Why towing companies are the scum of the earth

FROM: Tony
DATE: Monday August 7, 2000 -- 7:19:35AM

I had real bad time with a Towing place in Port Charlotte. A few friends and myself were driving back from Ft.Meyers, (about 40mi from Pt. Charlotte) When my 93' Mitsubishi Diamante broke down, about 1/2 way there. So first a cop pulls over and tells me about all the mexican carjackings going on here...thanks, now Im really comfortable. So the lazy ass towing company takes upwards of 4 hours to go 20 mi ! When they got there, I asked the driver what took so long, he just ignored me the rest of the trip. (whitch we promptly returned in a mere 15min. to the towing place.)

FROM: TetsuBeav
DATE: Monday August 7, 2000 -- 10:06:36AM

I've always looked at towing as state-sponsored grand theft auto. Don't see how they get away with some of that shit.

FROM: Aydi in Chicago
DATE: Wednesday June 6, 2001 -- 3:28:41PM

Cool - I just did a search on google for "Towing +Scum" and found this little rant. You think you have it bad - chicago is the worst. Who knows what kind of ties these scum bags have with the city.

First off - my girlfriend and I have been parking in this small dirt lot off of the alley behind my building for quite awhile. Not even a hint that anyone would care seeing as we live in a pissy neighborhood where parking isn't even a problem. I wake up this morning to find that both of our cars along with the rest of the regular cars in that lot are gone. After about 20 calls, it seems as if they have been towed from Chicago all the way out to Melrose Park - the most corrupt, mafia ran, teamster hangout capital of the midwest. In other words - it's like somebody from the scummiest part of New Jersey packed up a caravan of croanies and hauled their asses off to Illinois to settle in Melsrose Park. 4 bus transfers, a ride from a friend, and 3 hours later - I arrive at S & S towing ( 2503 N. Manheim - Melrose Park IL - 708-344-6208 ).

Ok - this place is your average scum hole - everyone there looks like they just got out of jail, big barbed wire fence with "TOW ZONE" signs surounding the tow comound - duh, really rude and raspy secretary smoking newport 100s, the office is actually just an old trailer home - you get the picture.

After paying, I walk out to my car to see the front tires on boards... I say "hmmmm... I wonder why they did that - something fishy here". I pull the thing out of it's space and get out to do a quick walk around to look for damage. There we have it - the whole bumper (plastic - honda accord bumper) is cracked and partially ripped off the front right side. Oh.. that's nice. They had the car on boards because THEY KNEW the thing was probably too low for them to get their hooks out from underneath it. Well - they didn't use enough boards aparently, but the worst thing is - they didn't even tell me they did it. Like they didn't hear/feel the tugging and ripping? Are these guys really that useless in this world that they couldn't notice they were pulling the body off of a car? Ok that was a rhetorical question - I mean they chose Towing as their profession for christ sakes.

Anyway - after getting "the boss" outside to look at it - he says "we'll take care of it, but we'll have to wait until Friday" - today being wednesday. I tell him I'm going to just call the police to fill out a report just for safe measure and his eyes light up - "why do that? that's a waste of time - we'll do it". Hmm.. I wonder if this guy is just trying to get me to pass the 24 hour time limit to file a report so he can tell me to piss off on Friday. Nah - a tow truck driver from melrose park? He wouldn't do that. Anyway - after telling him that I wouldn't file one, I went straight to the police station and did what I said I wouldn't. I really hope he DOES tell me to piss off on Friday - "ooops, I forgot to tell you.. I changed my mind on wednesday and DID decide to file a report, sorry about that dude".

FROM: Robert
DATE: Wednesday June 6, 2001 -- 3:43:54PM

Ryan--How uncanny is it that someone commented on this Ping, eh?

FROM: Robert
DATE: Wednesday June 6, 2001 -- 3:46:09PM

Dude, that was sheer genius playing the fake. I hope you had the foresight to get everything in writing.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Wednesday June 6, 2001 -- 5:09:05PM

Aydi, S&S Towing is the worst. I have no personal experiences to share but given yours, and their incessant signs across the city and suburbs, I concur.

Melrose Park does blow, too. :)

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Wednesday June 6, 2001 -- 5:12:40PM

Robert -- That is funny!

Aydi -- Thanks for sharing your story. I mean, people just need to make money, but sheesh -- 3 hours to get to the towing company? That would be like someone in DC finding out their car was towed to New Jersey.

I'm kind of hoping that Blair's Towing from Virginia finds this Ping so they can read the crappy experience I had with them -- even when I needed their help. Maybe the same will happen with S&S Towing (although if they do have the mafia connections you mentioned, you may want to move!). :)

