What is the Budget licensee required to maintain for the Rental Business regarding telephone and communication lines?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
satisfaction. No person may be employed as the General Manager unless such person will have completed the instruction furnished by Budget to Budget's satisfaction.
9.2 Management. Licensee shall notify Budget of the names and addresses of all of Licensee's officers, directors and managers. Licensee shall notify Budget immediately in the event changes in any such positions occur, including providing Budget with organizational documents executed to effect or approve such change, as set forth in Exhibit G. Budget reserves the right to periodically run criminal background checks and credit checks on any of Licensee's officers, directors and managers, including at the time of renewal.
9.3 Telephone Numbers/Weblinks. Licensee agrees to maintain not less than one (1) separate telephone number and facsimile/electronic communication line for the Rental Business which will be listed as, and identified exclusively with, the Rental Business (separate and distinct from all other telephone numbers maintained by Licensee), in all primary general and business telephone directories distributed within the Territory and in such other telephone directories, and in all advertising in which such number or numbers appear, as will be prescribed by Budget in the Standards. All telephone, facsimile and electronic communication lines and other commercial numbers, whether installed by or at the cost of Licensee or not, which are advertised in connection with the Rental Business (including listings in the white and yellow pages and any other telephone, online or other business directories) are held by Licensee solely for the purpose of performing under this Agreement and its related Exhibits. Budget may suffer losses and damages if Licensee diverts or transfers such telephone numbers, facsimile/electronic communication lines, domain names or weblinks (or permits their diversion or transfer) or uses them or permits their use for, or in connection with, any business other than the Rental Business. Licensee agrees that its commitment not to divert or misuse the telephone numbers, facsimile service/electronic communication lines, weblinks or domain names will survive termination of this Agreement for any reason, for the enduring benefit of the Network as a whole.
9.4 Insurance. Licensee will maintain such insurance, in such minimum amounts, and with such carriers as approved by Budget in its sole discretion or, as are prescribed in the Standards and in this Paragraph 9.4. Licensee will annually provide a current certificate of insurance to Budget naming Budget and its affiliates as additional insureds as prescribed by Budget in the Standards, and the insurer must waive any subrogation rights it may have against Budget. Budget may periodically increase the amounts of insurance carried by Licensee and require different or additional kinds of insurance to reflect inflation, changes in standards of liability, higher damages, Licensees specific claims history or other relevant circumstances. Budget reserves the right to receive an administrative fee or commission for its endorsement of certain insurance carriers and/or programs for the sale of supplemental liability and related insurance to rental customers.
9.5 Loss Damage Waiver. Licensee will make readily available to each customer the option to effect the waiver of any claim against such customer for collision or certain other damage to the rented Vehicle, notwithstanding any collision or comprehensive insurance deductible amount, subject to such conditions and limitations as are prescribed in the Standards and/or as are contained in the Standard Rental Agreement and the requirements of applicable law. Licensee may charge a reasonable, additional fee for such waiver.
9.6 Standard Rental Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 80–426)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a licensee must maintain at least one separate telephone number and facsimile/electronic communication line exclusively for the Rental Business. This number must be listed and identified solely with the Rental Business, distinct from any other telephone numbers the licensee maintains. This listing must appear in all primary general and business telephone directories distributed within the Territory, as well as in any other directories and advertising as prescribed by Budget in its Standards.
All telephone, facsimile, and electronic communication lines, along with other commercial numbers advertised in connection with the Rental Business, are held by the licensee specifically for performing under the Franchise Agreement. This includes listings in white and yellow pages, online directories, and other business directories. Upon termination of the agreement, the licensee is obligated to transfer all telephone numbers, facsimile and electronic communication lines, and electronic addresses and domain names used in the Rental Business to Budget or a designated party.
Budget emphasizes the importance of preventing the diversion or misuse of these communication channels. Licensees are prohibited from diverting or transferring telephone numbers, facsimile/electronic communication lines, domain names, or weblinks (or allowing such diversion or transfer) for any business other than the Rental Business. This commitment extends beyond the termination of the agreement, ensuring the enduring benefit of the Budget network. This requirement ensures that customers can easily reach the Budget rental location and that the brand maintains consistent communication channels.