Travis Towing

Review: On 7/25/2014 I was illegally parked in the [redacted] parking lot across from my house around 11PM. I noticed that my car was being towed from the parking lot, and went out to catch them before they took it. I paid the amount on my credit card. Once I gave him my payment I said that I will be notifying the credit card company to make sure it was not fraudulent. At that point with no warning the tow truck operator began to take pictures of my drivers license as well as my license plate as well as my vehicle. I was never given any disclosure as to why these pictures were being taken. I am not disputing the tow, I am disputing however the fact that the tow truck operator has my personal information on his personal cell phone. This includes my name, home address, as well as my license plate. On 7/26/2014 I contacted the towing company about the above issue. At that point he said it was "normal practice" to take these pictures and nothing would be done with my personal information. I stated that there is no way for me to know that because it was taken on the tow truck operators personal cell phone. The tow truck operator then stated there was no reason to disclose that he was taking pictures of my personal information. At that point he told me to have my meltdown somewhere else and then hung up on me. So, I am clear. I was very professional during this phone call to avoid any form of verbal confrontation.Desired Settlement: I would like to see in the future is for this company to have a form of disclosure for this kind of incident.I would like for other people to feel protected and know their information is safe.Moving forward,I feel a better business practice would be the following.A proper disclosure to the person or person being towed.Also,some form of guarantee that the information given will not be used other then for their business records.Copy of agreement should be available to the person being towed.

Business

Response:

7/25/14 in the process of removing a Honda CRV from the [redacted] parking lot on [redacted] in Pittsburgh PA, Two people come running from across the street. One of them was Mrs. [redacted] and the other we didnt get his name. He ask if they could please do something to not get towed. I said if they would like to pay $110 cash or $115 with a credit card, they were welcome to. The gentleman said we'll pay cash. Then she ran back to her apartment to find her ID and cash. While she was gone he said she'll probably have to run to the atm. she came back with just her ID and credit card. So I sat down to write her out a receipt. She then made a comment that she definitely needed a receipt and was going to call the credit card company and talk to them about the charges. I asked why? She said to make sure all this was legal. I asked her if she was going to try to get a refund she said I'm just going to see if they can help me out with this. In our business that's called disputing. So I took a picture of her ID and I took a picture of where her car was parked for court purposes. If the dispute doesnt work, people often like to waste our time in court. So pictures are helpful. We release the car gave her the receipt and we're on our way. She called the next day and she said that she didn't feel comfortable having a tow truck driver have a picture of her photo ID. I told her that we took it because she said more or less that she was going to dispute the charge. I don't see how I should have to accept a credit card when someone in so many words tells me they're going to dispute. However I took a picture of the ID and then I took a picture of her car and where it was in relation to where she parked. I fairly allowed her to pay with a card even though the warning signs were there that she may try to back out of payment. The card company won't gift her $115. They take it back out of our business account. The next day we receive a call from mrs. [redacted] stating that we didn't tell her why we took pictures. We clearly recorded the plate on the receipt, we clearly recorded the license number from her I.d. In Writing on the reciept. The pictures reflect presence of those items. As anyone can imagine, we've been accused of the most insidious things. Pictures are simply a commons sense record. She had a different address on her I d. We didn't even ask for her current address or phone number, she provided it when she called and filed filed a complaint. Sometimes people get aggravated beyond what they can manage when they are towed and latch on to anything to be angry about. The "disclosure" are the signs that are clearly posted that the business is private property. The property is well posted and permitted by the city with a towing permit. This property is abused by the church next door, the bars, and even the tenants living near by. To ask for written disclosure of why we take pictures is unreasonable at best. Mrs. [redacted] was in the wrong place at the wrong time . We were only doing our job. We feel at this time that There's nothing more to add, feel free to ask any more questions that would be helpful in resolving this complaint on behalf of Mrs [redacted]. Thank you and good day.

Review: Travis towing is the worst kind of predatory business that no one should ever have to deal with. I believe they towed my car illegally, but this is not the point. The point is that they charge fees that are illegal per city ordinance. My car was towed on 3/6/2014, and I was charged $205 to retrieve it. The charges included (per receipt): $110 Towing Fee, $60 Special Equipment Fee, $20 Storage Fee, $5 Merchant Fee (For using a credit card), $10 Gas Surcharge. Total: $205 The city ordinance permits a $9 storage fee (Pittsburgh City Ordinance Section 523.05) and a $110 towing fee (section 525.02) for passenger cars. It is illegal to charge any fee other than these fees (per section 525.05, (a), (b), (c)).You can find the related City of Pittsburgh Ordinance here: https://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/city/pa/Pittsburgh,%20PA%20Code%20thru%20su...⇄ .... It is unbeilable how they can do something so overtly illegal and get away with it. Sooner or later somebody will take them to court and make them pay what they charge illegally, for each violation.Desired Settlement: I would like them to refund me what they charge illegally: $205 - $119 = $86.