FROM: R. BLAIR
DATE: Friday November 1, 2002 -- 2:07:54 pm

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOMEBODY HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH MY COMPANY BUT PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN A VERY BUSY AREA AND SOME THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL!!(TRAFFIC,WEATHER,LOCATIONS AND BAD PHONE#S)WE TRY TO PLEASE EVERYBODY BUT MOST PEOPLE THINK WE JUST SIT WAITING FOR THE PHONE TO RING WHEN THE CASE IS WE STAY EXTREMELY BUSY.OUR DRIVERS LEAVE THE OFFICE(NOT TRAILER)IN THE A.M. AND GO FROM CALL TO CALL. I AM UPSET THAT WE CANNOT SERVICE EVERYBODY IN A TIMELY MANNER BUT WE TRY VERY HARD!! BEFORE WE HIRE ANY DRIVER THEY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK,DRUG TESTED AND SAFTEY TESTED.SURE I COULD HIRE ANYBODY BUT IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT? AS FAR AS PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWING IS CONCERNED WHAT GIVES SOMEBODY THAT DOSENT HAVE PERMISSION TO PARK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN?? THEY ARE TRESPASSING!!! NOW IF YOU FORGET TO PUT YOUR PERMIT IN THE CAR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?HOW DOES A TOW DRIVER KNOW YOU LIVE THERE?(REMEMBER MOT PEOPLE ASSUME WE ARE UNDEREDUCATED FOOLS BUT NOT MINDREADERS DO THEY?)BLAIRS'S TOWING DOES NOT DO A LOT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY PARKING ENFORCEMENT BUT AS A PROPERTY OWNER WOULNDNT YOU GET A FRUSTRATED IF SOMEBODY PARKED THEIR CAR ON YOUR FRONT YARD? ALL I AM TRYING TO SAY IS IF YOU DONT OWN THE PROPERTY YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU PARK AND IF YOU FORGET TO PUT YOUR PERMIT UP BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS.IF WE DAMAGE A CAR (AND IT DOES HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME REMEMBER WE ARE HUMAN)WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE RIGHT??

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday November 1, 2002 -- 2:27:36 pm

Rick -- If you read my original Ping a little more closely, you'll see that when I was towed from my townhouse lot I had a permit in the window allowing me to park there. Instead, the towing company (not yours, incidentally) took it upon themselves to look at my license plates and tow my car because the stickers hadn't been updated. Since when are towing companies expected to do the police's job?

In addition, a towing company (again, not yours) towed my wife's car because one of her tires was *touching* the white line. Not over the line, but TOUCHING it. That's a shitty way to do business.

With regards to your company, my main beef is that I was told somebody drove around and didn't see me despite the fact I was there the *entire* 3 1/2 hours waiting and not a single truck drove anywhere in the vicinity of where I was. I don't like being bullshitted, Rick.

Instead of making excuses, an apology might help.

(If it means anything, the guy that eventually DID show up was friendly and helpful.)

FROM: Ron Dilworth
DATE: Friday November 29, 2002 -- 3:47:37 am

Bravo! Excellent comment. here's a link about a corrupt otw truck company in Canada.

http://kelowna11.tripod.com/

Link it where you can.

Ron

FROM: Andrew
DATE: Wednesday December 11, 2002 -- 2:12:40 am

wow!
Its a pity to see people bashing an industry whose prime purpose is to help people...
Yes I drive for a towing outfit in Calgary Canada , City Wide Towing ,
to be specific and we have the city account which means towing illegal parking , derelict abandoned , uninsured non registered vehicles etc etc etc...
I dont particularly enjoy every aspect of the job such as some types of parking related city towing but we are directed by city bylaw to tow and if we dont tow it we lose the contract and someone else does the towing.
Unfortunately rules are rules and rules are implemented due to the stress of population increase.
So parking control becomes a necessity..
I think I could speak for the majority of towing operators when I say that 99% of the time we offer a service that not only benefits the comunity as a whole but puts a smile on our customers face.
Yes , like all aspects of life there are those who represent a certain industry who make the whole industry look bad.
I particularly dont like being stereotyped as I am far from being a part of the "scum" you like to bash on this site..
I for example am clean cut well spoken and have an education. Yes my spelling sucks....
I also have a book published with two more on the way have travelled the world for the last 10 years neither smoke nor do drugs of any sort and though I dont aspire to driving a tow truck for the rest of my life ; while I am here , in this country in this capacity I will consider myself a professional and conduct myself as such for a company that I dont consider to be the most wisely run but nevertheless a very professional towing company that certainly doesnt warrant the term " scum"...
We also do all of the towing for the city police and the term "scum" , I can assure you would be best used to describe the human garbage that the police and my fellow drivers have to deal with on a day to day basis during the execution of our duties , such as the drunk driving " scum" that just killed a pedestrian and didnt bother to stop , or the the thieving "scum" that stole somebody's car that they worked hard to pay off that's now damaged beyond repair and which insurance will only pay out a fraction of the vehicles original cost leaving the owner with no car not enough cash to replace it with and increased insurance premiums through no fault of their own!!!!!!
Anyway I sympathise with your rare and unfortunate "run ins" with perhaps an unscrupulous possibly unprofessional or maybe just overzealous towing operator..
I can assure you , we are not all like that and it would be unfortunate to tar us all with the same brush.
I like so many others venture out into our cities highways and byways evey day even placing ourselves at great personal risk to help people not hinder them.

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday December 11, 2002 -- 9:33:25 am

Andrew -- thank you for your well-presented response. I agree with you that towing companies do offer a good service to people in need of a jump or a tow.

Unfortunately, at the time I wrote this, I was witness to some very unscrupulous towing companies whose "policy" was simply to tow for the most minor of infractions (like having a wheel touching the white line of the parking space), and in the Northern VA area near DC, I've seen and heard of far more problems with either unethical or unresponsive towing companies than I have of ones that really want to help people.

