Tow Trucks and "drop fees"
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Tow Trucks and "drop fees"
Last night I came very close to getting into it with a tow truck driver for hooking my suby and then charging me $150.00 for a “Drop Fee”.
I arrived in Jack London Square around 8:09pm hoping to pick up a bottle of Vodka and some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with the lady. I parked in the “Bev Mo” lot which states it’s only for Bev Mo customers and there is an hour limit. I head to get the ice cream and then proceeded to Bev Mo, which is next door to Ben & Jerry’s. Bev Mo then closed so I walked back to the parking lot to get into my car. I took money out at the ATM in the ice joint. The receipt reads 8:11pm. So I’m not in there for no more than 5 Minutes.
As I am rounding the corner I notice a tow truck driver has my Suby locked on the back wheels and I proceed to run over and tell him not to tow the car. I ask him why he was hooked my car and he replied “Bev Mo is closed”.
Long story short, I went back and forth with this guy. There are no signs stating you can not park between Hour A and Hour B. In addition I got into his *** about how if he did move my car I’d sue him for damages as you can not tow a Suby in such a way. Luckily he had the back tires locked and they were still on the ground. Further more I told him he might as well be robbing me for $150, yes the guy actually said I needed to pay him $150 or he’d tow it and charge me $300 +.
At this point I lost it. No where in this lot does it document any hours of parking and so forth. There is a sign about the towing company and no other information about when you can or can not park. The only sign I see is "For Bev Mo Customers Only, Hour Limit". I was close to getting into a fight but calmed myself since my car was still hooked. I’d rather walk away with my Suby and not have Bologna sandwiches for the night in Oakland’s holding cell for assault.
So in the end I pay $150 for this “Drop Fee” and get my car unhooked and drive out.
Even though I’ve sleep over this I am still pissed. I’ve heard of “Drop Fees” and so on but it kills me how I felt almost setup, robbed, and cheated. Thank God I was able to calm myself because that would have made it worse; in jail with no suby and a bigger issue.
Errr What a wonderful Sunday night! I guess I will look at my options in court to see if its worth the fight. If there was a sign that stated I couldn’t park between X hours, I’d gladly pay the fee and not even *****. However that was not the fact and that pisses me off.
In short, if you go to Bev Mo and it’s closed, you might get towed! And BTW I guess Bev Mo closes at 8pm on Sunday’s vs 9pm every other day..
I arrived in Jack London Square around 8:09pm hoping to pick up a bottle of Vodka and some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with the lady. I parked in the “Bev Mo” lot which states it’s only for Bev Mo customers and there is an hour limit. I head to get the ice cream and then proceeded to Bev Mo, which is next door to Ben & Jerry’s. Bev Mo then closed so I walked back to the parking lot to get into my car. I took money out at the ATM in the ice joint. The receipt reads 8:11pm. So I’m not in there for no more than 5 Minutes.
As I am rounding the corner I notice a tow truck driver has my Suby locked on the back wheels and I proceed to run over and tell him not to tow the car. I ask him why he was hooked my car and he replied “Bev Mo is closed”.
Long story short, I went back and forth with this guy. There are no signs stating you can not park between Hour A and Hour B. In addition I got into his *** about how if he did move my car I’d sue him for damages as you can not tow a Suby in such a way. Luckily he had the back tires locked and they were still on the ground. Further more I told him he might as well be robbing me for $150, yes the guy actually said I needed to pay him $150 or he’d tow it and charge me $300 +.
At this point I lost it. No where in this lot does it document any hours of parking and so forth. There is a sign about the towing company and no other information about when you can or can not park. The only sign I see is "For Bev Mo Customers Only, Hour Limit". I was close to getting into a fight but calmed myself since my car was still hooked. I’d rather walk away with my Suby and not have Bologna sandwiches for the night in Oakland’s holding cell for assault.
So in the end I pay $150 for this “Drop Fee” and get my car unhooked and drive out.
