Howard's Towing & Recovery

Most consumers are very alarmed, angry, or frustrated to return to their vehicles and find that their vehicles have been towed or in the process of being towed.  Our drivers are very professional and explain the situation to them plainly and without engaging them in haughty...

debates.   In most cases, the consumers accept that they should have read the sign, or the fact that the no parking/tow-away sign does apply to them, or they shouldn't have parked their vehicle in business A, and went down to business G for AN HOUR (Business G has NO parking or PAY parking).  The business owners and residents that provide parking to their guest/customers are tired of having their parking abused by Non-patrons have asked for our help in enforcing their individual parking policy and needs for patron parking.  Each land-owner or property manager has directed us to act in enforcing their needs to ensure parking for their guests/patrons. Howard's Towing has been contracted to provide service to remove illegally parked and/or unauthorized vehicles ONLY BY THE DIRECTION OF ON-SITE SECURITY.  The City of Pittsburgh has strict policy and guidelines which are enforced by both our towing company and those that we contract through and TOWING PERMITS (NON Residential) have been issued and are on display at all locations.  Included in the permitting process is an inspection of the location by a City of Pittsburgh Building Inspector to ensure proper number of signs per parking space; proper day and night-time visibility with regard to amount of light and size of sign.  [redacted]'s  vehicle was towed at the direction of [redacted].  The patrons of that location have contracted our help in removing vehicles of vehicles that do not have Parking Permits.  The vehicle was hooked up and the driver was starting to place the dolly wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle to protect the drive train when [redacted] approached.  Throughout the entire process, [redacted] was angry and placed his hands on the driver several times and the trucks equipment, jumping up and down on the truck at times.   He was given the option to pay for the impound on scene or at the impound yard.  Then he directed the driver to hurry in an unsafe manner to detach the vehicle.  The driver responded, "I can only move as fast as it takes".  If, in the event an error occurred and we mistakenly towed the wrong vehicle, the customer would then immediately be reunited with their vehicle at no charge, and we would not be conversing by e-mail at this time.  However; some people maintain that it is their right to park where they wish.[redacted] Howard's Towing and Recovery LLCHoward S[redacted] (Owner)   [redacted] cell[redacted] office[redacted] RIGHT NOW towingwww.[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
I had provided receipt from the Pennsylvania State Store from around 8PM but it was rejected by these guys saying that it does not qualify.  These folks are running a racket and hold people hostage for hundreds of dollars.
Regards,
[redacted]

Revdex.com [redacted] 
[redacted] 
[redacted] 4-20-15 [redacted] Re: [redacted] Id: [redacted] , our ref: [redacted] Most consumers are very alarmed, angry, frustrated (or all of the...

above) to return to their vehicles and find that their vehicles have been towed or in the process of being towed.  Our drivers are very professional and explain the situation to them plainly and without engaging them in haughty debates.  In most cases, the consumers accept responsibility  that they should have read the sign or that the No Parking/Tow-Away sign does apply to them, or they shouldn't have parked their vehicle in business A and went down to business G for an extended amount of time (business G has No parking or Pay Parking).  The business owners and residents that provide parking to their guest/customers are tired of having their parking abused by Non-patrons have asked for our help in enforcing their individual parking policy and needs for patron parking.  Each land-owner or property manager has directed us to act in enforcing their needs to ensure parking for their guests/patrons.  At over 400 locations throughout [redacted], Howard's Towing has been contracted to provide services to remove illegally parked and/or unauthorized vehicles.  The City of [redacted] has strict policy and guidelines which are enforced by both our towing company and those that we contract through and TOWING PERMITS have been issued and are on display at that location.  Included in the permitting process is an inspection of the location by a City of [redacted] Building Inspector to ensure the proper number of signs per parking space; proper day and night-time visibility with regard to amount of light and size of sign.    The policy that Howard's Towing and Recovery LLC has with [redacted] of [redacted] is, if a vehicle is parked and the driver leaves the property, the vehicle is to be towed after a reasonable amount of time (typically 15 to 30 minutes). After receiving the complaint about the situation at hand, our investigation into the situation found that, the customer walked off of the property towards the [redacted], which calls for removal of vehicle as determined by policy.  She has admitted this in the letter.  I can say that our drivers (subcontracted companies and drivers as well) do their best to be polite and helpful in these situation.  Customers can continue to escalate in their verbal abuse (or worse) as in this case and he could have left with the vehicle, which we advise for our drivers' safety.  Notes provided from subcontractor: I told her that if she preferred she could use cash or credit card but the way that she kept talking over me let me know that she would not listen and she would only hear what she wanted. At that point, She noticed that there was another person sauntering back to their vehicle. she said some things to him he said some things to her he immediately started to help her become more frantic then she informed me that she had planned to go to [redacted] all along. she also told me that there were no other [redacted]s from where she lived in [redacted] to here and this was the only one that she could go to. He and She started taking pictures of my truck started making veiled threats asking my name trying to find out who to call about me. In spite of a possible unsafe situation, he continued to try to release her car on site and succeeded.  We are not required to be able to accept charge, but try to offer that as a courtesy, and as all technology, at times it does not always work.  All credit card information is secure and is run at the time and drivers do not keep information as consumers can see that it was done in front of her and given right back.  In conclusion, she was parked illegally when she left the property and did not enter [redacted] first.     If you have any questions in this matter, please feel free to contact Howard's Towing at [redacted] or mail me personally at [redacted]  Thanks      [redacted] [redacted]-Owner