Thanks for weighing in, though. It's good to get another side of the story (especially when it's not posted in all CAPS).

FROM: james watwood
DATE: Friday December 27, 2002 -- 9:23:29 pm

Teamster Betrayal & Drug Testing


Imagine that you have been working for the same employer for more than 20 years. Imagine you are a good employee with no injuries or accidents An almost perfect attendance record. You never damaged company equipment or took any chances with other peoples health and safety. You came to work on time got your job assignment and did your job. Imagine that no member of management complained about you or your work habits. You got along with management and with your coworkers. Imagine, When you look over your personnel folder it reveals you are pretty close to being a model employee. One that any employer would like to have working for him or her. You never stole from your employer even though at times it was vogue to do so. You never did drugs or alcohol while on duty even though you may have seen others do so. You have no drug or alcohol problem because you are old enough and smart enough to know where it leads. Now imagine, you have the same rapport with the teamsters union as you do with the company you work for when the union asks you to do something you go ahead and do it because you feel it will benefit yourself and others. When you go on strike, you show up and do your duty on the picket line without complaining. Imagine, you take money out of your own pocket to cover expensences for items needed to make picket signs, posters, camera film, and everything else needed to make the strike a success, you give without question. Then, suddenly one day without any warning or provocation, You are doing your job as you have always done. A foreman from the company comes up to you, requests that you come to his office. In the office you see a union steward and an additional foreman as a witness for the company. Imagine, the foreman tells you, "He believes you are on drugs or alcohol and you are going to be taken down for a urine test" The foreman proceeds to explain, the reason is "probable cause" because he sees your "eyes are red" and that you "stumble over your words." He considers you are using drugs or alcohol even though he has seen you like this for more than 20 years and knows there is nothing out of the ordinary about you. You think he is joking and ask to speak to your union steward alone he says no. You now realize this is a set up. Not a very clever one but still a set up. You know the teamsters union will never stand for this and wonder why they would go to the trouble. At the collection Laboratory where the urine test was given was a comedy of errors. 40% of the test was done wrong. These were not simple administration errors. But major gross errors including not being allowed to have your reading glasses to see the printed page of the document they want you to sign. They have your union steward fill the form out for you. They force you to sign it. So you do. But just to play it safe, next to your name you put "signed under protest." Imagine, while your at the laboratory you call your teamster business agent thinking he could probably use a good laugh. You relate to him the mistakes being made here at the lab and that the test being given to you is not contractual and ask him for assistance. Imagine your business agent tells you "to go ahead with the test" because "the company will @!#$ up on the procedure," this was already all to obvious to you already. Now imagine that the business agent calls you up three days later and wants you to meet with the company. So you and your union steward (at the laboratory) tell the terminal manager, and the company lawyer all the mistakes done at the lab. You think the company will realize they have no case and this will be the end of it. You tell the company how the laboratory control and custody form was forged, important items omitted, wrong time (three hours difference), wrong accession number, missing sample, (two samples taken, only one recorded) . Sample was put on a try with other samples one of those samples was named 'Ellen Allen." People were putting samples on and taking samples off to where you could not tell which was which. Imagine, to your horror, instead of investigating your concerns of laboratory errors the company instead covers these errors up. And the business agent is sitting there observing the company do this. Furthermore, this was not a real hearing as called for in the contract as you thought but was only an opportunity for the company to extract information and alter the truth. Imagine, a month and a half later you get a real hearing with an equal number of managers and teamsters. But even prior to this your business agent has already arranged an arbitration hearing even before you have had a chance to resolve the matter with the company as called for in the contract. Imagine you start to realize that your business agent is on the side of the company and a "fair trial" is not part of his agenda. Your union steward was not invited to your hearing with the company. Exactly one week later your union steward was not invited to your arbitration hearing either. Neither did your business agent even get a statement from him. So the proof of what really went on at the Laboratory was covered up intentionally. The arbitration hearing was controlled by the company completely. One week earlier the company and the union agreed to submit as evidence only what we had agreed on in that hearing. At the arbitration hearing the company was allowed to submit new evidence only minutes before the hearing was over. This was done with high ranking teamsters officials looking on. Who were supposed to be there for teamster interest. These union officials were cowards. To your horror you realize they are going to let roadway break the rules of evidence. And you realize they plan to have you fired without a fair trial. Their names are Ralph Taurone, "Buck Holiday, Bill Buccellato. Imagine, Your horror when you realize these scumbags all sided with the company. and saw first had that you did not get a fair trial as called for in the contract. You suddenly realize, the teamsters union considers 40% errors on a urine test OK as long as it's OK with the company. You can hardly wait to get back home and write all this up to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters because you know they won't let a 23 year teamster in good standing be fired without a fair trial. But you realize the I B of T is not going to investigate it's own as it has promised in it's "Constitution." The story you have just heard is true, Offered to you without exaggeration or lies. My name is James Watwood. My local union was Teamsters local # 63 The company was Roadway Express Inc. My business agent was Bob Paffenrolf. I dare any of you scumbug teamster officials to challenge me on any part of this text. You won't, because you know what kind of documentation I have. You coward bastards can only look pretty for the membership around election time and continue to convince the gullible, how you are "champions of freedom and rights." You are nothing but bottom feeding scum. I am sure some of you would even sell your own mothers if the price was right. You discust me. You have the audacity to allow this company to frame me on a phoney drug charge? Maybe you pieces of @!#$ should take drugs. This would afford you to blame your sordid behavior on the drug itself, instead of your cockroach charactor. Now you are stuck with the fact that your whole stinking anti social behavior is genetically related. Meaning that, your "mommy" and "daddy" and even your children are as screwed up as yourselves. You Mafioso scumbags always want "respect" But you know dam well, there is nothing about you or your rotten families worthy of any respect. A hundred of you wouldn,t make a pimple on an honest mans ass, and you know it .You are the living, breathing, proof that scum floats to the very top.

