A-1 Towing Company

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
While the naming sequence may be missing several numbers in the series(which is strange), there is still the issue of not photographing the drivers side to the same standard as the passenger side received. It is clear there was an effort of detailed photos but they all stop short of showing the critical area, which after pulling out is a huge scratch, how could you miss that with the flash? The scratch is noticeable enough to want to detail prior to pulling the vehicle, to avoid this exact situation. Showing the drivers side front tire, rear light and extreme close-up of the drivers passenger panel does not detail an effort to show good faith was used to document prior to pulling. There is an unbalanced amount of passenger side photos. This is clearly an unethical attempt to deceive anyone reviewing the photos, by showing just enough photos but not the one that would absolve A -1 towing. 
Regards,
[redacted]

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:There was no sign stating that I could not park in the vistors section without a permit. I had an officer come out and they as well did not see a sign stating we could not park there. There was also no information in the residents lease referencing parking rules for vistors. In the state on VA you must have signs informing people about the parking regulations on the property. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Good Morning,
We would need more information to respond to this matter. 
Date of tow, vehicle towed, and property vehicle towed from. 
Thanks,
A-1 Towing

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Hello [redacted],
Can you provide more information about the type of...

vehicle you were driving that evening. 
If there is a logo or a top mount sign indicating that you were doing a delivery, we normally would not tow the vehicle unless called in by the managing office or law enforcement. 
Feel free to submit more information regarding your claim so we can further investigate. 
Thanks,
A-1 Towing & Recovery
[redacted]

Good Afternoon, 
Thanks for contacting A-1 Towing.  
We have reviewed your complaint and find that your vehicle was legally towed for not displaying a parking permit as required by the property you were visiting. 
At...

no time will any of our drivers enter a vehicle to remove a permit for the purposes of towing the vehicle.  It has never been our practice and our drivers value their position here with A-1 Towing., 
As always, if you happen to be towed in the future, feel free to ask to walk to the vehicle and inspect for a permit without opening the vehicle.  If you can show a perfectly visible permit, we will return your vehicle free of charge. 
We also take photos of your windshield to validate the tow. Feel free to give us a call if you wish to review them. 
If you have damages to your vehicle, give us a call so we can provide you with a Damage Claim form.   Once submitted, we will investigate your claim. 
Thanks,
A-1 Towing
[redacted]

Good Morning,
Please visit the towing ordinance in the county you were attempted to be towed from. 
Whenever a vehicle is being impounded and the owner stops the driver on property, a $50 charge shall be charged to realease the...

vehicle. 
This was perfectly legitimate and we find no reason to give a refund. 
Thanks,
A-1 Towing.

Hello [redacted], 
A-1 Towing does apologize for any inconveniences caused. 
Feel free to submit any  cab fare receipts you may have for reimbursement. 
If you have further questions; feel free to give us a...

call.
Best, 
A-1 Towing & Recovery
###-###-####

Review: Terrible customer service, I have yet to get a call back from the manager and or owner. My car that had been lent to a single mother of 4 staying at my place while I was out of town was towed by A1 Towing.

My car was stolen in DC last week, filed a report and everything. Had to get my friend my other car (that normally resides in my buildings garage). I also alerted my building management I had guests staying .

After having the 1st car stolen, the next night she wanted to be extra safe and parked in the garage where I have a parking pass. She did not know it should be on G2 and not G1, and A1 wasted no time in towing it.

Building management said there were no complaints about it being in the wrong space, and it had a valid parking pass. IT hadn’t even been there that long.

My friend who had the night before come out to find my truck stolen, this times comes out to find my camaro towed, after having made efforts to make sure it was parked safe and sound. She a single mother of 4 who is currently homeless, and whom I was helping with a temporary place to stay and transportation while I was out of town.

But apparently this things mean nothing to the A1 Towing people. The would not release it without $125 from her. And they don’t even return my callsDesired Settlement: refund of this single mother of fours $125.00

call back from owner

clarification on web pagefor statement "Member:

Consumer Affair Agencies" thats cited, because they are not a Revdex.com member.

