Bethesda Towing

Bethesda towing thrives on predatory towingThey tow for no reason and then apply strong arm extortion tactics just to make moneyEmployees are rude, there is no managerial prescenceTheir entire operation is very shady, the wont give out names or phone numbers, only saying that everything is "listed"They repeatedly violate Senate Bill by using illegal spotter and refusing to provide proof of infractions

Due to the complaint being extremely vague I can't research the specific tow at this time. We do have a contract with the address in the complaint that requires all vehicles on the property to display a valid numbered permit for the corresponding space number. At this time, either the permit wasn't...

displayed completely or the vehicle was parked in the wrong space number per the guide lines of the HOA. I see no reason for a refund as we have a contract with the HOA and were fulfilling our obligations set forth in that contract, I hope this clears up any confusion and concerns that you may have had regarding thevehicle being towed.

Review: I have resided at my current residence for the past eight (8) months and the vehicle I was driving (an [redacted] Rent-A-Car) has been towed twice since living here. Different [redacted] Rent-A-Cars each time. The first time I was reimbursed by the Property Mgmt Company I rent from. This time my car was towed for failure to display a parking sticker. When I spoke with the towing company and asked that some consideration be given b/c i'm a resident here, they declined. This is unacceptable to me because the purpose of their contract is to tow cars which have been abandoned, those with expired tags, certain maintenance issues and those of non-residents a. I am a resident and strongly feel I should NOT have to pay at all or certainly NOT full cost.Desired Settlement: The return of the vehicle (which is a rental through [redacted] Rent-A-Car) and an arrangement to settle the matter either at no cost or at a fraction of the full cost they charge typically.

Business

Response:

Hello we are under strict guidelines to tow cars for no permit not just inoperable vehicles. As a resident for 8 months you should have received all towing policies from the management company regarding the rules and regulations of the property. If you permanent car has a valid parking permit you were made ware of the parking regulations at that time. There is no mistake of the tow company for a rental car not displaying a valid parking permit; there for the tow company should not be liable for any reimbursement for a fault of the vehicle owner/renter. I hope this clears up any confusion that may have been caused by your vehicle being towed. Kind Regards.

Consumer

Response:

[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]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

The assumptions noted in the company's response are false regarding the matter. Condominium documents have never been provided to me despite my many requests (written & oral) to all appropriate parties beginning with the lease signing, I am a leasee and despite my resident status was denied a permanent parking tag (reason unknown), plus made to wait an unreasonable amount of time before being given a flimsy paper hanging tag which has a significantly limited lifespan, remain unaware of contractual matters and alike due to the fact that the Condominium Management office refuses to talk to renters which may be unlawful. and to boot, our Landlord/Agent has also been unsuccessful in their attempts to get the information to us making it impossible for me to articulate an adequate response in kind at the moment. Further, what seems reasonable to me is a housing community association would not seek to enter into a contract with a provider that does not have the best interests of it's residents in mind and one in which causes unnecessary harm to the residents they serve. Likewise, a professionally savvy provider would also not intentionally bring unnecessary harm to the community they are serving. Mainly because no person would ever want to live there! Should after all relevant information and a legal opinion (if deemed nec.) be received indicating a legal tow was made, I would still in the interest of harmony not accremony, petition the parties involved to take a more human ethical approach to resolving the matter. I ask that they consider all the facts, the larger picture at hand, and do the right thing by seeking to find an amicable solution, one which does not inflict additional harm to any parties involved. I am open to mediating the matter as well.

Review: I went to [redacted] Hospital to get another disk of the CT scan because the disk I had was corrupt or scratched. The doctor couldn't read it. I parked at a building that I always park at when I go to [redacted] Hospital. I have parked there for years and never had any trouble. I even have an orthopaedic surgeon in that particular building. I walked over to the emergency room area of the hospital to get another copy of the CT scan. There are no signs anywhere that say that you can't park in that parking lot if you walk to another building. It was predatory towing. When I got out of my car, they could have approached me and told me I could not park there anymore. When I went back to my car, it was gone. The people at the hospital were very nice to me and helped me out as best they could. The security guard at the hospital let me use a phone there to get help. I had had a surgical procedure that morning in [redacted] and the doctor needed a non corrupt disk. I even got a note from the hospital stating that I was at Radiology. I had to take a taxi to the towing facility and they wouldn't give me back my car unless I paid them. I felt violated, hurt, and upset that I would be treated this way. I have contacted the credit card company that I am filing a dispute over the charge. They charged me $100 for towing, $32 for miliage and $20 for storage. The car was not there for more than an hour or so. If people are not allowed to park in a certain area anymore, it should be posted. This is a very unethical company.Desired Settlement: I should not be charged.

Business

Response:

In response to [redacted] claim:

The property she was towed from has signage that exceeds both Montgomery county and Maryland state code. The hospital that she was going to also has its own parking lot which requires payment. The rate she was charged was per Montgomery county code. I believe she also filed a claim with the Office of Consumer Affairs and that their investigation showed the tow to be within the confines of the law. We can not offer reimbursement at this time due to the fact that we did everything we were supposed to. The parking lot she parked in has major issues with people abusing their parking lot leaving no space for their patients and tenants to park. The fact is if she had parked in the paid parking lot for the hospital that she was going to she wouldn't have been towed.

Consumer

Response:

[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]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: The parking lot in the back was empty. There were practically no cars parked there. The towing company was predatory. I have a doctor in that building. As I have stated before, I have parked there many many times without incident. There was no signage and I had to call the police because I thought my car had been stolen. I found out through the police that it had been towed. Please post this to warn others of their predatory practices. I don't want anyone else to go through what I want through.

Regards,

Business

Response:

There are 3 signs on the property that measure 4 feet x 4 feet and 4 other Maryland State Law regulated signs posted on the property as well. 1 of the signs you walked right by as a picture was taken of you walking directly passed it. The property owners do not want ANYONE to park on their property and walk off regardless of how full or empty the parking lot may be at any given time. It is their property and they have the right to instill any rules they wish. We as a tow company can only enforce what property owners contract us to do. At times the parking lot gets full of vehicles because people do not want to park in the pay parking lot next door. This is the reason why they do not want ANYONE at ANYTIME during business hours parking on their premises. People try to beat paying for parking at the facility they are visiting so they park in a free parking lot try to beat the system. That is predatory parking, not predatory towing. My apologies if you feel that is was predatory. We are just doing what we are contracted to do. As stated in our last response you also filed a complaint with Montgomery County Consumer Affairs and they also sided with us.

Kind Regards,

Montrose Towing Management

Bethesda towing thrives on predatory towing. They tow for no reason and then apply strong arm extortion tactics just to make money. Employees are rude, there is no managerial prescence. Their entire operation is very shady, the wont give out names or phone numbers, only saying that everything is "listed". They repeatedly violate Senate Bill 401 by using illegal spotter and refusing to provide proof of infractions.

Review: Towing company with predatory practice came to my parking lot and towed my car from its reserved assigned space even though the car obviously and prominently displayed the proper permit in the front windshield.Desired Settlement: The reversal of the full towing fee

Business

Response:

Due to the complaint being extremely vague I can't research the specific tow at this time. We do have a contract with the address in the complaint that requires all vehicles on the property to display a valid numbered permit for the corresponding space number. At this time, either the permit wasn't displayed completely or the vehicle was parked in the wrong space number per the guide lines of the HOA. I see no reason for a refund as we have a contract with the HOA and were fulfilling our obligations set forth in that contract, I hope this clears up any confusion and concerns that you may have had regarding thevehicle being towed.