FROM: Justine
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 4:49:09 pm

Ryan, In your first story, you said your "girlfriend" and a later comment it was your "wife". Sounds like you are an all around liar and have to pick on a tow company to show your manhood in front of your friends. Look in the mirror if you want a loser to blame. So many people don't look at their own faults. They always have to put the blame on someone else. That's the problem with this world.....little scum like you.

FROM: Terrina
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 5:07:01 pm

I am a female tow truck operator in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and I feel sorry for the people on this site that have had such pitiful people assist them when they need help. I have never in all my years of towing come across a person I have left the impression that I am scum or that I am there to take advantage of them. Except for the ones that have broken the law and are upset at the law officials thay are dealing with we don't issue the tickets we just tow them because we have to! As a service person I am there to assist in making an already difficult situation better for someone who is stranded on the highway etc... What a lot of people do not realize is that when someone is stranded on the road They Are Our Priority! Not the person sitting at home in a nice warm place with all the amenities! Those are usually the one's phoning a million times to find out how long we will be like we can just appear on their doorstep. If we are unavailable we have friends that tow and they do the call. I have rescued many people off a main highway near our town and take great pride in saying that it does not matter what tow club calls it matters who needs us the most! And yes we do assist the RCMP or Local Law Enforcement and we have to be there within a reasonable amount of time. We do deal a lot with the scum that kill people driving impaired and I might add that it is usually children and families that are killed. A lot of people drive without licences or valid insurance without us they would continue to do so and with that said we do help in protecting the public with our services. Yes there are bad towing companies in the world but not all of us are the scum of the earth! We are honest (very) hard working people who at 4o'clock in the morning get out of our nice warm beds to come pull you out of the ditch, bring you fuel, change your tire, unlock your vehicle or tow you into a safe warm place. I am very proud of the job I do and I will continue to be as long as we own our Towing Company. I sold cars for many years and just like in that industry there are stories to be told just don't forget that for every bad towing company you hear about there is always one that shines!

FROM: sp
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 5:52:20 pm

I think that you are like the rest of the people out there that smokes or does something else that you not need to be doing because you all cant seem to remerber what or who you were doing on a dirt road or in the parking lot of the walmart,gas station, side road, someones drive way, in the middle of the road because you decided to stop.
IF the towing world knows what i am talking about. please find a friend that works at a towing com. and have them e-mail this site. because they still cant seem to figure it out were they left their car etc.
and by the way read the signs in or out the place you are renting or get someone to read them for you all that cant seem to understand the concept.

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing Co.
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 6:12:33 pm

Just a few comments on the prime article. #1 a tower is at the command of the parking complex where he has his contract. If the resident manager calls the towing company, he has to respond. However, it might be a more polite process to call you first, but then he's gone all the way to the complex at whatever hour in the morning for nothing then. If he tows you, at least he gets paid.

As far a the jump start goes, no tower should take more than 60 minutes to get to a call, unless the companies are extremely busy in your area. But then KIA should have given you their ETA, if they didn't meet it, call back and complain, they'll track him down for you and straighten out the issue. No one should have to wait 3 1/2 hours for a jump. But in general, the towers (companies) are really a great bunch of hard working guys and girls that are deeply concerned about your welfare and service. We're not scum, even though the ones that you ran across treated you poorly. Come to Hawaii, we'll take good care of you.

Aloha

FROM: FRAN MURRAY
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 6:18:45 pm

DONT BLAME TOW CO. FOR THE FACT YOU ARE A MORON. wHAT DO U DO BESIDES WINE CAUSE YOU ILLEGALLY PARKED? wE DONT WANT TO GO PULL YOUR CARS. WE ARE REQUESTED BY PROPERTY OWNERS. BLAME THEM, IT COSTS 50K FOR A WRECKER AND INS. PLUS HELP, DO YOU MIND PAYING FOR A COMPUTER?