Review: On February 17, A-1 Towing picked up my 2012 Acura TL from a parking space in [redacted]) and towed the vehicle to their [redacted] lot. When I went to pick up the car there was a 2 foot long scrape across and up and down the front bumper. When I discussed the incident with A-1 Towing, they declined to take responsibility for the damage. After talking through it with them, they simply said that their "normal towing methods" should not damage the cars. When I asked if their tow truck driver could have been negligent, they said they had not talked to the driver and did not know how the car was actually towed. For reference, the car was towed from an end parking spot up against a building, with very little space behind the car, so towing from this particular spot on a front wheel drive car would have been complicated - as admitted by A-1 Towing's manager.

After provided pictures of the damage, the company still maintained that they did not know how the damage happened but none of their towing methods should do damage to cars. I spoke with the manager, and he maintained that he had not talked to the actual tow truck driver but would not take responsibility.

This car was recently purchased as an Acura Certified Pre-Owned car, and their certification guidelines prohibit them from certifying any car with damage such as this. I have recent pictures of the car before and after the towing incident to prove that the car was indeed damaged when towed.Desired Settlement: I would like A-1 Towing to take responsibility for the damage which is very clearly their fault, whether through normal practice or negligence on the part of the tow truck driver. I have picture evidence of the damage, the tow location, and what the car looked like before it was towed.

Review: My experience with A-1 Towing is the worst that I had since owning a car. I was unlawfully towed and when I go to explain myself to them, they were completely rude with a horrible attitude demanding their money.It was evening time and I had just got back from the national zoo with my infant and my husband. We go to visit my aunt and when we get to her townhouse, we decide to drop off the baby first and then park the car. We leave the car running, temporarily parked behind my aunt's car, not blocking fire lane, with emergency lights on, with all our personal belongings in the car. Im holding my baby and my husband takes the carseat inside the house. We were inside the house not even 2 minutes and when we come out the jerks at A-1 towing were dragging my car already. We managed to follow them in my aunts car until they pulled over. We explained what happened and asked why they took my car while it was still running and the driver said "ITS 150 DOLLARS IF YOU WANT YOUR CAR BACK. YOU DONT WANT TO PAY THEN [redacted] YOU!" And the jerk takes off with my car. We get to the dumpy facility and talk to the owner and my husband asks him, " what would you have done if you had an infant at night in 20 degree weather?" And he responded, "not what you did" and refused to talk to us until we paid the ripoff $150 fee. I have been towed before, and I take full responsibility for not reading signs or parking illegally. But to tow a car that is running and with valuables in it, not parked illegally, is clearly a desperate attempt to collect money. I stand by my complaint and have witnesses to back up my story. I just want my money back that was taken out of pure greed.Desired Settlement: I am requesting that the $150 fee that I paid be reimbursed in full. I was not parked illegally, not blocking anybody but my aunts car( who we were there to visit) and my car was still running- not even 2 minutes!!. If my car was completely off and no valuables in it, I would understand and not dispute this matter.

Business

Response:

Hello [redacted]

Review: After finding out my car had been towed, I went to A-1 Towing to pick it up. When I arrive, I ask how much the fee would be to get my vehicle back. When I was told $175, I asked the man who was helping me, what does the $175 fee include. As soon as I asked the question, a woman who was sitting beside the man who was helping me, immediately starts yelling, "You do not have to tell him anything, he(me) is a [redacted] I never did have my question answered, and to be talked to the way this woman talked to me was absolutely uncalled for, and highly innapropriate. I could tell that as soon as I had approached the window, I was not going to receive very polite service, but for someone to talk to me so poorly, I was amazed. The lack of customer service, and the way they handle their business is outrageous, and I thoroughly believe that this company is not providing a service to its customers, but rather a very large disservice. I am disgraced by the way this woman handled the situation, and demand further action be taken. It is time for people to be held accountable for their actions.Desired Settlement: While I highly doubt any response will come from my inquiry, I am hoping that the Revdex.com will truly look into the matter. I find it very hard to believe that a business can get away with such poor customer service without any repurcussions. I understand that my money may not be refunded, but the way this woman spoke to me was unacceptable, and uncalled for. I feel that this lack of customer service and respect does in fact warrant a refund on the money that I paid them for their services. I also believe that in addition to a refund, I deserve an apology from this worker, and I believe the woman should be either terminated for her indecency or placed on a probation with the company.

