Budget Podgorica Airport Withheld €1,573 Deposit and Ignored Vehicle Damage Proof
On August 23, 2025, I rented a Renault Clio for 4 days from Budget at Podgorica Airport (Reservation No: 2948-9900-TR-6). I paid a total of ₺10,003.50, and at pickup, €1,573 was charged as a deposit. I was told the deposit would be refunded upon return, but I am still waiting. I faced serious problems during the vehicle handover. The car had numerous dents and scratches, so I recorded a video when taking delivery; otherwise, I would have been held responsible for damage caused by previous users. The staff were extremely rude and disrespectful, and they attempted to hand over the car without noting the damage underneath in the delivery report. Without my video evidence, I would have been unfairly charged. In addition, since customer service does not operate on weekends, I could not get support at the time of the issue. I request that Budget improve vehicle maintenance and staff attitude at their international agencies, speed up the deposit refund process, and make customer service more accessible. Because of this experience, I no longer plan to rent from Budget or Avis.
