S: Stupid towing company

[gear02]

My cousin's car got towed from my apartment complex because she didn't have a parking permit. The problem is that it was at 11pm at night and there were PLENTY of open spaces around. She parks in a non guest spot because all the guest spots are filled and are NEVER empty :rolleyes: This f*cking sucks. What f*cking crap. It cost $100

What should I do? Should I rip the leasing office a new one?

[Cantacuzene]

They will tell you the rules are rules. It sucks but just be happy it wasn't more. Happened to my friend a few years back, cost $280. Wasn't a pretty scene.

[speedracer120]

Heh. I have a worse story. We had a rental minivan and pulled into our usual spot for less than ten minutes to get my relative's luggage from my apartment and got towed, twenty minutes before they had to be at the airport to check in on time for an international flight. Luckily they didn't leave anything in the car when it was towed. We got taken for an expensive ride. That's why I hate living in non-single family detached homes.

:shrug: C'est la vie. Nothing you say or do will move the leasing office or tow company. On another note, tow companies seem too much like a freaking racket. Heck they even have exposes on the local news all the time about drivers sharking at parking lots and not even waiting for the owners to enter the building before towing in lots which allow up to 30 minutes free access parking.

[Markel]

Here in Chicago they even write songs about them. (http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/l/lincolnparkpirates.shtml)

[ufcrusher]

Definitely sucks, I had my car towed in downtown Philly. I parked on a street in what was legal parking at the time. I put money in the meter, there were tons of other cars around and no signs indicating any parking restrictions. I come back out 20 minutes later and my car is gone. At this point there was only 1 other car parked there and I immediately thought it was stolen. I was thoroughly pissed and after searching for 15 minutes for any signs of what happened/street signs I go back into the store. I ask the manager to use the phone to call the cops because my car was stolen. He asked me where and I indicated the street in front of the shop. At this point he tells me that my car probably wasnt stolen, it was probably towed by the police. Apparently at 3:30 the street no longer has parking and is a major thoroughfare. I told him that I had money in the meter and there were no signs anywhere. Once again, he tells me that the signs had been ripped off by some vandals and the police had been told, but they didnt care....he figured it was because they were inflating the coffers. He then tells me that the local station is a few blocks over.

I walk/run over to the station to inquire about my car. The police office tells me that there is no record of my car being towed, but that even if it was towed, it hadnt been long enough to be updated into the computer and for me either to come back in a bit or to go to the impound area and ask there. I asked where that was and found out it was cross town! I told the officer that there were no signs indicating the no parking time and he told me that I would have to fight it in court. Great.

At this point I am furious, I call home to let them know what the hell is going on and give them a heads up that my car might be stolen. Then I hop some sort of transportaion (I dont recall if I took a cab, the bus, or the subway...but either way I got there). Once I arrive, I found out my car had been towed at 3:30 exactly (not a second after the switch, 10 minutes after I parked) and that the reason it wasnt in the system is a typo. I had to walk the yard to point out my car and open it with my keys to prove that it was mine! I plead my case again only to be gruffly told that he didnt give a rats ass and pay up or leave. $230 ($180 for towing, $50 ticket) later I was on my way. My parents told me that even though there were no signs on that block and I would have had to walk a block to see one, the judge wouldnt side with me so to forget about it. It would be a waste of time and more money....to this day, I think I should have fought it, but when you are young what are you going to do.