Business

Response:

Hello **. [redacted]

Review: I reside at the [redacted] Apartments in [redacted], Virginia. As a resident, I have a permit to park in the designated areas of the apartment complex. On April 14th, 2014, A-1 Towing company towed away my girlfriend's vehicle illegally. I always make sure that my guests park in the visitors' parking area. My girlfriend parked her car on [redacted] Street, not in the resident parking spaces. We discovered that her car was towed away around 12:30 p.m., when both of us were ready to go to work. We called the towing company and sure enough they had the car with them and said "you have to pay the fee and get your car ... you parked your car without a permit." I tried to explain to them that they made a mistake, because the car was not parked in the restricted lot, where one needs a permit to do so. I was told that I have to pay and get the vehicle and I was simply wrong and that I didn't know what I was talking about. Obviously, I was infuriated. I went to the Rental Office of [redacted] and asked them why my guest's car was towed. They called A-1 Towing and get (by e-mail) pictures of the place where my girlfriend's car was exactly parked when they towed it away. After about 40 minutes came the reply (pictures) and I was told by my landlord to "go get your car, it was a mistake."I along my girlfriend had to drive to A-1 Towing in order to recover the car. By then it was 1:50 p.m. and my girlfriend and I were way too late for work. I believe we should be compensated for our wasted time and energy, not to mention with what we had to deal at work.Desired Settlement: In cases like ours, A-1 Towing Company charges $125 to $150. Since A-1 towing admitted their fault, but did not bring back the vehicle, they should pay us back at least the $125 plus for our wasted time and a written apology or something to that effect.

Business

Response:

Hello [redacted],

Review: I parked my car around 7am on January 3, 2014 Friday at [redacted], VA [redacted]. I spent the whole day with friends and when I returned to my car around 10pm I realized my car had been towed away by A-1 Towing. When I went to pick up my car and spoke to the attendee she told me it was because my car was towed away for being parked between 2 spaces on a snow day. When I parked my car in the morning there was snow all over the streets and I could not see the lines that divided the parking spaces(this is complex with visitor parking where Ive parked my car many times before) I spoke with management and they knew I was right but could not refund due to no refund policy which I could not understand. The cost for me to retrieve my car was $150.00 which was so un justifiable. These people just rob Innocent people just to make a buck, which is so sad.Desired Settlement: I would like a full refund because I could not see the parking lines on the streets due to all the snow on the ground. They should have not towed my car. And knowing it had snowed hard that day I'm sure they towed many other cars to take advantage of this situation. There were also empty parking spaces available in that same parking area(visitors)when I nocticed my car was towed which indicated they were just doing this to make money.

Business

Response:

Hello [redacted],

Review: This company repeatedly engages in completely unethical practices.

On two occasions, this company has towed my car from my condominium parking lot. I am an owner at this condominium, with authorization to park in our outside lot. On both occasions, the property manager of my complex has contacted A-1 towing to inform them that I am authorized to park. Both times, however, I have dealt with the extreme inconvenience of having been towed and been required to pay outrageous fees to retrieve my car, despite their knowledge that the towing was in error.

In addition, on the 2nd towing, they actually entered my car, unauthorized. This breaking and entering is absolutely unacceptable.Desired Settlement: I would like a full refund of my money for both towing incidents. Additionally, I would like the Revdex.com to launch a full investigation into this business-- you will find numerous complaints by consumers, and this business should not be continued to operate if they continue such blatantly unethical practices.

