I Rented a Budget Car in Dubai and Got Charged for a Dent

On March 29, 2025, I rented a car from Budget at DXB Airport in the UAE for a 3-day trip. They immediately charged $439 as a deposit on my credit card. On the third day, while parking, the car lightly scraped a plastic edge, leaving a small dent the size of a palm. I was transparent and reported the damage upon return, believing a reputable company like Budget would handle it fairly.

But after returning home, I was shocked to find that not only was my $439 deposit never refunded, but another 1,500 AED was silently withdrawn from my card without any explanation or notification. In total, I ended up paying over ₺32,000 for a car that I originally rented for just ₺3,600.

Let’s put this in perspective: the same model car brand new in Dubai costs about ₺900,000, yet I’ve been charged an outrageous amount for a minor dent. This kind of exploitative billing is unacceptable. I chose Budget expecting professionalism, but this experience has shattered my trust.

I urge Budget to immediately explain and refund the unjust charges. I’m uploading all visual evidence and documents. From now on, I’ll strongly advise others to stay away from Budget, especially when renting abroad. Let's see how much this company really values customer satisfaction.