Vehicle owners fight back over tow company`s special fee

[@DetroitNinja]

all towing companies charge bogus fees to enhance their bottom line. No surprise.

[@definitionofinsanity161]

“We were expecting some kind of fee to have them tow vehicles from the property” This is obviously the first property he has owned. Having owned commercial property myself these tow companies want to tow vehicles out of your lot so badly they offer you kickbacks to give them your business. It’s a really shady industry with crooks for owners, managers and employees.

[@danielsmith8773]

It's what I've been saying all along.

[@JustAnOldMan56]

"Special equipment" is a nebulous phrase that should be better defined. Today, a smart operator documents everything on video (pre-existing damage, etc), with explanations. They video loading and unloading, with some videoing the trip to the storage yard. All in a CYA effect to avoid unjust claims. Shyster operators won't video because it exposes their tactics.

[@raymondsteptore5062]

Extortion, fraud. Really? Shysty. Another example of racketeering by a tow company. Criminal!

[@tritchie6272]

Their License should be revoked,and the law that allows fees for special equipment use should be reversed. That company rep flatout lied.

[@joelmoreno4223]

Could a tow company be taken to small claims court? I bet the person seeking reimbursement would win.

[@arcade16]

Yes you can absolutely take them to small claims and this is especially common here in Florida where illegal tows are frequent in apt complexes. The scam works like this. These thieves come prowling in the middle of the night looking for cars they can steal. They’ll tow whoever they feel like then lie later and say your decal wasn’t visible or you were parked in a reserved spot but offer no proof. You the owner show up to demand your car back and they’ll refuse until they have payment usually something outrageous like $500 (almost always cash only so no chance on disputing it with your CC company later) if it’s been less than 24 hours with your only recourse to pay them their ransom money and later sue them in small claims court. Many of them know they’re flat out breaking the law but they know they’re making their money off the backs of mostly poor and working class folks so most won’t even bother going to court over it. Don’t think for a second the law will get involved either. If you call the cops they’ll say it’s a civil matter and they won’t even come take a report. It’s literally legalized theft.

[@joebedale5666]

Sue Them For Fraud!!!! Sue them out of business!!! Auction off their trucks and property and office equipment; proceeds to the victims and the police department!!!

[@reformcongress]

Make it a felony crime that requires an arrest of the tow truck operator and owner. Minimum fine $1000 per offense and 30 days in jail per offense with no maximum.

[@LygerTheCLaw]

first of all, why are they using flatbeds to tow cars that they have no keys to? boom trucks would be more suitable for those situations. the added fee is from their choice to use more expensive and unnecessary equipment. flatbeds are more expensive to buy, upkeep and operate than smaller boom lift trucks. they're not fooling anyone.

[@MrZedagaita]

Take them to your Local Motor Vehicles Dept, Local town or City, Dept Of Consumer Protection and the small claims Court .... Yes that is a lot of work, but if you make them dance it is worth every minute

[@thomcarey1971]

They are very much entitled to the ‘extra fee’ as they need to use a greater amount of Pixie Dust to unload the vehicle from their magical transport!

[@JV-pu8kx]

Only if special equipment has to be called in. If it is on the truck, then there should be no special equipment fee. I would be set up more like @GTOger where they have to be called. No patrols.

[@corybowman9583]

Hector looks shady too.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

crooked tow co, say it aint so..........................................................

[@karlwood6832]

Is the truck not special equipment?

[@danielsmith8773]

I used to tow. It's a legal racket. Everybody makes money. City,license fees,insurance company etc. RACKET

[@danka2000]

Yes it is. Here in Arizona, you don’t have to pay the tow operator to get your car back if towed from private lot due to a lien law. Another option..dispute the towing charge with credit card.

[@danielsmith8773]

@@danka2000 thank you.

[@princesstacos8849]

Now u see why it’s free smh

[@TowieHD]

I'm not a big fan of PP Towaways, but at the end of the day the vehicle in question was parked somewhere it should not have been. Something that is not disputed in this story.

[@tritchie6272]

Then the regular/allowed fee is all that should have been charged. And the impression I got is they were fine with paying the fee until they found out they had been scammed.

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

but the illegal fee is disputed

[@Brian_Williams5298]

The flatbed would be my special equipment! $345 is average private lot towing fee

[@DBthehumble]

If I tow a vehicle and is released same day, it’s $175 in my town

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

except.................................................................................................................... no, doesnt work that way

[@dominicgarcia4617]

off loading could require a snatch block used for flatbed cable to be doubled backed for the cable to pull the car off of the flatbed. snatch block is a special equipment. not to mention re hooking of cable. extra labor charge.. no keys would require these steps.

[@jasonaikens9735]

Well....not to say the bill was "fair" but in response to ppl "why would u need special equipment for unloading and not loading " I give u this...the winch used to load the vehicle will easily drag a car onto the truck....however there is no winch to drag it off the truck so u use "go jacks"...the other alternative would be chain ur car to something and drive away to drag it off the deck! Preventing possible damage...the car had to be dragged on truck it isnt gonna just slide off on it's own! Dont park illegally and u wont have ur vehicle towed!😥😥....#pplsuck!#candyasses#blatasses.....😂😂🤣

[@tonysal643]

You must be a tow truck driver😀 me 2👍👍

[@jasonaikens9735]

@@tonysal643 yes sir! Currently i run my own repair shop, btw i carried bleache white with me when i operated, if dragging one on i sprayed it on deck to get tires to start sliding off when locked in park...worked great....wouldn't leave any mess and would clean the deck a bit in process....😁😁

[@JoseRamirez-wv3pl]

Touch my car you have no fingers after! Play with me if you like

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

park legally

[@jiogcyihsugyiocjfdoivhphvw6821]

learn how to park, drunkard

[@ClaytonYatescarenthusiast]

I say don't illegal park. Their job is hard and hard to turn a profit. They should be able to charge the fee if they don't have the keys

[@tracywalters5606]

They had to unlock it and get it out of gear our we can hook a chain to it and pull it of

[@tracywalters5606]

So it's ok for you to do what you want screw parking permits and land owners who have the right to keep their land how they see fit

[@bobwehadababyitsaboy37]

Tow truck can only load the car. If the car is in park you need to use locksmith tools to open the car and put in neutral. Or you can use another tow truck to pull it down. Tow company is right.