Tow Squad, Inc.

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Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because:As written in the submitted complaint, I called about 3:p.mand no one answered the phone. Mr*** wrote in his response that they were probably on the phone when I called. Their phone rang and there was no indication, such as a "busy" signal or a beep ,that there was anyone answering the phone. It was not until a *** *** Store employee called from the *** *** Store that the phone was answered.Mr*** has written that it takes at least minutes under traffic conditions to arrive at Tow Squad Incorporated. Had the phone been answered promptly, as opposed to the phone being answered when the *** *** Store called from their phone, I would have had more than enough time to arrive at Tow Squad Incorporated. Additionally, Mr*** has written that recently, someone who knew a *** *** Store employee had the employee drive to their office and they didn't arrive at the office until 4:p.mI was informed that the towing office would close at 4:p.mwith absolutely no exceptions, he was extremely clear that he would not wait at all. I still dispute the $charge and want that amount returned to me
Regards,
*** ***

I don't agree with *** *** timing and being able to drive from *** to *** *** *** by 4pm, unless she had a ride waiting for her when she got off the 3pm train at the *** *** train station and carries $cash on her during the evening rush hour and constructin on
*** ***We travel it often while towing cars from there and know it takes at least minutes each way during traffic conditionsAlso we just towed someone who knew a giant employee and had the employee drive her to our office after she got off the 3pm train and they didn't arrive at our office until 4:pmAlso we get a lot of calls from customers around 3pm when they return so we were probably on the phone giving directions to another towed commuter when *** *** was calling

Review: Tow Squad towed my car without issuing proof. My car was in a parking lot ([redacted] Shopping Center) on a Sunday morning. We drove there to food shop, saw that there was a flea market, and decided to visit it before buying our milk and other foods. When we came back our car was gone. We called, and after trying to explain we were shopping afterwards (we shop at the [redacted] there all of the time) we were talked down to and treated unfairly. We were also dared to take him to court. He said they took photographs of us leaving the lot.

The signs are unclear. Some, unreadable from where we parked, said "No overnight or all day parking" and "Customer Parking Only" upon closer look. This was unreadable from our car because of sun damage (I have photos if needed). Tow Squad also changed the other signs (which all face AWAY from where cars park) from a $200 to a $250 fine just that morning. As it says "Customer Parking Only" and we WERE customers, we feel we were treated unfairly.

The signs also said the lot was closed Sundays. This happened on a Sunday, which, for some reason, was mysteriously opened until noon. This seems a little shady to me. Also odd was that he demanded $250 in cash. Why would a company demand cash? I've been to yard sales that have credit card machines in this day and age.

When we picked up the car and asked for the photographs, the worker refused, claiming they were with "the driver". He then made sure we understood if we decided to wait for the photos, it would be another $50 a day. When I asked about some of the discrepancies about the sign, he accused me of not being able to read or understand their signs. He then rudely picked up a LARGE version of the sign (which he must have to do regularly if they have it easily at his disposal) and started barking an explanation at me.

Not only would we like a refund, we would also like something done about this overagressive towing scam this company seems to have. We were one of MANY victims that day, and after talking to [redacted], this has become a HUGE problem in the lot. Who is this company to decide who is and isn't a customer? If we leave for 10 minutes and then come back and spend $100 (which we often do) would [redacted] or [redacted] say we weren't a customer? This whole scam seems a bit unfair to the everyday shopper, and we would like to see something done about it.

Thank you.Desired Settlement: Cash refund of $250.

Business

Response:

October 3, 2013

Dear [redacted],

I am in receipt of your letter dated Sept 30,2013 regarding the towing of [redacted] car from [redacted] Shopping Center on Sept 22,2013.

While we appreciate that **. [redacted] shops at the [redacted] Shopping Center, the parking lot is available solely for patrons only while they are shopping at the center. To assure that there is adequate parking for the customers of the center tenants it is not permitted for patrons to park their vehicles on [redacted] property and then leave the property for any reason.

Also I would like to address some of **. [redacted] concerns he wrote about,

He clearly mentions he decided to visit the flea market taking place a block away before shopping in [redacted] for his milk and other foods and that the lot is POSTED "Customer Parking Only" (stating we were customers) but PRIOR to being towed he was NOT a customer at ANY [redacted] Shopping Center store. Some signs actually read $200 plus storage (starts immediately) so therefore we charge $250 AS SOON AS A VEHICLE IS PLACED inside our impound lot.

What is shady or mysterious about releasing cars on a Sunday and odd about being paid in cash?

I'd also like to note that [redacted]'s car was parked on the other end of the shopping center no where near the [redacted] store and that we do take pictures of everyone who parks and leaves the shopping center, the reason we take pictures of people crossing the street and walking away from the property is so that we do not tow any actual customers and to document an illegal parker in the event of an court action so we can counter sue for any lost time and attorney fee's.

And [redacted] is correct about this being a HUGE problem in the [redacted] lot because the [redacted] School District is using the [redacted] shopping center as if it is school district parking since the school bus drivers and students park there on a daily basis and now the flea market is using the lot on Sundays, I feel [redacted] should direct his attention to the school District to either buy [redacted] Shopping Center or build a parking garage next to the school to accomadate their parking needs or [redacted] should contact the [redacted] Twp and ask how does a school with 2000 students and 200 employees exist with only a 250 car parking lot? Or how does the Twp allow a flea market take place in a parking lot and use ALL the parking spaces for the flea market and therefore not provide parking to its shoppers but require EVERY other business in the Twp to provide required parking under zoning codes?

Sincerely Yours,