FROM: NICK STONEBALLS
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 6:36:09 pm

I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT A MAN NAMED JED HE WAS A POOR MOUNTINEER WHO BARELY KEPT HIS FAMILY FED OH YEAH HE DROVE A TOW TRUCK TOO HE WOULD JUST TAKE VEHICLES AND SELL THEM IN ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTY AND HE HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THIS FOR WELL OVER FIVE YEARS NOW. YES THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED BUT THEY WOULD EITHER DISSAPEAR OR TURN UP DEAD! THE POLICE ARE OBVIOUSLY IN ON THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE JEDS BROTHER IS CHIEF OF POLICE AND HE RUNS THIS TOWN WITH A HEAVY HAND IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

FROM: John
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 6:38:05 pm

As an owner of a towing co I resent the trailer remark and the stereo type ideas that have been put in everyones head. Not all towing co are like this, you will find many operations are top notch. Many use uniformed clean drivers, and have clean smoke free offices. They also train the staff and hold certifications thru one of several training programs.I am sorry for your experiance but not all are like this. It is easy for people like your self to cast stones at our line of work but you need to walk in our shoes for a day to understand . Oh by the way it would be a week before you got in a truck to drive because we have a training program. But you could ride along. This is typical of someone who knows nothing of the towing industry. You should also know I tow Kia roadside and there is a writen policy on your warranty. If we bend for you then what is the sense of having the policy , then everyone would want us to just do it for them . Again I am sorry for your experiance.

FROM: NICK STONEBALLS
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 6:49:21 pm

DO YOU SEE ANYONE CAN MAKE UP A STORY
TOW TRUCKERS RULE

FROM: jim mckinzie
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 7:24:26 pm

hope thse people need help from a towing c. sometime

FROM: Nick
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 7:30:36 pm

I would like to say that I for one definitely do not fall into the stereotypes that the general public has about us, I do drive a tow truck but my main job is to service my customers and chase accidents, I DO NOT work for a contract company meaning that I don't work for any of the companies that hold a police contract for various parts of my city, so in short I don't give a rats ass where anyone parks as I am a bigger target for the taggers to ticket me than the general public is and the city taggers where I live just love trying to have my truck towed beleive it or not. I like to service my customers as quickly as possible and granted that I am not overflowing with work but I am quite busy on a daily basis so for one guy I think I do really well keeping my clients happy. What the general public doesn't know is that anyone with any kind of roadside assistance is not going to be really happy with it because for example the people up here where I live who service CAA/AAA are in no real hurry to come and unlock your door or change your flat because CAA/AAA or any other type of service like a manufacturers roadside are NOT paying good money to these guys that are contracted to help for example up here CAA is paying $28.00 Canadian to a towing company to change a flat, now imagine at -25 degrees how much of a hurry is the tow operator in to change your tire. But other than that just try to be upset at the ones who tow your car/STEAL YOU CAR from illegal paking spots or private property but try to think about guys like me who have been working the highways for years and at all hours of the night and for what? To be hit by cars on the roads as I have twice thank god I'm still here. Also how many times I have pulled people off the highway who had NO money and I didn't just leave them sitting there I at least got them off the highway, or women with kids and some elderly I have alot of these to share with you about my 9 years in this business, so don't be so quik to put labels on people because remember like any trade or profession there are some bad apples, after all not all lawyers are scum right? Also I am not an undereducated person neither I do have 2 trades behind me to go to if I really want.

FROM: Jay
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 7:34:36 pm

I thinks towing companies are great they do their job the best they can for the little money they get paid, and the high fees,Taxes,Truck payments,and insurance, they are doing the best they can.

FROM: LeeI
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 7:47:54 pm

Sorry about your experiences,but you most likely read and signed an agreement as far as the parking rules at your Townhouse,therefore it's kind of hard to feel real sorry for you!
I run a Towing business,and I probably give a little more than most,I have responded to private property impound calls and knocked on doors until I found the vehicle owner and got them to move the vehicle,but if I had wanted to,I had every right in the world to hook up that car and go!
As far as corruption goes,tell me what kind of business you are in and I'll find an example of corruption for you,it's not limited to any particular company. Most Towing companies are just trying to help people and trying to make a living.

FROM: ERIC L. [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 7:59:43 pm

I'am very sorry for all you losers that have nothing better to do than sit on your ass all day and criticize tow truck drivers/companies. I'am only 19 and I own a successful tow truck/auto transport company. All you dumbasses think tow truck drivers are stupid,smelly,non educated idiots, we are just hard working men that work hard for our money I have over 20 trucks and all worth more than 60k. Can all you stupid dumbasses afford that ? no I doubt it I think all you losers live in something worse than a trailer home. All my drivers are given a background check, they take a drug test every 2 weeks and are certified by the CTTA (California tow truck association) my divers are all clean cut and very very respectful and not stupid,smelly non educated idiots. My company is in top notch we are also members of the BBB (Better Business Bureau) so that can tell you something about customer satisfaction.

FROM: Kevin
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 8:26:24 pm

I am really sad that people care to ding us who are there to help people most of the time. The company I work for DOESN'T DO TOWAWAYS, and if your car is impounded, the reason is either the Police Dept, Sheriff's Dept or Highway Patrol had GOOD REASON to impound your car. It is not our fault that your car got impounded. It is YOURS!

