A DRIVER was hit with a frustrating $400 tow fee after claiming a thief stole his car at night.
In a Facebook post, the driver stated that he had difficulty registering a police report about the vehicle.
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The driver also posted a photo of a towing bill he received with a towing fee of $459.48.
But he doesn’t think he should pay for the tow, claiming he wasn’t the driver during the accident.
“Someone stole my car at an apartment complex,” the driver wrote in the post.
“[The alleged thief] crashed and left on a bridge.”
The driver also claimed that the company can report the driver’s non-payment of the fee.
If they report the fee unpaid, Facebook Driver said the DMV may revoke their license.
The Facebook post adds that police allegedly told the driver he could not file a report unless he was in the county.
“They told me I would have to drive three hours back to Jacksonville,” he added.
“[The reporter] You have to be in that county to file a complaint.”
The US Sun contacted the driver but was unable to verify the veracity of his claims.
However, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office told The US Sun that there are several reasons why a driver should report their complaint in person.
The police must confirm that the complainant does not know the driver, that the car was not loaned to a friend, that it was not exchanged for another product, that it was not previously repossessed, and that a verified towing company hooked up the car.
“There are several reasons why this vehicle may not have been considered stolen,” the station told The US Sun.
What to do if your car is towed
Unfairly or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are some steps you can take to get it back.
Steps to follow when your car is towed:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Haven’t you seen a “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you returned to a lot where there were unpaid citations? Finding the reason may narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some type of contact information via a posted or mailed sign.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but these times will be posted on the website or may be provided by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as quick as possible, as some towing yards may charge per-day storage fees.
If you believe your vehicle was improperly towed, you can dispute the action by following these steps:
- Be quick – many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a claim against a company that improperly towed your vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements, if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws, as laws for towing companies vary by state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact your local Justice of the Peace as they may have more information or resources to help. They are often used for towing cases.
- Speak to a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations and, depending on the case, it may be worth calling on a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak law firm
MORE CARS TOWED
Several drivers have complained about strange towing problems in the US.
Drivers near Kansas City complained after an unmarked black pickup truck hooked up to several vehicles and drove away.
The car owners believe the tow truck operator stole several vehicles in their neighborhood.
“He needs to be caught,” said one owner.
Another San Francisco towing company has come under legal scrutiny after the city attorney accused its owners of exploiting disabled and bilingual drivers.
The lawyer alleged that the company “deceived and misled” several owners by stealing cars from parking lots.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