My appoligies for not responding in a timely manner, complaints involving third parties take additional time.   Most consumers are very alarmed, angry, or frustrated to return to their vehicles and find that their vehicles have been towed or in the process of being towed.  Our...

drivers are very professional and explain the situation to them plainly and without engaging them in haughty debates.   In most cases, the consumers accept that they should have read the sign, or the fact that the no parking/tow-away sign does apply to them, or they shouldn't have parked their vehicle in business A, and went down to business G for AN HOUR (Business G has NO parking or PAY parking).  The business owners and residents that provide parking to their guest/customers are tired of having their parking abused by Non-patrons have asked for our help in enforcing their individual parking policy and needs for patron parking.  Each land-owner or property manager has directed us to act in enforcing their needs to ensure parking for their guests/patrons. Howard's Towing has been contracted to provide service to remove illegally parked and/or unauthorized vehicles ONLY BY THE DIRECTION OF ON-SITE SECURITY.  The City of Pittsburgh has strict policy and guidelines which are enforced by both our towing company and those that we contract through and TOWING PERMITS have been issued and are on display at all locations.  Included in the permitting process is an inspection of the location by a City of Pittsburgh Building Inspector to ensure proper number of signs per parking space; proper day and night-time visibility with regard to amount of light and size of sign.  [redacted]'s vehicle was towed at the direction of security of Eastside security under the direction of [redacted] Property Management.  The patrons of that location have contracted our help in removing vehicles of people who have not patronized the store. .  Once again, it is difficult to give exact details of this situation with security providing direction an which vehicles to tow.  In most cases, the driver of the vehicle parked and left the property. Oftentimes, Violators return and find their car has been impounded, then patronize the establishment in an effort to show that they were a customer.  It is easily enough checked if they produce a receipt and the time is before or during the towing.  In most cases, the receipt often reflects a time later that the tow.  (often hours later)  If, in the event an error occured and we mistakenly towed the wrong vehicle, the customer would then immediately be reunited with their vehicle at no charge, and we would not be conversing by e-mail at this time.  However; some people maintain that it is their right to park where they wish.

Avoid this company at all costs! One of their drivers accidentally hit my car, and thought the driver was very honest and concerned, it turned out that Howard's Towing & Recovery was NOT INSURED. They insisted that my repairs be done by their friend, and refused to pay my deductible if repairs were done elsewhere. They also spent a year dodging my insurance company and their collection agency. All of this resulted in a law suit which they didn't bother to show up for, nor did they pay when judgement was made against them. A year after the accident, final payment was made only when the constable came to seize property due to failure of paying the judgement.

Review: Hi - On August 20th, we had come to Pittsburgh to drop our daughter to University of Pittsburgh. After dropping her, we did some shopping at the mini-mall located at [redacted] (shopped at PA Wine & Spirits). The signs in the parking lot indicate parking is for customers. When we came out, we found that our car had been towed. We had to return back to Philadelphia that night because our younger daughter was home alone.