Even though I’ve sleep over this I am still pissed. I’ve heard of “Drop Fees” and so on but it kills me how I felt almost setup, robbed, and cheated. Thank God I was able to calm myself because that would have made it worse; in jail with no suby and a bigger issue.
Errr What a wonderful Sunday night! I guess I will look at my options in court to see if its worth the fight. If there was a sign that stated I couldn’t park between X hours, I’d gladly pay the fee and not even *****. However that was not the fact and that pisses me off.
In short, if you go to Bev Mo and it’s closed, you might get towed! And BTW I guess Bev Mo closes at 8pm on Sunday’s vs 9pm every other day..
hmm. take it up in small claims.
Why tow the car if the place is closed. You aren't inhibiting any customers from parking...
Then again, it is a private lot from what I'm reading.
Why tow the car if the place is closed. You aren't inhibiting any customers from parking...
Then again, it is a private lot from what I'm reading.
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That's BS.
What company was he with?
I would not have paid. He cannot tow the car given the rig you mentioned (though I must say that it happens every day that some dumbass tow truck driver tows an AWD with two wheels on the ground).
If nothing was posted in the parking lot, you should have called the police and not let the driver leave.
If you know the company's name I would call their dispatch and ask to speak with the boss, and ask for your money refunded. If being polite about the matter gets you no where, then I will tell them that you are going to call the police and then pursue it in court. The guy basically kidnapped and ransomed your car.
What company was he with?
I would not have paid. He cannot tow the car given the rig you mentioned (though I must say that it happens every day that some dumbass tow truck driver tows an AWD with two wheels on the ground).
If nothing was posted in the parking lot, you should have called the police and not let the driver leave.
If you know the company's name I would call their dispatch and ask to speak with the boss, and ask for your money refunded. If being polite about the matter gets you no where, then I will tell them that you are going to call the police and then pursue it in court. The guy basically kidnapped and ransomed your car.
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Yeah its a private lot. I will go today and take pictures. I honestly think that truck was waiting in the distance and rolled up after I was out of sight. I was reading these companies do stuff like this to earn a quick buck. I thought about calling the police but knowing its private property they will not do a thing.
Like I said, if I were clearly in the wrong I wouldn't have anything to complain about. But when it seems you are being robbed of $150. Yeah its another story!
I'll keep everyone posted on what I plan on doing and if its worth the court!
Like I said, if I were clearly in the wrong I wouldn't have anything to complain about. But when it seems you are being robbed of $150. Yeah its another story!
I'll keep everyone posted on what I plan on doing and if its worth the court!
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You should have called 911 and reported that someone was attempting to steal your car.
When the police showed up, everything would have been resolved.
That or beat the living tar out of the tow truck *****.
When the police showed up, everything would have been resolved.
That or beat the living tar out of the tow truck *****.
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I would have dialed 911 and let the police know there is someone trying to steal my car.
I would still call the police at this point and find out if this "extortion" is legal, as I have a feeling it is not.
edit: damn you paul!
I would still call the police at this point and find out if this "extortion" is legal, as I have a feeling it is not.
edit: damn you paul!
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I was thinking about calling the police, but I don't think that would have mattered at all. I'd like to think it would.
And yes, I was two seconds from getting into a full on fight. Not worth it and not worth the assault charge I'd be slapped with. Like I said, $150 is $150 but thats better than a bid w/ nasty sandwiches for a few days.
I will contact the company today and discuss this further. I doubt they will do anything but if not I move towards small claims and seeing what if any fight I may have.
And yes, I was two seconds from getting into a full on fight. Not worth it and not worth the assault charge I'd be slapped with. Like I said, $150 is $150 but thats better than a bid w/ nasty sandwiches for a few days.
I will contact the company today and discuss this further. I doubt they will do anything but if not I move towards small claims and seeing what if any fight I may have.
