Leete Tire and Auto Center, Inc.

On March 11th, 2014 at 12:32pm, Leete Tire & Auto Center received a call from Petersburg Police Department dispatching us to the location of East Bank Street and 4th Street.  Leete Tire & Auto is contracted with the City of...

Petersburg to tow wrecked, inoperable, or abandoned vehicles, or anything that is deemed  hazardous to the road way.  Detective [redacted] along with Detective [redacted] originally discovered the [redacted] (which according to their testimony) had slipped out of gear and rolled into Bank Street.  Within approximately 10 minutes of being dispatched, our driver was on the scene with Detective [redacted].  Detective [redacted] stated that after discovering the vehicle in the road way, he even went inside the [redacted] and asked the staff to try and find the owner before the Leete Tire driver loaded the vehicle onto the tow truck. After having no luck finding the owner of the vehicle, Detective [redacted] had our driver tow the vehicle to the city impound lot located at [redacted], Va.  Shortly after the vehicle arrived in the impound lot, [redacted] came in to the tow office and stated “I must be a complete mn, because I must have forgotten to set the parking brake on my car, and it rolled into the street”.  [redacted] who was working the tow desk that day informed [redacted] that since the vehicle had just been towed in within the hour that we would waive the $40 storage fee that normally applies as soon as the vehicle hits the impound lot, but unfortunately the $135 towing bill still needed to be paid for the vehicle to be released.  [redacted] then said that that was ridiculous to be charged $135 to only be towed a few blocks.  [redacted] informed him that it was a contracted rate for police requested tows for the City of Petersburg, and that we were trying to help him by waiving the $40 storage fee.  [redacted] then advised [redacted] that we require a photo id and proof of ownership from the registered owner to release the vehicle.  [redacted] informed us that the registered owner of the vehicle was his girlfriend, [redacted].  We told [redacted] that in order to release the vehicle we would need to see proof of ownership (VA vehicle registration card), his photo id, [redacted] photo id, along with a handwritten note from [redacted] giving [redacted] permission to pick up the vehicle.  This request is standard office protocol that is required for all vehicles being released from the impound lot.  The registered owner has to either pick up the vehicle themselves, or fax/email written permission for someone other than the registered owner to pick the vehicle up.  This protects the property of the registered owner from any unauthorized person taking their vehicle or any of the contents in it. [redacted] pleaded for an exception to be made because [redacted], the registered owner, was away at graduate school at [redacted] and she would be unable to send the documentation required.  We told [redacted] that we had to have the above stated documentation in order to release the vehicle.  After about an hour and leaving the tow window several times to call his girlfriend, the email finally came through with an attachment containing the photo id and permission letter from [redacted] sent from [redacted] Once receiving this documentation, we moved forward processing the vehicle for release.  [redacted] was only charged the $135 towing fee (Invoice #[redacted] Paid with a credit card). After giving him his receipt, he left the premises and that is the last interaction that we had with him.
I am the Tow Department Manager and I am very sorry to hear that [redacted] is under the assumption that we wrongfully towed her vehicle.  I can assure you that we only tow and impound vehicles that are requested by the Petersburg Police Department, with a officer standing by on scene to verify the correct vehicle is being towed.  Leete Tire & Auto Center has been in business for 72 years, and we have an excellent reputation in our community.  If we did wrongfully tow the vehicle we would certainly do everything necessary to correct the situation. However, we did not wrongfully tow this vehicle.  The complaint stated that “The car was in a legal spot, was not in a tow zone”.  There was never a question of whether the vehicle was legally or illegally parked.  The vehicle rolled out of the parking spot and into the street blocking both lanes of traffic, and that is the reason it was towed. 
 
[redacted]
Tow Department Manager
Leete Tire & Auto Center, Inc.
[redacted]
[redacted]
[redacted]

