Predatory Towing: How It Works and How You Can Avoid It | NBCLA

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[tomc.]

Why do the lawmakers not limit these outrageous storage fees? Charging $250 a day to store a car is criminal.

[nyctolia]

Wait so let me get this straight--if I take a car that isn't mine, it's Grand Theft: Auto. But if I use a tow truck to do it, it's not only legal, but I can make all the money??

[Calmer]

tow truck drivers are scandalous, but we all knew that already .

[akahaney]

Simple. If I didn't call you, you ain't touching my car

[jerradwilson]

Get roadside assistance/AAA. When in an accident that requires a tow, call your insurance company/AAA for a tow. Get the name of the tow truck company from the agent. Only accept the tow from that company unless law enforcement says otherwise.

[danthedriver]

This happened to me in New York. The only difference was the tow company was called from the "Police List". But they charged me for all sorts of fees and when my insurance sent another tow company to get my car, they would only accept cash to release my car.

[manuelmoraleda]

Robbery on the vulnerable and helpless.
They should be exposed and punished.

[lyeshiabailey]

My apartment complex has changed their parking rules over night and we now have a towing company that has been picking up cars daily in our complex and holding them with out releasing it just to rack up these fees. I’m in a situation now where the towing company told us what paperwork to bring in for the tow and now is changing their minds and making us jump through hoops every day just to rack up these fees and probably ultimately keep the car. The poilice will not do anything, it’s like we have no recourse at all. Seeking help

[rickcruz]

The tow companies should be concerned about PAYBACK

[sancheztv]

I think we all can sue this company for doing this our property

[Datacorrupter]

I doordash sometimes and i havent been towed yet but after deliveries sometimes ill wait around the corner for the tow truck to come only to hop in and wave to them XD helps relieve the stress of stressful orders

[hobbyistanonymous]

My first wreck I was 16 and took it to a dealer near by for a quote. I got a call a couple of hours later and they told me a quote over the phone and I told them that I thought it sounded high and was coming to pick up my truck and they panicked telling me to give them a few hours. I knew something was wrong so I went up there immediately and when I got there I was dumbfounded. My truck was already completely disassembled. I through a fit and after an hour of threats they came down significantly on the cost, covered my deductible, replaced my whole bed even though one panel was hit. This was a big deal since the other panel had major damage from before I bought it. And they painted the whole truck and under carriage the color I wanted. I was proud at how well I handled the negotiations at such a young age, but the moral of the story is there are a ton of scammers out there looking to prey on the weak so stand your ground and never back down.

[MacWalther]

A Detroit company wanted $15, 000 to release my truck after two days. I haven't seen it in over a month. Send in some SEALS!

[mind-of-neo]

Of course Towing is THEFT. It should NOT Be legal for anyone to move anyone else's vehicle without their permission. PERIOD.

[idontreallyexist]

I work for aaa and at times as I’m driving i come across lots of accidents .. my first thought is to make sure everyone is ok. Second I ask if they are aaa members. Third I ask if they have full coverage. If you have full coverage it’s best to use your insurance instead of your aaa membership. I ask what insurance they have and give them options to have their veh towed to their insurance approved body shop or to out tow yard for storage until their insurance picks up the veh. The driver is never asked to pay anything .. here is a tip. Only work with tow trucks that carry the aaa logo as we are their to help not to take your money. If they don’t have a aaa logo on their truck they are what we call in the industry bird doggers. They prey on people.

[ThePreacher]

mine was 3 miles away 700 dollars this is how we treat our vets

[photios]

"Tow companies listen for accidents on police scanners and then pounce." (1:27) This makes a good case for police scrambling/encrypting their scanner communications so that others can't listen in.

[DonalDocRavioli]

This is only dragging out so long because city officials and police are making too much kickback to shut it down. What about the RICO Law, what do they think that's for?

[endcorruption]

What do you do when a CHP officers assists the predatory tow and tells you erroneously that your insurance company will reimburse you?

[AMERICANPATRIOT]

Why should it have to be specifically illegal to lie to someone about the true nature of one's business to be liable. It is time to pass a federal law which makes all dishonesty in business illegal and punishable by a minimum of five years in prison with no chance of parole for each offense, plus no right to be paid for the dishonest activity.