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getting the police involved is really the only thing you can do in this case. i almost went to blows with one of these tools for the same reason.
come to find out later, after knowing someone who does this for a living, that the "drop fee" is just a scare tactic that everyone pays. it's an off-the-books income for these a-holes. almost all tow companies pay by the hour, not by the car towed. so for them, they are just making the extra cash.
the second time i walked up and was offered a "drop fee" for a similar situation, i called the police while standing in front of his truck. he yelled at me for a bit, and i just kept quiet until the police showed up. then, once i told the cop he offered me a drop fee, the tow truck guy was in full denial and that the tow was a mistake/i was being unruly.
gl with getting your money back from the company, though
come to find out later, after knowing someone who does this for a living, that the "drop fee" is just a scare tactic that everyone pays. it's an off-the-books income for these a-holes. almost all tow companies pay by the hour, not by the car towed. so for them, they are just making the extra cash.
the second time i walked up and was offered a "drop fee" for a similar situation, i called the police while standing in front of his truck. he yelled at me for a bit, and i just kept quiet until the police showed up. then, once i told the cop he offered me a drop fee, the tow truck guy was in full denial and that the tow was a mistake/i was being unruly.
gl with getting your money back from the company, though
Sorry that happened to you. Yes I am sure that stupid tow truck driver was waiting near by to tow your car. Just call the damn police! What do you have to loose? Worst to worst they won't do anything, then you are just at the same place as you are now.
I've gotten hit on a private property before and the stupid lady doesn't speak English and wouldn't give me her insurance information. Called the cops, they came out, won't write a report because it was on private property (expected), but they forced her to give me her insurance information (all I wanted).
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Wow!!!
Thanks for sharing...I thought I heard all the tow truck companies dirty games, but this is a new one...
Did you get a receipt for your $150 payment...or know if the driver made an official record of it? If you did, I think you should still go to the police, Better Business Bureau or contact a lawyer (if you have the funds) to find out if there are any means of recourse against these guys...and there is always the small claims court...
Update once you speak with various parties, I am interested in finding out how this will turn out...
Thanks for sharing...I thought I heard all the tow truck companies dirty games, but this is a new one... Did you get a receipt for your $150 payment...or know if the driver made an official record of it? If you did, I think you should still go to the police, Better Business Bureau or contact a lawyer (if you have the funds) to find out if there are any means of recourse against these guys...and there is always the small claims court...
Update once you speak with various parties, I am interested in finding out how this will turn out...
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great advice all.
I will keep everyone posted and updated. If this does happen in the future I WILL contact the police. I will talk to OPD today, the tow place, and seek further information.
I doubt I'll get my $$ back but I sure as hell will try to.
:/
I will keep everyone posted and updated. If this does happen in the future I WILL contact the police. I will talk to OPD today, the tow place, and seek further information.
I doubt I'll get my $$ back but I sure as hell will try to.
:/
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getting the police involved is really the only thing you can do in this case. i almost went to blows with one of these tools for the same reason.
come to find out later, after knowing someone who does this for a living, that the "drop fee" is just a scare tactic that everyone pays. it's an off-the-books income for these a-holes. almost all tow companies pay by the hour, not by the car towed. so for them, they are just making the extra cash.
the second time i walked up and was offered a "drop fee" for a similar situation, i called the police while standing in front of his truck. he yelled at me for a bit, and i just kept quiet until the police showed up. then, once i told the cop he offered me a drop fee, the tow truck guy was in full denial and that the tow was a mistake/i was being unruly.
gl with getting your money back from the company, though
come to find out later, after knowing someone who does this for a living, that the "drop fee" is just a scare tactic that everyone pays. it's an off-the-books income for these a-holes. almost all tow companies pay by the hour, not by the car towed. so for them, they are just making the extra cash.
the second time i walked up and was offered a "drop fee" for a similar situation, i called the police while standing in front of his truck. he yelled at me for a bit, and i just kept quiet until the police showed up. then, once i told the cop he offered me a drop fee, the tow truck guy was in full denial and that the tow was a mistake/i was being unruly.
gl with getting your money back from the company, though
You just get that rush of wanting to kill someone, beat their ***, and being pissed... and you just dont think straight!