Business

Response:

Good Evening,

Review: They towed my car because I was parked at a business for too long. In the process of towing my vehicle my car suffered $800 worth of damage because my car requires a flatbed tow because of how low my car is to the ground. I called to file a complaint and was told I'd receive a call back, never did. I have called them about 10 different times to speak to a man named "[redacted]" but everytime I call he is either busy or just stepped out. I had been promised over and over again that he would call me back and at the request of the man answering the phone sent in 15 pictures of the damage to my car. My muffler to my car was broken from the damage and I had to personally get it replaced before I could legally drive the car and that's not including the broken bumper.Desired Settlement: Refund of the costs I had to incur to fix my vehicle.

Business

Response:

Hello [redacted],

Review: Person answering the phone when we called to find out why our vehicle was towed from OUR parking spot, was rude and refused to answer any of our questions. We had to call [redacted] County Police to intervene and get the answers to the questions.Desired Settlement: A full refund and a letter of apology.

Business

Response:

Hello **. [redacted]

Review: I was working at [redacted] in [redacted] delivering pizza on the evening of April 15th 2014. I went to make a delivery at [redacted] apartments off of [redacted] at approximately 9:00 pm. There was insufficient parking in the area so I ran up to the apartment to drop off the pizza. I had left my car in the area with my flashers on knowing full well that I would be back soon. When I came back my car was gone. I was very confused and could not figure out for the life of me what had happened. I then proceeded to walk around in the hopes of possibly finding it. I finally flagged a police officer and we drove around looking for it. We finally figured out that my vehicle had been towed. I amtruly appauled that my car had been towed and feel that A 1 towing using unfair and deceptive business practices. They collaborate with the local businesses to tow vehicles and then offer incentives for doing so. I am a honest hardworking American who is just trying to get ahead in life by taking an extra job to support my family. They had absolutely no business towing my vehicle because I had ever right to be there to deliver a pizza. When asked to explain why they did it they responded by saying I did not have a sticker. This should come as no surprise because I don't live there nor to I intend on living there. Furthermore the experience was very unpleasant as I was forced to take a cab to get my car at 2 in the morning

To say that this company grossly abuses there power and completely mismanaged this situation is an understatement. They had absolutely no business touching my car much less towing it. Quite honestly I don't know how they obtained a business license in the state of VA when all this company does is abuse there power. I can assure you that this will not be the last time you receive a complaint about this company. I paid 150 USD to get make car out of there lot when I was in no way at fault for what happened. I was simply out on a cold rainy night trying to do my job and make a little money to provide for my family. These people are involved in very questionable business dealings and hope that every avenue is searched out as to why they are so incompetent they can not distinguish between two fundamentally two basic things.Desired Settlement: I would like this company to exercise better business practices.

Business

Response:

Hello [redacted],

On February 17, A-1 Towing picked up my 2012 Acura TL from a parking space in [redacted]) and towed the vehicle to their [redacted] lot. When I went to pick up the car there was a 2 foot long scrape across and up and down the front bumper. When I discussed the incident with A-1 Towing, they declined to take responsibility for the damage. After talking through it with them, they simply said that their "normal towing methods" should not damage the cars. When I asked if their tow truck driver could have been negligent, they said they had not talked to the driver and did not know how the car was actually towed. For reference, the car was towed from an end parking spot up against a building, with very little space behind the car, so towing from this particular spot on a front wheel drive car would have been complicated - as admitted by A-1 Towing's manager.

After provided pictures of the damage, the company still maintained that they did not know how the damage happened but none of their towing methods should do damage to cars. I spoke with the manager, and he maintained that he had not talked to the actual tow truck driver but would not take responsibility.

This car was recently purchased as an Acura Certified Pre-Owned car, and their certification guidelines prohibit them from certifying any car with damage such as this. I have recent pictures of the car before and after the towing incident to prove that the car was indeed damaged when towed.