I had my [redacted] towed to the Leete's location on Hull Street Road on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 after it suddenly shut off on the highway. I stopped in a few hours later to check in and make sure they had everything they would need from me. I was told they would call me with an estimate as soon they had a chance to look at my vehicle. I called at 2:15pm on Thursday August 11th to inquire about the time frame, concerned about not having a vehicle for the weekend. I was told there were jobs ahead of mine that were taking more time than anticipated, and I'd be contacted as soon as they got to mine. On Friday, August 12th, I posted the timeline of events on their website out of frustration and received an email reply from Assistant Manager John S[redacted]: "Unfortunately, we have not had a chance to look at it. A couple of jobs we’ve had here turned into nightmares… well someone just took a look at it and the timing belt broke. So we will have to start with a timing belt and then make sure it didn’t cause any other damage. I will get an initial estimate together and call you in the next few minutes. My apologies for the delay.". When he called, I was given an estimate of $1150 and it was explained they would replace the water pump at the same time due to the time involved in getting to the exact location. (This I knew from the same issue with an earlier vehicle). I was also told the vehicle would be ready on Tuesday, August 16th. That was the day before my birthday, so at a minimum I was relieved I'd be able to celebrate the end of SEVEN carless days. I waited until the af[redacted]oon of the 16th to inquire what time I should pick up my car, and was told...they hadn't gotten to it yet, but they hoped to get to my vehicle on Wednesday af[redacted]oon or Thursday morning at the latest- because it would be at least 6 hours of labor. I finally received a call at 3:30pm Thursday, August 18th that my car was ready. During this call, it was casually mentioned that one of the mechanics had driven my car after the timing belt repair and noticed the A/C would hesitate when the car was idling. I was already aware the A/C compressor was on its way out, but didn't see it as a priority because my A/C had worked quite well since I bought the car in 2010. When I arrived at the shop, there was confusion over how to use the [redacted] credit card that I was approved for at Leete's and use every time I have repairs. This also happened at this location in December 2015. A manager needed to get on the phone with the representative to verify a password. All of this took aprox. 25 minutes. When I was finally rung up (I believe by John S[redacted]), I asked if $1149.10 was the "final" price. I was told it was. I said, "Okay. I don't really have a problem with the amount. It's just the lack of communication concerning repairs, and being without a vehicle for 9 days...." (Blank stare.) " Did you ever think of letting me know you wouldn't be able to get to it in a timely fashion, so that I could maybe have it towed elsewhere and repaired?" The reply: "Well, I think we did a pretty good job getting it in and out, considering the amount of business we had." What?! I let him know I'd be making some suggestions to management as to how they could provide better customer service in the future. And then, he handed me an estimate for the A/C compressor which I didn't look at for a few days. By this time, it's 5pm so I head home. I notice a high-pitched squeal, but discounted this because I figured some fluid had gotten on the belt and just needed to dry. The next morning, I start my car for work and immediately hear the high-pitched squeal (now louder) and a loud hum that seemed to shift from the driver's side to the center of the dashboard. I decided to drive to work anyway. Once I got out on Chippenham Pkwy, I noticed two distressing things: my A/C was completely gone (no air whatsoever- in August); and the acceleration was dangerously sluggish. I considered calling Leete's to complain- but thinking back on the shoddy customer service experience, I knew I'd somehow be at fault and giving them even more money.
It was the state of my vehicle post-repair and the estimate for my suddenly-no-longer-working A/C ($712.64), that convinced me to buy a new car. These people will never again touch a vehicle of mine and I have warned every friend and colleague in Richmond to avoid them like the plague. Good riddance.

I had my [redacted] towed to the Leete's location on Hull Street Road on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 after it suddenly shut off on the highway. I stopped in a few hours later to check in and make sure they had everything they would need from me. I was told they would call me with an estimate as soon they had a chance to look at my vehicle. I called at 2:15pm on Thursday August 11th to inquire about the time frame, concerned about not having a vehicle for the weekend. I was told there were jobs ahead of mine that were taking more time than anticipated, and I'd be contacted as soon as they got to mine. On Friday, August 12th, I posted the timeline of events on their website out of frustration and received an email reply from Assistant Manager John S[redacted]: "Unfortunately, we have not had a chance to look at it. A couple of jobs we’ve had here turned into nightmares… well someone just took a look at it and the timing belt broke. So we will have to start with a timing belt and then make sure it didn’t cause any other damage. I will get an initial estimate together and call you in the next few minutes. My apologies for the delay.". When he called, I was given an estimate of $1150 and it was explained they would replace the water pump at the same time due to the time involved in getting to the exact location. (This I knew from the same issue with an earlier vehicle). I was also told the vehicle would be ready on Tuesday, August 16th. That was the day before my birthday, so at a minimum I was relieved I'd be able to celebrate the end of SEVEN carless days. I waited until the af[redacted]oon of the 16th to inquire what time I should pick up my car, and was told...they hadn't gotten to it yet, but they hoped to get to my vehicle on Wednesday af[redacted]oon or Thursday morning at the latest- because it would be at least 6 hours of labor. I finally received a call at 3:30pm Thursday, August 18th that my car was ready. During this call, it was casually mentioned that one of the mechanics had driven my car after the timing belt repair and noticed the A/C would hesitate when the car was idling. I was already aware the A/C compressor was on its way out, but didn't see it as a priority because my A/C had worked quite well since I bought the car in 2010. When I arrived at the shop, there was confusion over how to use the [redacted] credit card that I was approved for at Leete's and use every time I have repairs. This also happened at this location in December 2015. A manager needed to get on the phone with the representative to verify a password. All of this took aprox. 25 minutes. When I was finally rung up (I believe by John S[redacted]), I asked if $1149.10 was the "final" price. I was told it was. I said, "Okay. I don't really have a problem with the amount. It's just the lack of communication concerning repairs, and being without a vehicle for 9 days...." (Blank stare.) " Did you ever think of letting me know you wouldn't be able to get to it in a timely fashion, so that I could maybe have it towed elsewhere and repaired?" The reply: "Well, I think we did a pretty good job getting it in and out, considering the amount of business we had." What?! I let him know I'd be making some suggestions to management as to how they could provide better customer service in the future. And then, he handed me an estimate for the A/C compressor which I didn't look at for a few days. By this time, it's 5pm so I head home. I notice a high-pitched squeal, but discounted this because I figured some fluid had gotten on the belt and just needed to dry. The next morning, I start my car for work and immediately hear the high-pitched squeal (now louder) and a loud hum that seemed to shift from the driver's side to the center of the dashboard. I decided to drive to work anyway. Once I got out on Chippenham Pkwy, I noticed two distressing things: my A/C was completely gone (no air whatsoever- in August); and the acceleration was dangerously sluggish. I considered calling Leete's to complain- but thinking back on the shoddy customer service experience, I knew I'd somehow be at fault and giving them even more money.
It was the state of my vehicle post-repair and the estimate for my suddenly-no-longer-working A/C ($712.64), that convinced me to buy a new car. These people will never again touch a vehicle of mine and I have warned every friend and colleague in Richmond to avoid them like the plague. Good riddance.

