I've been renting from the LBC downtown Ocean Blvd Avis/Budget location for years. I split the last two years between Southern California and Ohio while caring for my dad through pancreatic cancer, and this location has always been my go-to when back. 99% of the time the service has been amazing, usually from the older Black woman or the younger Black male who always get me in and out with no problems.
But my last two experiences with the manager, a man with an accent, have been unbelievable.
First situation: I picked up a car that had the service light on. I went back to the office, and he said to me nothing was wrong with the car, saying it's "because it's electric" and he could just reset it. If that's the case, why isn't that done before a customer picks it up? He told me to go get the car and he'd meet me at the curb. I went all the way back up to the 4th floor, drove it down and he was nowhere to be found. I waited 8 minutes, went inside, he was with another guest and said he'd come right out, waited again another 8-10 minutes. At that point I had to leave for work.
Fast forward to this last pickup in November. I returned one car to pick up a new one, same day. He returns my first car stating I wouldn't be getting any money back because I'm returning it a day early, no problem. Then he proceeds to process my pre-paid pick up. I tell him with this booking I should have a luxury upgrade and he said he has no availability. Then he asks for the last 4 digits of the card I prepaid with. I gave them, he says they're wrong. I give him another card, he says wrong again. I said I pay and have always paid on my phone with Apple Pay. I have rented from Avis for YEARS using Apple Pay and have never been asked this question. His tone was immediately condescending, like he assumed I was trying to scam or do something shady. I explained this has never once happened to me, and he basically brushed it off. Showing me the computer screen as if I work there and should know what I'm looking at. He said without the number I can't process the rental.
I call customer service, even they couldn't find this "random 4-digit" number Apple Pay generates. The rep on the phone said to log in on my account look at the email it is nowhere in my information. He is on the phone with the rep speaking and acting as if I'm inconveniencing him to help me solve this issue that never has been an issue before. Suddenly, the rep finds the numbers after saying she couldn't. The whole thing was ridiculous and left a bad taste in my mouth. Especially after spending thousands renting from this location, and he treated me like I was trying to pull off a billing scam for a rental.
Then I get to the car and it's disgusting, trash in the driver door, passenger door, trunk. No upgrade available even though I had the offer. I called customer service again and couldn't even change my return location so I never had to interact with him again.
And to top it all off, a week before my return today, this same manager calls me, informing me he is calling from Budget on Ocean and wants to ask how the car is "doing" and confirming my return date. I have rented for years, I have never received a "courtesy" call. NEVER. When I returned the car today and mentioned it, he lied straight to my face saying he never called me and tried blaming the younger man that works there as if I don't know the difference between their voices. At this small location, he is the only in office employee with an accent.
I will NEVER be back to this location. He's rude, condescending, a liar, and clearly has some biases in how he treats certain customers. It's a shame the two employees who always treat me with respect have to work under someone like that.
Picked up another rental later that same day at the Rosecrans location in Hawthorne using apple pay. In and out in 6mins, clean car, and didn't have any question on a 4 digit number. read more