Dear Budget Customer Service,
I am writing to formally dispute the charge of €2,018.16 relating to rental contract number 368795291, regarding the vehicle I rented and returned at Malaga Airport, from April 25, 2025 to May 3, 2025.
Although I had booked a Citroën C3 Aircross, upon my arrival I was informed that the vehicle was not available and was instead assigned a Peugeot 2008.
At the time of pickup, the Peugeot 2008 had a clearly visible damage to the rear door. However, the damage report I was given was only in text format, lacking the usual visual diagram that is typically used to clearly indicate the location of each reported damage. The document referred to damage on the rear bumper, and in the absence of a visual reference, I reasonably assumed it referred to the damage I had actually observed.
Furthermore:
No Budget staff member accompanied me during pickup to conduct a joint inspection;
Upon return of the vehicle on May 3, the staff member at the Malaga Airport desk took the keys and asked me to leave, informing me that the inspection would be carried out afterward;
The inspection was therefore carried out entirely in my absence, as confirmed in the damage report;
I was not asked to sign any document regarding the return of the vehicle.
I firmly contest my responsibility for the alleged damage, as:
It was clearly visible already at the time of pickup;
It was described ambiguously, with no visual support;
It was never discussed, neither during pickup nor return;
It was recorded unilaterally after my departure, with no opportunity for me to verify or respond.
Additionally, and without this implying any admission of liability, I must point out that I was not provided with any evidence explaining how the charge of €2,018.16 was calculated. I believe that a charge of such magnitude should be supported by at least an official repair estimate from a body shop, or a technical document outlining the costs in a transparent manner.
Since the charge has not yet been applied and I am still within the 14-day dispute period, I hereby request the cancellation of any potential charge that Budget Car Rental intends to impose, given the complete lack of supporting documentation justifying the claim.
I would also like to clarify that during both the pickup and return phases of the rental, a third party was present who can confirm the facts as described above.
Lastly, I would like to emphasize that I have rented from Budget numerous times in the past through my company and have always been satisfied with the service. That is precisely why I chose Budget for this private rental as well. Unfortunately, this incident has seriously undermined the trust I had placed in your company.
If this matter is not handled appropriately, I will be forced to file a complaint with the relevant authorities and to dispute the charge with my payment provider.
I also reserve the right to take any appropriate action to protect my reputation and integrity, as I am not responsible for the matter at hand.
I look forward to your response within 15 days of receipt of this message.
Kind regards,
Gregorio Greco