Howard Towing insisted that we had left the property hence the car was towed. We had to pay $205 to get the car back, as we were basically being held hostage late at night with a 5 hour drive ahead of us.

Being in a strange city late at night, and the location of this place is very sketchy. My wife, daughter, and I felt very scared trying to talk to these people who absolutely were not going to release our car until we paid the money.Desired Settlement: I want my money back because we did shopping in this mini-mall and it is ridiculous that the car was towed.

Review: Tow truck company (Howard's Towing and Recovery 412-235-7700) required that I shop at Home Depot FIRST before going to the bank 2 blocks away. I went to the bank first and came back to Home Depot to shop (400 Highland Ave. Pittsburgh Pa 15206) and found my car about ready to be towed. It cost me $110.00 to have them drop the car where it was and NOT be towed. As I discovered, they sit in the parking lot and wait for people to NOT go to Home Depot first.Desired Settlement: I want my $110.00 back.

Review: Howard's Towing contracts work with "vulture like" tow companies. My experience (Monday, March 30, 2015) was with their operating practices in the [redacted] parking lot at [redacted] Tow truck drivers watch individuals park their car and if they do not walk directly into [redacted] -- they tow vehicles to a lot with a $189 pick-up fee. If you are lucky enough to witness the vultures they will release your car for a $110 cash (no checks "people stop payments on checks") or a $115 fee on your credit card. Signage for the "violation" is not clearly visible and towing occurs whether or not you are doing business at [redacted]. [redacted] was the name on the truck that was actively connecting tow equipment to my vehicle.

Contracted tow truck driver, "[redacted]" (no last name provided) was unprofessional, rude, unwilling to address questions, and not willing to accept my intent to do business at [redacted]. He seemed intent on making a bad situation worse. I am a woman who was 4 hours from my home, traveling alone, and frankly panicking through the whole ordeal. My brother who is mentally and physically handicap is hospitalized and I needed to travel to [redacted] to support him and get information/direction for him from the [redacted]. No parking was available in their lot and since I was planning to do some birthday shopping for my husband afterwards, I parked there and walked next door to the office. I mentioned where I parked and the guard did not tell me there was any problem with me parking there. The tow driver told me that there was information at [redacted] regarding the tow policy but I never saw any and the guard did not acknowledge that or tell me I should move my car. The whole thing appears to be seedy and unscrupulous.

This event was the icing on the cake for me and I could not stop shaking or crying. I provided photo ID and credit card -- he could not get the charge to go through and had another driver -- towing a separate vehicle -- process my credit card. I am not comfortable with these vultures having access to my credit card information. After arriving home, the next day my husband and I contacted VISA and learned that an approval code was already issued. VISA has confirmation that the card was used for both Howard's and [redacted] on the same day and within a short period of time.

I contacted Howard's Towing and spoke with [redacted] (who was very appropriate). I asked that he have the owner contact me to discuss my experience and that they not post the charge to my account because I was not parked illegally. I also shared that I hoped Howard's would rethink who they contract with because those tow drivers are ruining Howard's company name and not their own.

We can and will dispute the charge if Howard's Towing post the charge to the account. Additionally, because of the unprofessional manner of [redacted], I was concerned about him having my credit card information. We cancelled the card and requested a new one.Desired Settlement: Inquiry into the license to continue towing operations for this "F" rated company and the "C-" rated company, [redacted] ([redacted]), which was the truck that was intending to tow my vehicle.

[redacted] should insist that the property owner have better signage regarding its parking/towing policies.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com [redacted]

Review: My rental car was towed on March 24th in [redacted] from a place that there was no seen sign where it sais no parking, tow away zone. It was explained to [redacted] over the phone that this was a mistake as I was in the building of that parking lot visiting my girlfriend. He sais he does not care. When I went there to pick up my car, I tried to talk to him that I did not park illegaly he did not even bother to get up and talk to me as he was playing playstation on his computer. He is a rip off and he ripped me off for $185. I want him to refund my money before I get lawyers involved. My husband missed his flight to Germany this morning because of getting our car towed from a place that was okay to park.Desired Settlement: I want him to refund my $185 ASAP.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com [redacted]