I had agreed with Allianz to return my free Commodore car to Budget Car Rentals on Marion Road by 10am. After this date, I would pay for my own rental.
On Wednesday afternoon, I contacted Alliance. They were going to contact Budget to get a cheap rental. “No worries” they say.
Within minutes Budget rings me. ‘When you go to Marion branch by 10am Andrew with have a Kia car ready for you. It’s all arranged, you won’t need to worry about a thing.’
I ring Budget headquarters at 9:30 am to confirm all of this. What can go wrong?
Arriving at Budget on Marion Road at 10am on the dot I am greeted by a man who collects the keys to the Commodore and drives off with the car. I go inside the office and I see the man behind the counter.
‘Can I help you?’ he says.
‘You must be Andrew. I’m here to collect a Kia. It’s all been arranged.’
He stares blankly at me. ‘Andrew’s not here! Are you sure you have the right branch?
I shout, ‘Marion Road Budget.’
‘Yes it is,’ he says. ‘What size Kia are you asking for?’ Even more blankly he stares at me.
‘I thought there was only one size,’ I reply.
He walks off then comes back. ‘There’s been a mistake. There’s nothing been arranged. If you wait 45 minutes we can get a Toyota Yaris to you.’
‘Hang on. Thirty minutes ago it was all arranged.’ I retort.
While waiting we do my credit card. That gets declined. Turns out it was the machine. Stay calm I say to myself while exploding on the inside.
After an hour my Yaris finally arrives. We go to the car-park and he gives me the keys and gets on with his life.
Burnside Writers Group 