Akers Towing & Recovery

Review: We broke down in our RV on Rt. 77. The highway patrol was there to help right away. Which was very Nice. He called a tow truck to tow us to the nearest roadside rest which was only 5 miles away. To see if my husband could fix the problem. After we got towed Akers towing charged us $500.00. We broke down at mile marker 54 and the rest area was mile marker 59. Thats $100.00 a mile. Still the problem never got fixed and our [redacted] called a shop in [redacted]. he charged us $350.00 for 90 miles which was a good price. I just think that Akers towing took advantage of us and was very unfair. I really dont want him to do it to anyone else. Hope you can help. [redacted]Desired Settlement: I think a 505 refund would be fair. That is $50.00 a mile. Hope you can Help!

Business

Response:

This was a road hazard call received an 3/11/2015 from the Virginia State Police. Motor Home wassitting in a dangerous location on the side of Interstate 77 with the front bumper lodged against theguardrail and the car they were towing on a car dolly sitting on the white line. It was raining andsituation was considered hazardous and needed immediate attention. The owner failed to mention thatthis was a 35 foot Motor home not a "small" RV, towing a car on a tow dolly.Motor Home and car with dolly were towed to nearest rest area per owners request so he could workon it himself.This required a large tow truck. Our initial rate to hook to a large Motor Home starts at a flat $500.00.After 10 miles it is $5.00 an additional mile. The owner was advised we do not participate in contractswith motor clubs, we are independent and he would be responsible for the bill and turning the bill intohis insurance. His reply was "l have plenty of insurance."We have been in business for approx. 40 years. We are on the Virginia State Police Call list and licensedby the Virginia Tow Board. Our rates are common knowledge and comparable to any large wreckercompany in the state of Virginia. I am sure the responding State Trooper would be available to confirmthe call and situation.We responded to the call in a timely manner, hooked up 35 foot Motor Home," tow dolly and car", in adangerous situation and towed them somewhere safe as requested. Customer was not takenadvantage of or treated unfairly. He was charged the set rates we charge any customer.Regards,Charles H. Akers, Jr.Owner/operator Akers Towing and Recovery

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

It was a Road Hazard. Any time you break down on a interstate its dangerous. The State highway patrol was there to protect us all.the whole time he was working. He new it was dangerous when he started his Job. Yes we were Grateful he came right away! Yes we did have a 34ft. motorhome towing a car. And I am sure he was told what he had to tow by the state trooper.Its Great he is on the call list. That gives him more work than others.Probably why he had a NEW Tow Truck.Is $500.00 the going Rate? This never happened to me before. My insurance is not even covering the amount of $500.00 The club he mentions is a Great Club. Its for the American People to get better rates.Affordable Rates. The next rest stop was 5 miles not 10.The owner was all upset being broke down. Not knowing what to do.And when its done and you are charged $500.00 for 5 miles. What can you do? Did we have a choice?Their Initial rate to start that tow truck is $500.00 Is that fair rate?How are their rates common knowledge if you have never done this before. And the company that towed us from the rest area . Had just as big & new of tow truck and did not charge us $500.00. He was from Virginia as well.Yes he responded to a state trooper in a timely manner. And was treated nice. But the unfair part of this all is his Cost of $500.00 to start the truck up. A Cost the insurance company wont give back.I just hope this does not happen to anyone else. As the problem of the motor-home was not even fixed.