FROM: jason
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 8:36:03 pm

I'm sorry if you guys have all had bad times with a few towing company's in our town Ill tell you we are not all the same trust me

FROM: Randy Taylor
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 8:45:39 pm

Owner of Interstate Towing Don't call us scum . What do you do for a living . Let me tell you what scum is the A## hole that call us at 4 am to give him a jump and when we get thier he has gone ,the a## hole that just came down the hwy at 90 mph and killed 4 people cause he didn't see all the lights flashing,the A## the police had his stolen car towed and stored that thinks a towing company should give him his Da## car cause he didn't have it towed some B###### stole it ,The A## hole drunk that didn't know he left his car in the middle of I-95 and said he park his car to go to the bath room and he ain't paying no D## tow bill . So Buddy you want to call some body scum call the bas## that towed you scum and leave the rest of us out of it. Or you might need us one day and we just might be scum thank about that for a while. And if you come throuh Roanoke Rapids N.C. and need a tow call a PRO 252-537-2613. we ain't cheap but we will be thier in 30 min or less or it is free, on a less than 3 year old truck and a nice neat driver and a 16,000 sq ft. building to keep your car safe in .Sorry we don't do private property towes unless the Police or thier with the property owner.

PS please post what you do for a living hear so that us in towing can tell you how how we were riped off and thier is a lot to tell. have blessed day

check this out another mad A## Hole!!!!!!! www.frankstowing.com

FROM: Jim
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 8:58:36 pm

OK Folks, Now admit it. Each and every one of you did something you shouldn't have. In keeping with the spirit of the new Millenium you all need someone to blame for your snafu. "It's not my fault" so it must be the towing company is corrupt, the cops are all no good and so on.

I manage one of the most reputable towing companies on Long Island. We impound from apartment complex's, town code enforcement, police, sherrif etc. Rare is the occasion when someone admits they were wrong. It's usually someone else that should take the blame.

Come on people. Face it, you did something wrong and had to pay the price. Get over it, learn a lesson and life goes on.

FROM: DAVE ALTOM
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 9:05:01 pm

SORRY THAT YOU HAD A BAD TIME WITH THE TOWING CO. HOWEVER ALL TOWERS ARE NOT LIKE THAT. WHEN YOU CLIMB IN A TRUCK AND YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ALL DAY TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY THERE IS SOME THAT SLIPS BY THE WAY SIDE.MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO RIDE WITH SOMEONE AND SEE FRIST HAND ON WHAT GOES ON. I THINK YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT WE SEE A LOT OF STUFF OUT HERE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU SICK. THINK THAT YOU OUTH TO RETHINK ABOUT US TOWERS WE ARE NOT ALL BAD. SOME DAY YOU MIGHT NEED ONE AGAIN. AND LETTERS LIKE THIS AND POEPLE LIKE YOU RERALLY GIVE ME A PAIN. AND YOU HAVE THIS TOWER REALLY STIRED UP. HAVE A NICE DAY.

FROM: Mike Joy
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 9:33:47 pm

I say, you the people . The people made the laws , you the people set the laws . If you dont like what we do and how we handle our job help us change the laws. You get the laws changed and we will change. We the tow companys don't like most of the laws that we have to follow. You Pay a little tow bill if you dont follow the law. We the tow company's pay thousands if we dont
thank you !!!!!!!

FROM: CB
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 10:05:50 pm

It is regretfulll that so many people have had such poor experiences with an industry which was born out of a desire to HELP people in the first place. There are many good & hopefully not so many bad Towing companies out there.
I made a living for over 10 years as a Towing Technician,doing everything from Road Service to car & truck towing,private property , Police calls & AAA & Motorclub calls (no repo's though) and it is an honest profession. As honest as the buisness owner & employees. mind you. I came to know my share of theives & scum bags , but at least in the area where I worked (So. Connecticut) they were the minority.
It is ridiculous to tow a vehicle for the tire touching the "white line" as one person stated earlier, but it is entirely another situation to tow a vehicle for having an expired tag. Many property owners will have their security people or the tow company which patrols their lots place a warning sticker on the vehicle in violation,giving some notice. Unfortunatley many do not. And most people never notice in the fine print of their lease agreements or condo rules that unregistered vehicles are not allowed & will be towed at their expense. Like the old saying goes, ignorance is no excuse for innocence.
Well anyway ,I hope that when any of you NEED a tow truck ,(and chances are sometime you will)one will be dispatched in a timely matter and service you with the respect & courtesy you deserve. And if your towed for no ones fault but your own,then place the blame where it really belongs....
Thank You

FROM: Scott [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday January 15, 2003 -- 11:17:34 pm

