Smitty's Towing

Review: Smitty's towed my daughter's vehicle and we received and paid a bill for $662.00. Smitty's charged her $490 for 1 1/2 hours of work that they claim it took to tow a Hyundai Accent from Isla Vista to Goleta (3.9 miles). We were also charged two days of storage 4/8 and 4/9 when it appears from the receipt that they didn't get back to Goleta until 12:05am on the 9th (we were informed by the person that answered the phone at Smitty's, that the storage fees did not start accruing until the towed vehicle hit their yard). We contacted the business about the $245 per hour fee, it seemed extremely high and we were told, and I quote "Santa Barbara dirt is more expensive then DC dirt." I believe this is price gouging with an attempt to place a college student in extreme debt in the hopes of taking their vehicle from them, for the companies financial gain.Desired Settlement: Per a call to Smitty's to find out their towing fee, I was told it was $80 for the first 10 miles and for every mile after that $3.50. In this case the cost of this tow should be: $80 (it is less than 4 miles from Abrego Road to the Goleta location). Note: I do realize some additional work needed to be done to get the car on the tow truck. Willing to pay their basic per hour mechanic fee for this extra work, though I do not believe it is $245 an hour.

Review: On Sept 6th 2013 I was contacted to pick up the car that was stolen. I was informed by the deputy that he could not wait for me to arrive to pick up the car because he had to arrest the individual who was driving it, so he called Smitty's Towing Company. I informed him I had AAA Plus Roadside, he told me to call Smitty's and AAA, which I did. Smitty's had not picked up the car yet, so I informed them I had AAA Plus, but they would not accept my AAA membership even after three supervisors contacted them from AAA. I was bullied for hours until I finally conceded and gave Smitty's $415. I used American Express. To tow the vehicle home to Ventura was 88.8 miles, well within my 100 mile AAA Plus radius. Smitty's found a way to make money off this tow, even though they were AAA approved. I was bullied for hours by a woman named Stephanie, it was awful. I asked if I could speak with her supervisor and she said, "you don't want to speak with my supervisor!" The entire night supervisor after supervisor called her from AAA Roadside telling her I was in good standing as a member and to accept my card for the tow. AAA Roadside had to file a grievance and currently I am disputing the charge with my American Express Card. Tonight American Express told me to file a complaint with Revdex.com to document this treatment. I also typed a formal complaint and sent it to my AAA Roadside which I have been with for 42 years, although my card only says 23 years. I was a young girl when I first became a member of AAA Roadside. The Deputy who apprehended the vehicle said he will assist me in any way I need, because he told me to call AAA stating, "that is what you pay the insurance for." Deputy [redacted] also made sure the fee for the police department was waived, and he said he was available if I needed him any further. I am a recent cancer survivor and I told Smitty's dispatch person I had an illiostomy bag and needed to have my son drive me to pick up the car. At 3am I had the car finally towed home, but not by themDesired Settlement: I would like Smitty's to refund my american Express and admit that they handled this horribly. I was bullied into paying when I had insurance to pay for the situation in full. I hope they will acknowledge that they cannot operate a business in this manner. I filed a formal complaint with AAA Roadside telling them not to use this company as one of their authorized AAA Towing companies. I had to use another AAA Towing company to have the car towed the rest of the way home. I was treated awful.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 9735724, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Additionally, I am not making malicious remarks, what I have stated is true and accurate and just as it happened, unfortunately and sadly. As I said before this person, [redacted] Voight was not involved, only the dispatch and tow person were there and my youngest son. AAA roadside tried to make contact with the dispatch three times to have Smitty's accept my AutoClub Insurance. My card says I have been a member for 23 years, but actually I have been a member for 42 years, I was also on my parent's policy for many years.

Review: I stayed overnight in Goleta and my car was towed by this company late on Saturday night. When I went to pick it up from the company on Sunday morning, I was forced to pay an outrageous $512 bill to be towed 4.4 miles. I tried to speak to the manager to talk about the bill but even though the receptionist had him on the phone, I wasn't allowed to speak with him because he "did not want to be interrupted again on a Sunday". I was forced to pay the bill because I needed my car to drive home to San Diego that day.Desired Settlement: To have my bill reduced to a realistic towing fee.

Consumer

Response:

Review: 9645592

I am rejecting this response because: I spoke with manager [redacted] on August 2nd after being told by officer Hopkins on July 31st that I had been charged too much for storage fees. She refused to discuss any of the fees except to say the officer was incorrect. The calls on August 2nd totaled no more than 3 minutes before she claimed I was harassing her and ended the call. I would guess she gets many calls for the business's malicious pricing, and I got her well-prepared response: accuse her victim of being sexist and then use the threat of a harassment charge to keep them away.

Regards,

Review: My sons truck was towed this morning, when we called for the charges the female that answered the phoned said it would be $510.00. $80.00 for storage and $130 for a sheriff fee (which both is fine), the charge of $300 is crazy. She said they charge a $240 and hour and the drive said it took him 1 hour and 15 minutes to tow the vehicle which was only 8.36 miles away. The truck was at 6672 abrego road, Goleta CA and Smittys is located at 5755 Thornwood Drive, Goleta CA. The truck was towed at 1am so not rush hour traffic time. Like I told the lady who answered the phone I find it hard to believe it took him 1 hour and 15 minutes to load and drive the truck over.Desired Settlement: I would like to be charged correctly which should have only been 1/2 hour to tow the vehicle. In addition I think the Revdex.com should look into the company, it appears that they are taking advantage of consumers and have been overcharging which they should be fined for.

Consumer

Response:

When I called, I was told about the storage fee, the police department fee and that the remaining amount was for the towing fee, when I questioned why it took their driver 1 hour and 15 minutes to tow a truck less than 4 miles she did not explain that the driver needed to open the vehicle and wait while the police inventoried the items and write the report, instead she became rude and said thats what the driver wrote down so that is what it took him. She was extremely rude not only on the phone but when my son came to pick up his truck, she proceeded to talk to a co-worker about her personal life while he stood at the desk waiting for her to help him. Again this could have been resolved if she had done her job correctly and explained everything on the phone when I called.

With that being said, I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 9700035, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,