Review: My car was parked outside [redacted] on Bank Street in Petersburg VA. When we came out from eating our car was gone. We discovered that Leete Tire had improperly and in error towed our car. The car was in a legal spot, was not in a tow zone and they acknowledged as much when we found out where the car was. They had not right to take the car and they refused to release the car to my boyfriend who had been driving the car. They refused to release the car even though they admitted they towed in error. They were rude, unprofessional and I want my 135.00 back and I want them removed as a towing service for businesses in PetersburgDesired Settlement: I want my 135.00 back that I had to pay to get the car released. This was an unauthorized tow and they had no right to remove the car.

Business

Response:

On March 11th, 2014 at 12:32pm, Leete Tire & Auto Center received a call from Petersburg Police Department dispatching us to the location of East Bank Street and 4th Street. Leete Tire & Auto is contracted with the City of Petersburg to tow wrecked, inoperable, or abandoned vehicles, or anything that is deemed hazardous to the road way. Detective [redacted] along with Detective [redacted] originally discovered the [redacted] (which according to their testimony) had slipped out of gear and rolled into Bank Street. Within approximately 10 minutes of being dispatched, our driver was on the scene with Detective [redacted]. Detective [redacted] stated that after discovering the vehicle in the road way, he even went inside the [redacted] and asked the staff to try and find the owner before the Leete Tire driver loaded the vehicle onto the tow truck. After having no luck finding the owner of the vehicle, Detective [redacted] had our driver tow the vehicle to the city impound lot located at [redacted], Va. Shortly after the vehicle arrived in the impound lot, [redacted] came in to the tow office and stated “I must be a complete mn, because I must have forgotten to set the parking brake on my car, and it rolled into the street”. [redacted] who was working the tow desk that day informed [redacted] that since the vehicle had just been towed in within the hour that we would waive the $40 storage fee that normally applies as soon as the vehicle hits the impound lot, but unfortunately the $135 towing bill still needed to be paid for the vehicle to be released. [redacted] then said that that was ridiculous to be charged $135 to only be towed a few blocks. [redacted] informed him that it was a contracted rate for police requested tows for the City of Petersburg, and that we were trying to help him by waiving the $40 storage fee. [redacted] then advised [redacted] that we require a photo id and proof of ownership from the registered owner to release the vehicle. [redacted] informed us that the registered owner of the vehicle was his girlfriend, [redacted]. We told [redacted] that in order to release the vehicle we would need to see proof of ownership (VA vehicle registration card), his photo id, [redacted] photo id, along with a handwritten note from [redacted] giving [redacted] permission to pick up the vehicle. This request is standard office protocol that is required for all vehicles being released from the impound lot. The registered owner has to either pick up the vehicle themselves, or fax/email written permission for someone other than the registered owner to pick the vehicle up. This protects the property of the registered owner from any unauthorized person taking their vehicle or any of the contents in it. [redacted] pleaded for an exception to be made because [redacted], the registered owner, was away at graduate school at [redacted] and she would be unable to send the documentation required. We told [redacted] that we had to have the above stated documentation in order to release the vehicle. After about an hour and leaving the tow window several times to call his girlfriend, the email finally came through with an attachment containing the photo id and permission letter from [redacted] sent from [redacted] Once receiving this documentation, we moved forward processing the vehicle for release. [redacted] was only charged the $135 towing fee (Invoice #[redacted] Paid with a credit card). After giving him his receipt, he left the premises and that is the last interaction that we had with him.

I am the Tow Department Manager and I am very sorry to hear that [redacted] is under the assumption that we wrongfully towed her vehicle. I can assure you that we only tow and impound vehicles that are requested by the Petersburg Police Department, with a officer standing by on scene to verify the correct vehicle is being towed. Leete Tire & Auto Center has been in business for 72 years, and we have an excellent reputation in our community. If we did wrongfully tow the vehicle we would certainly do everything necessary to correct the situation. However, we did not wrongfully tow this vehicle. The complaint stated that “The car was in a legal spot, was not in a tow zone”. There was never a question of whether the vehicle was legally or illegally parked. The vehicle rolled out of the parking spot and into the street blocking both lanes of traffic, and that is the reason it was towed.

Tow Department Manager

Leete Tire & Auto Center, Inc.