Towing Company rip off!

[jx3smom]

As I wrote on Friday, DS was in an accident. The car was towed about a mile and a half. It was at night. The next day we went to the towing company to sign a release for Acura road side service to pick up the car and take it to the dealer. We had to pay the towing company. I understand the $95.00 towing fee and even the $25.00 (less than 24 hrs.) storage fee but they also charged us $45.00 because another company was coming to pick it up. I know the insurance will reimburse us but I think it is a real rip off!

 

[cassie]

That I don't understand. How can they charge you for picking up your car? That is a ripoff. Is there some reason why Accura couldn't pick up the car in the first place?

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

by intenseblue98' DH (former tow truck driver)....

I worked for a tow company for a couple of years and yes that is a ripoff. My company never charged extra because another company was picking up the car. There are to many tow companies that are shady and give the good tow companys a bad name.

 

[jx3smom]

I really thought something was fishy about that. I don't know who I can report them to. If we'd had a choice we would have called Acura that evening but the police called the tow company to get the cars out of the way and like I said the car was only there from 8:30 pm til 1:30 pm the next day. I guess they wanted to do the repairs in their body shop. This car was only 6 mths old and there is no way anyone but a certified dealer is going to touch it. DS went through this same kind of garbage when his old Honda that was stolen in West Chester, PA was recovered in Reading, PA.

 

[cassie]

I would think you could report them to Motor Vehicle.

 

[mudnuri]

This is why we ALWAYS have AAA. Even with always being covered under the Roadside Assistance GM offers (well, cept DH's truck, too many miles)...

If your vehicle is broken down, then Acura could have come and got it, Roadside Assistance with manufacturers, GM, Ford, Acura etc.. only covers if your broken down, not if your in an accident.

If your in an accident, you can request from the police a AAA tow company...they will then radio dispatch, who will in turn call the nearest AAA tow company.

AAA at least has a company you can contact when things like this happen.

Sorry to hear DH got ripped off.

Brandy

 

[jx3smom]

It was Acura roadside assistance that picked the car up from the towing company lot.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by jx3smom
I really thought something was fishy about that. I don't know who I can report them to. If we'd had a choice we would have called Acura that evening but the police called the tow company to get the cars out of the way and like I said the car was only there from 8:30 pm til 1:30 pm the next day. I guess they wanted to do the repairs in their body shop. This car was only 6 mths old and there is no way anyone but a certified dealer is going to touch it. DS went through this same kind of garbage when his old Honda that was stolen in West Chester, PA was recovered in Reading, PA.

Yes, I remember that incident. You had problem's with Vince's here in Reading. You sure aren't lucky when it comes to tow companies. . I know that around here, police have "contracts" with tow companies, AAA would be a separate "contract". If police were involved, I'm not sure that you had a choice in which company would tow your car. That would be a question to ask the police dept.

My initial thought would be to report them to the BBB. Maybe you could contact NCB10 in Philly and have them investigate unfair billing at this company. There should be a link on the Consumer Alert section of their website www.nbc10.com.