will not get a car anywhere from Budget". I did not understand the gravity of the threat and went to other Budget center. When I reached Budget location at 1600 Race Street Philadelphia PA, and requested rental car, person at counter said "Your License is not working", I told her I just came on a flight, it worked there, I reserved a hotel, it worked there, answer was, well "our system is down, it does sometimes", and within next 20 minutes while I was arguing that there can not be anything wrong with my license, three other people came and got the cars rented on the same "Down System", I asked her to try my wife's License. "Her ID is declined also" was the reply. "It must be Tennessee license office". I told I will call my daughter who lives in Philadelphia and see if you accept her ID, so I called my daughter to come there. I asked to talk to the supervisor and supervisor said the same, I threatened that it looks like other center called you to not give me vehicle, so I am going to call police, and media, will see if there is something wrong with my ID or Tennessee system. Meanwhile counterperson was talking to supervisor, and I could hear him telling her "go ahead and give them car", and she replied " You told me earlier not to", he replied "then don't".
Meanwhile , my arrived so I stepped out to get her from main entrance, and in a minute when I returned, that lady has kicked my wife out and closed the office and literally ran away, not walked away, ran away. I went to Hertz, got the vehicle, ID worked perfectly fine there.
It seems deliberate attempt by the first center at 200 S. Broad St, Philadelphia to not honor third party booking, and when I said I will report it, he threatened that I will not get Budget car, and likely called the other center and told them to not give me a vehicle, as I asked him how far other center is, so he knew where I was going.
I went back, took photos of Budget cars Parked at 200 Broad St office location, and it was clear that I was lied to about the availability of the vehicles.
I have screen shots of computer, videos of Person at 1600 Race St. Location when she was talking to supervisor, and other evidence. You can easily look into what trick she pulled to make my ID seems declined. And when I questioned who is the one who you just reminded about telling her to not give the vehicle to us, she just stood stunned and quiet as she realized that It was loud enough for me to hear and record.
Now please tell me if you do not want to honor third party reservations, then why to have contract with them?
If your employees or subcontractors can control the way business should be run, why are they not CEO?
Please tell me that that this is a normal way your company treats customers so I should tolerate it?
Kaukab Naseer, MD.
I understand this will not be read by the CEO, but this is a start.
