By Christopher Elliott Christopher Elliott Email Bio Follow Columnist March 14 at 11:15 AM Two weeks after Kim Bruno returned his rental car in San Francisco, he received a surprise $285 charge from Budget.
After leaving a vacation rental in Arizona last year, I received a phone call from the property manager, who wanted to know what kind of dog I had. I’ve been dogless since our beloved cockapoo, Taffy, crossed the rainbow bridge years ago. And yet dark pet hair covered one of the sofas, according to the manager. She threatened to deduct even more money from my security deposit, even though I’d already paid almost $400 in routine cleaning charges.
Alice Pereira, a Budget spokeswoman, says that when a customer returns a vehicle with “excessive soilage,” it takes extra time to clean it. “When this happens, the car must be taken out of service to address whatever the problem is, whether it’s a stain or excessive hair on the upholstery,” she says. “So the customer is assessed a cleaning fee.”
“Radisson RED and Home2 Suites by Hilton both welcome our furry friends with open arms and pet-focused amenities,” she says. “Shed happens, and it’s wonderful to see more and more hotels opening up their spaces to our four-legged family members.”
Sprite. Such a good dog
Keep the pets at home.