Carver Living Center

Resident of 15 months had legally parked car towed by management without notice. Car parked on premises for 8+ months. Not reimbursed for tow charges Because of multiple knee surgeries, I have been a resident at Carver Living Center in their rehab program for 15 months. On Oct. 23, after my last surgery, I was in a cast or immobilizer until Jan. 14th. During that time I was only able to leave the building in the facility van in my wheelchair. My car, which had been parked on the premises since April (exact date unknown) was used infrequently by a friend to run errands for me. She was in sole possession of the keys to my car. When she arrived at Carver about 4:30 PM, Jan. 24th., she asked where my car was. Since she didn't know, I assumed it was stolen and reported it to the police. After police investigation, it was determined the car had been towed on Jan. 9th.for being "abandoned". Calls to local tow companies located the car, and I was told how much the charges were. When I approached facility administrator, I was told it was towed for abandonment and they had no responsibility in paying to recover the car. Was told tow notice was posted by time clock in employees lounge. Access to lounge is by code on locked door, and code only available to employees. Asked 10 employees from 4 divisions (maintenance, housekeeping, nursing, and nursing aides) if any had seen notice. I knew some of these had knowledge of my car and its being on the premises. No one had seen any notice, and only 1 (maintenance) had heard about abandoned car to be towed. (He did not know I had car here.) Most had seen me getting in or out of car prior to my surgery, and 1 had helped me out of car one day. Car was properly parked, and as a long-term resident, I feel the least that should have been done would have been a notice to residents when it was determined car didn't belong to employee. They could see license and tag were current, and could have checked tag through DMV to determine ownership. They have no trouble notifying us when someone will be coming around to check our rooms for too many belongings. (If we don't clear them out, they are confiscated and disposed of.) When car was towed, I had many personal and legal papers in trunk, along with personal belongings and walking equipment that wasn't presently being used, as well as jewelry items I didn't want left in room while I was in hospital and hadn't brought back into the building. It's not only the matter of $700 to recover my car, but the careless way of running a business and disregard for residents. I feel I am due reimbursement.Desired SettlementI want reimbursement for the money it cost me to recover my car from the tow service, and the money I paid my friend to get off work, get a second person to drive one of the cars, and pay her for the time she spent going to the bank to cash a check as the tow service did not accept checks or credit cards.Business Response As the individual was informed, no one knew she had a car at the facility. She did not make the business office or social workers aware that her vehicle was to be parked indefinitely at the facility. Her friend who is designated to drive her and who had the keys to the car also did not make us aware of the situation. As in any parking lot public and private towing is at the owners expense. I did post a sign a week prior to towing at the entrance where the car was parked attempting to find out who it belonged to. We have had Residents have their cars parked and we were aware of it. Consumer Response When the administrator was approached about the problem, I was told the notice was posted beside the employee's time clock. Now she says the notice was posted at the entrance where the car was parked. Have been unable to find any employee who saw the notice. As the facility was on "lock down" due to the flu outbreak, visitors were not permitted to use that entrance. Since I was still in a leg immobilizer, I could not personally have used that doorway. The van transporting residents to medical appointments is not permitted to pick up or discharge residents at that entrance. Several employees knew my car was here, and that it had been since the previous April. There were numerous occasions when the car was not moved for several weeks at the time. In fact, from mid-May until July 26th. the car was not moved. The person now in possession of the keys had surgery herself and wasn't available to assist me until late July.It was only during Aug., Sept., and Oct. (until my most recent surgery) the car was frequently moved. As to the statement "no one knew she had a car at the facility", this is not true as more than one employee had assisted me getting in or out of the car, and numerous others had helped bring in bags of items when I'd gone shopping or to my home and returned with more than my friend or I could manage without several trips to the car.Lastly, in none of the forms I signed when I registered here in Oct. 2013 was there a notice that the business office or social workers were to be notified if I had a vehicle parked here for an extended time. While I don't argue with the fact vehicles can be towed at owner's expense when warranted, I feel it was handled in an unfair and underhanded manner. It was presented to me as occurring because the car was "abandoned". There was no criteria that would indicated my car was abandoned. It has current license, was clean and in good repair (no flat tires, broken windows, broken lights, etc.) and if the notice had been posted, I feel at least one employee here would have told me. They would have had no reason to lie about seeing a notice. I still feel I should be reimbursed for my expenses, if not for the aggravation and stress I went through, thinking the car had been stolen. Final Business Response Car may have been parked but abandoned for over a month according to Ms. [redacted]. Her designated driver who had the keys to the car should have been more responsible in also communicating and responding to the notice put up to determine ownership. cars are towed at owners expense. Facility tried and due to complaints from other patrons and staff followed through. Facility is not responsible for towing expenses. Owner should have communicated and given facility information. Apparently, car was parked right outside residents room and bed faced the parking lot.