Ripped off by a towing company for $75? Would you pursue it?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238388)
Walnut Creek, California
August 2, 2017 10:48pm CST
I think I already wrote about the day my truck wouldn't start. I contacted my Insurance Company. "$75 if they have to tow you. But a jump start is free with your policy." When all I needed was a free jump, I was so happy I tipped the guy $10.
When a $75 bill showed up on my credit card, I wasn't worried. I knew that it would be reversed soon. When it wasn't reversed in two weeks, I called my insurance agent and my insurance company. Nobody could figure out what was going on.
Finally I got a call from some representing the Roadside Assistance Company, based in Boston, the is subcontracted by my insurance company. "The invoice said that a jump didn't work so your vehicle was towed to the shop."
Is it your tendency to think that the guy who jumped my truck lied? Or someone at the towing company? Or that a mistake was made? Would you have the patience to pursue this to its conclusion? At my consulting rate (rarely actually charged), I've already spent $300 worth of my time trying to get my $75 back.
Have you ever had a similar experience?
16 people like this
18 responses
@teamfreak16 (43677)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Aug 17
There was no mistake. Towing companies are scum.
5 people like this
@TheHorse (238388)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Aug 17
I'll probably never know if this guy made a "mistake" or if he's looking for work. Stevie Goodman wrote a great song about towing companies. It's called "Lincoln Park Pirates." The "charm school in Joliet" is Illinois State Prison.
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Lincoln Park Pirates · Steve Goodman Somebody Else's Troubles ? 1972 BMG Music Special Products Released on: ...
2 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
3 Aug 17
Yes, especially since most are paid under the table. Hell, it's a side business for some...
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86910)
• United States
3 Aug 17
Just on general principles. Yes, I would've pursued it, at least written a complaint to the BBB.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (169591)
• United States
4 Aug 17
@TheHorse I am sure the company would want to know if there was someone faking bills in the company and committing fraud.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382658)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Aug 17
That's pretty rude. My Dad used to tell about a farming agent who couldn't remember who bought a particular item so he put it on the account of eight farmers. Apparently several of them paid their account without querying the item - but maybe that's an urban (or rural) myth.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
3 Aug 17
@TheHorse .. Actually, you needed to be informed...that it was being towed because of whatever is the reason. If you take it to your courts, you could get that 75 back, plus all the monies that would have gone for fighting the case, plus how much ever your consulting charges are for the time that you lose.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Aug 17
Well, you were there weren't you? I would pursue it. You have insurance for a reason. It is supposed to help you out with such charges so if they are billed and it is not a realistic billing I would back track. Perhaps the tow guy(and he may very well use this as an excuse) may say he got confused on which customer you were when he went to do the paperwork. This sort of thing goes on too much in this country!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Aug 17
@TheHorse ......That's up to you. If you called right away I'm sure you would.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
3 Aug 17
I freaking hate dealing with car calling situations. I hope they reimburse your money back!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
3 Aug 17
@TheHorse I'm hard to scam also, but currently in the middle of a car related scam too
Dealership has been putting the wrong oil. They won't reimburse my money back for the times they've put the wrong oil. Blah blah expedited it to the headquarters and they're telling me the dealership is privately owned so they can't help me.
If I sent them my invoices it'll be helpful but they cannot guarantee anything anymore since the manager at the dealership doesn't want to. So what's the point of me wasting more time!
Such lies and scam!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238388)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Aug 17
@infatuatedbby I would publicize the scam. Let the world know somehow what brand of car you're dealing with, and what dealership you're dealing with.
1 person likes this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
3 Aug 17
Sorry you had so much trouble with this. If you've already spent $300.00 pursuing the $75.00 I don't think I would spend anymore money trying to get it, but it ultimately is your choice. They shouldn't have charged you in the first place. Good luck on this.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
3 Aug 17
Personally, I'd pursue the matter. Then I'd consider sending them a bill for my time (knowing that they'd never pay it.).....
This is why I have CAA (Canadian equivalent of AAA) I've never been billed for towing.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
4 Aug 17
@TheHorse we've had a membership for 30+ years. Never any surprises....they have towed us....changed tires....let us into a locked car.......
No regrets.....my daughter joined a knock off service for a couple of years.....then renewed her CAA/AAA membership.
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
3 Aug 17
No my insurance company always put in the info from the receipt I gave them and I got my check in the mail. When mine broke down in Mississippi they paid the bill for the U-Haul thing I had to rent to pull it home.
3 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
3 Aug 17
I wouldn't have pursued it, if anything I'd be wasting more time and money than the tow was even worth. Most tows here are 45.00. Just another cost to eat, I suppose....
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238388)
• Walnut Creek, California
3 Aug 17
@librarygeek1980 I do not understand your question. A free jump, provided by Roadside Assistance, is a part of my insurance policy.
1 person likes this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
3 Aug 17
@TheHorse depends, did you provide the jumper cables, or did they have to use thiers?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169591)
• United States
4 Aug 17
You have the wrong insurance, our towing is free as well as a jump. Yes, they assume most people do not thoroughly investigated the bill and read it, not the invoice or the credit card bill. I suspect the person who actually came out and did the work.
@snowy22315 (209208)
• United States
4 Aug 17
I once went through a ridiculous thing like that with my credit union. Even though the clerk at a motel admitted he made a mistake by charging my credit card twice for a room..It took weeks to get it straightened out! It was craziness!