I don't agree that "all tow drivers are scumbags", but quite a few are. The tow business is one industry that sorely lacks professionals. To a large degree that's due to the large predominance of motor clubs like AAA. Ever hear the expression "When you pay peanuts you get monkeys"? The average rate per call paid out by the motor clubs is a measly $16., but the motor clubs don't make that known to their members. For that kind of money what do you expect? You're not going to get an experienced, well educated professional, driving modern equiptment. You're more likely to get some nitwit fresh out of highschool who dosen't know how to use a lugwrench. And in the meantime, if any other call comes in that pays more than your AAA flat tire, you can bet who's going to wait longer for service. If you want a PROFESSIONAL you have to pay the price for a PROFESSIONAL. Here are some recent examples: I get a call from one of the regular dealerships we tow for. The problem was rather unusual, but not unheard of. The customer had a Mercury Villager in her garage with a jammed ingnition cylinder. The key wouldn't turn no way, no how. It's front wheel drive, nosed in, locked in park. How do you get it out of the garage to tow it? Simple. Reach under the dash, disconnect the shift linkage, push it out into the driveway and hook it up. I was gone with it in 5 minutes, but the 3 different idiots that AAA sent, over the course of 2 days, basically told the lady she was screwed and couldn't do anything for her. (BTW, they still got paid by AAA just for going out there) See, you pay peanuts and you get monkeys. Here's another recent example: We get a call from another dealership to get go a car with a dead starter. The car was in a tricky position, backed into a narrow dog-leg driveway. Again, the owner was a AAA member and tried them first. The first guy came. looked at where the car was and said he couldn't get to it then drove away. She then called AAA back, and they sent out a different driver who gave her the same story. Third call to AAA produced a third driver who said the same thing. These idiots didn't even try! (BTW, this whole episode with AAA wasted an entire day for the car owner) Next day she calls her dealership, who called us. I got there, looked over the situation and gave it my best shot. Granted, it wasn't easy, but with a little pushing and steering I was able to positon the car in a way which enabled me to hook it up with the truck. With a little extra effort, I got the job done, and the customer was so grateful she threw me a $25 tip! She also said she was going to write a nasty letter to AAA! Again, you pay peanuts and you get monkeys.
Another part of the business is trespass towing. This is the aspect that usually generates the most hostile and irate customers, thus earning tow companies the "scum of the earth" reputations. I've personally done thousands of trespass tows in my 18+ years of driving a tow truck and I have absolutely no pity for anyone who parks illegally. I've had my share of run-ins with these types and very few of them are willing to admit that they are wrong. If you paid $150 a month for a parking space and came home to find someone else in it, would you be pissed off? The fun really begins when the car owner comes out while you're hooking up their car! I have a few good stories about doing "drops" buyt here's one of my favorites. I get a call from an apartment house resident who has a car in his space. I get down there and sure enough there's a Camaro backed into this guys numbered space, without a parking sticker for that building. I get the car hooked-up then crawled under and disconnected the transmission. Just as I was pulling out, the owner jumps in front of my truck! So obviously I stop. I told her it would be $35 to drop the car. She flat out refused to pay and demanded that I release her car. So basically, we were at a standoff. She began yelling for her boyfriend to come out, which he did. He was a resident of the building and knew very well the rules, but he wasn't going to pay me either and also demanded I drop the car. I refused. Then he pulls out a badge and proclaims that he's a police officer from a neighboring city and he was going to cause me all sorts of trouble if I didn't give his girlfriend back her car. I said OK, I'll give her the car back. I then unhooked the car and started to drive away, then I stopped and yelled out the window "Oh, by the way, you do know how to reconnect the transmission, right?". Both their jaws dropped open wide! I said "I had to disconnect the tranny to tow it, but for $50 I'll reconnect it". The looks on their faces was precious! Yes, they paid. If that makes me a scumbag than so be it, but I wasn't the one who was wrong. When the day comes that I'm peeling their sorry asses off a guardrail they'll change their tune. They alway do.
Scott
http://towzone.com

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 12:14:03 am

Wow. Getting noisy around here.

Ryan, In your first story, you said your "girlfriend" and a later comment it was your "wife". Sounds like you are an all around liar

Justine -- clearly the concept of a wedding is foreign to you.

FROM: Murdoch
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 2:34:08 am

I am the owner/operater of two trucks in Perth Western Australia.
First of yes there is alot off scum in this bussiness BUT not all of us are.
As in any bussiness you always get bad apples we are no different if you heard some of the things one of the larger companies here have done you would wonder how they are still operating ,but they do cause they wangle their way out of it.
As in all things if you are not happy with the service complain if you are waiting longer than neccassary ring up and ask why if not happy call someone else.
I am invovled with the police contract here and if we are not at the scene within 30 minutes besides losing the job we lose the contract.
Basically dont tarnish the industry with the same brush because of bad expeiriences with dickheads.
Come to Australia and see what happens

FROM: Christine Roberts
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 9:10:43 am

On new years we had a few too many drinks and Taxis we jacking up their prices to pay for a ride home. We noticed several different tow trucks driving through downtown with large banners on the side offering free rides home and you get to take your car with you. Needless to say we took the offer with our cars and our friends did the same and we all got a lift home safely with our car intact. Also at my son's High School where M.A.D.D supporters were having a speaker we noticed several tow trucks with bashed up car at the seminar with banners quoting "Don't drink & drive" or this is what happens when you do.

Tampa Florida

FROM: Paul
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 11:35:18 am

Ryan: Justine -- clearly the concept of a wedding is foreign to you.

You got married? When the hell did that happen? Why I'm I always the last to know....

FROM: j martinez
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 1:33:43 pm

first of all iwould like to say that there are some good towing companies out there all american serivce in jersey i feel is one of the best they have a you breakit you bought it policy for there drivers while they may look like kids and or raging alcoholics i was extremely satisfied and if more people had triple a {aaa} nobody would wait as long oh yeah you said it was raining buckets too well duh every car has electrical problems in the rain and that's a towers busiest time so deal wiht it

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 2:07:19 pm

every car has electrical problems in the rain

I was in a covered parking area. The rain had nothing to do with it.

And since when does every car have electrical problems in the rain? If that was true, the roads would become parking lots during storms.

