Maybe someone here could give me advice , please....on what happened.....Today at 6:30 p.m I went to a Sav On drugs to get a drink (Still have the receipt), after that went to the gym for a few hours....Came out and my car was GONE...There was a sign next to my vehicle saying Customers only Private parking, and so on...So i called the number on the sign,wasn't any good..So i called 911 to report my vehicle stolen...911 gave me the number of where my car was Towed..Was towed at 7:30 p.m...same night....Cost $185 to get it out....Called the Security business of who called the Trucking Co, to pick up vehicle..and he says i left the property and wasnt a CUSTOMER...what!!!!...I told him I have the receipt of going in the store thats on the property and my membership at the gym...Gave me his fax number so i could send all the info car registration, receipt from store and Tow receipt and membership card to him...and he will look at it ...but he will not Return any FUNDS!!a nd also said I will NOT win in Small Claims Court..I told him i will file first thing monday, in my city, which is 55 miles from where this happened..Is there anything else i can do LEGALLY??? Good thing i didnt have to take a taxi and nice lady, gave me a ride to the tow yard....I used the Credit card, to pay for it, So i hope i can dispute it???....Thanks a lot... Tony V. San Diego , Ca
Before you go to the courthouse, file complaints with the BBB and the state Attorney General. Call around to see if there is anyone they have to answer to in particular. Then go file suit. Within 30 days you will get an answer back. Keep tight hold of what you have. Take pics of the sign and subpeona the clerk at the store and the woman that drove you down there as witnesses. If you talk to them again, make sure you get it on tape. You might be the 500th person they've done this to. Don't forget to document that the number wasn't correct on the sign, too. Please do it before they pull this scam on someone else.
Hey, Eww, that's really bad what happened, and I'm sorry for you. I think he is bluffing about suing, because you have proof that you were there, and you have the receipt. How does he know you won't win? It's too bad you didn't go through (wink) emotional distress over this incident where you could no longer work....... ;-) (You could sue for that). I wish you could do something, because that is so unfair. I am wondering if after all this is over, you can dispute the charge. But, I think the credit card company is probably gonna contact him/the place of business and they will tell what happened, and the charge might be reversed. Either way, I really wish you luck...... By the way, I know emotional distress is not funny, and I know the world is full of frivilous lawsuits. ;-) (This is not meant towards you).
1*Did you complain to the manager of the gym about the Gestapo Security Company they hired. 2*I would have told him I wasn't filing criminal auto theft charges in Small Claims Court anyhow. LB 59 Here is how I would have handled it. Like you I would have reported the car stolen. When I found out where it was I would not have gone &picked it up. I would have gone straight to the manager of the Gym and told him-her if they did not pay the tow bill and get my car back for me right now I was filing criminal auto theft charges against both them and the security Company.
Many states regulate Tow truck companies for this very reason. I would call the police back and ask them who oversees the towing businesses. You can file a complaint with the police. They may have towed your car, but since you are/were a customer and the towed you anyway, it was theft! That would put the pressure on the tow company to refund the money and I would definitely dispute the towing charges.
Absolutely, If they had no legal right to tow the vehicle IT WAS THEFT!. Ask the smartass who told you you'd lose in court, if he would prefer criminal charges.
I would file the suit, criminal charges and the complaints. I saw something on the news not to long ago. They had hidden cameras watching when a tow company would come and get people's cars. They were doing it illegally just to have people have to pay them to get their cars back. They would give the people barely 5 minutes before the truck would come and take their car. It was waiting down the street. The poeple were not parked illegally, but who cares when you have to get your car out of the impound? Hit them from all sides. Send a letter to the corporate office of the gym as well. Tell them what happened and that since then you are considering changing to their competitor, as you doubt that they would treat you in such a way. And since their gym is only .5 miles away from where you are now, it wouldn't create a strain on your commute. Definitely file the complaints, though. They will get you far. Hey! I just thought of something. Call your local news crew and tell them about it. Having cameras shoved in their face might change their minds.
The news crew is a great idea, local stations are always looking for stories where consumers get ripped off.
Thanks a lot everyone for your replies...I will go ahead and Send a fax, with the Registration to the vehicle, Receipt of tow charges and of Receipt at Sav On Drug store, and my membership card at the gym,PROVING im a customer..I took pictures of the Sign in the parking lot and where i parked....I will get copies of my cell phone bill showing the number on the sign, Is a car dealership, and not a tow yard to Reclaim vehicles, like the sign states.. ....And if i dont hear from the Security Office who stole my car, within 1 week, with a REFUND.....I will go ahead and file suit......No matter what I will contact, the BB attorney state general, The city Police Department of where this happened.....To me, this is THEFT...This company STOLE my vehicle....Ill let the board, know what happens....thank you so much Tony V. San Diego, Ca
I would do a write up on the editoral page of the local paper too. Wouldn't it be interesting for him and a couple his pals to park 2 or three cars there and wait out side of them for the tow truck to show up. Bet The sparks would fly when it arrived. How about a sign in front of the place? Auto Theft Zone.
lb, I will also contact the Local Newspaper, great idea!... I just called the Security office number and he stated, NO need to fax anything in, it will NOT be taken into consideration..That I left the property....I said I needed an address of where to Serve him....He gave me a PO box, is that good enough?? I said i will go ahead and file criminal auto theft charges on him, and he said fine and i will bring my pictures and videotape, of Me leaving the property... thats all he needs...LOL......what a joke!...thanks everyone.... Tony V. San Diego, Ca
You will need a street address to serve him. call 1411 and ask them to look up the info for the ph #. Tell them you need the address. They will give it to you.
You should have told him that it will take more than pictures to get him out of where he is going for auto theft.!
Sure you walked home because you forgot your car. Were the pictures taken before or after the car was towed.?