FROM: mike saward [E-Mail]
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 4:17:51 pm

the recovery industry is the best in the world in the uk

FROM: E.J.
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 6:15:57 pm

As a Towing Professional in Massachusetts, I do in part agree with many of the negative opinions of our industry. There are far more "scumbag" companies, than legit honest companies. I however work for the latter. Here is my opinion. Motorclubs are a farse, for both the tower and the towee. Tow co. ownwers are generally dishonest, cheap, and poor business men&women. If a co. was established in 1950, and a family business your dealing with a second or third generation spoiled little bastard that has had everything handed to him including a very lucrative business. If the tow co. just started up then they are out stealing and soliciting on public ways, usually in improperly registered, poorly maintained, under equiped truck(if you can call them that), with an unqualified, unshowered, and sometimes unlicensed driver. If you tow, clean up your act, stay out of other peoples areas, and be carefull, no one cares that you risk your life EVERY time you go out to the highway to do your job.

FROM: corey [E-Mail]
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 6:18:54 pm

this is insane. i can't believe i just read all that.

50% intelligent arguments, 50% blathering idiots.

towing is such an odd thing to be so passionate about.

FROM: Cynthia
DATE: Thursday January 16, 2003 -- 9:30:38 pm

I spent over an hour reading all this crap and only a few had their heads on. I have been a towing professional for over 6 years with heavy towing and several years with the small stuff. Let those people who gripe so much ride a day with me. There little eyes will be open forever. I studied long hours and received a wreckmaster certificate to get where I am. Many tow operators are highly skilled, hard working, and crazy to do the kind of work we do. Who else is brave enough to go in the cold night to the hills and slap through mud, rain, or snow to chain up your junky car to winch it out, because you were too tired to pay attention to where you were driving (or on the phone) and went in the ditch? I sure would like to hear more good things about us out there. We rescue a lot of dumb folks out there. Of course, there is the unfornate one who hasn't checked the oil in their car in months, who can't figure why the car broke down in the middle of nowhere. And I know there is the few that are totally innocent. But all in all, There are alot of great, professional tow operators out there and honest companies too. I know, I work for one who would not consider damaging their name, for they deal with special equipment. Maybe the next time you brake down, you will get a taste of the new tow operators that are out there especially in the N.W.

FROM: Karen [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 12:01:31 am

Dear avid readers,
Obviously a few of you have had problems with your local tow companies. For that I truly am sorry, however, having been the owner /operator of a tow company for 19 years, I cannot express how your comments(granted everyone is entitled to their opinion) and catagorizing "The Industry" as a whole for the less than perfect response you experienced is not fair. We all play a role in life, what do you do for a living? Is it completely without condemnation? We. as business people, who do our job with dedication and care are revolted by your comments.
Who are you to say we are all the same? Do you work outdoors, in the rain, snow, mud? Have you ever had to repel down a 50 -100 foot cliff to retrieve someones dead son? We have.
Our job, as an industry is not what the average person thinks of. Lock-out, tire changes, jump starts etc. are a big part of our work, but you have to understand that these "guys" go out of their way, go the extra mile at 2-3-4 a.m. so we can all be safe.
Who are you to condemn the entire industry for purely selfish reasons? Are you just trying to get back at the company that you are upset with? Or, do really have a firm grasp of what we are all about, our liabilities, our problems? Do you?
When you do, let me know. We belong to all thew major Trade Associations, as well as the BBB, the local state and US Chambers of Congress, and we just awarded the ACE AWARD in Nov. 2002 by the "Industry" FOR BEING IN THE TOP 1% OF OUR INDUSTRY FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. I don't know your area, but California is a tough state for regulations, try it. I await your rebuttal. K

FROM: John [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 7:28:19 am

As several other people have mentioned, if you think towing companies are scum you should see some of the customers that we have to put up with (and I mean way beyond the customer is paying the bill so he's always right). Interesting that in the original post our home area (Port Charlotte, FL) is mentioned. Fortunately the company slammed was not us (our average response time is under 45 minutes and we have a high rate of getting to people in under 30 minutes). One common thread in these arguments tends to be the size of the metro area served. I think the larger serving areas (DC, NYC, Chi, etc) would tend to have more problems pleasing customers. In addition, a towing company's contracts have an impact. Like someone else mentioned, we do NOT do police rotation, we do NOT do AAA, and we do NOT do non-consent tow-aways. We also have no written contracts for any services. This allows us to be best able to rapidly respond to our customers.
One note on cars having been towed away as having been illegally parked: If you feel you are the victim of an unscrupulous tow-away, research the laws for your area (in the state of Florida the info is available on-line). You may find you have leverage. In this state (Florida), there are strict guidlines on tow-aways such as the mandatory placement and wording of signs that include the name and phone # of the company covering the lot. Additionally, the local police jurisdiction has to be notified of the tow-away and there is an extensive list of requirements that the towing company must comply with.

And to add a little light-hearted humor to the discussion:

Favorite customer-isms in my line:

1. "Why are you towing it from the rear; it's front wheel drive?" (would have to be the only fwd Mustand in existance; actually had customers on two separate occasions insist their Mustang was fwd - one even said her mechanic told her that and was I saying that he was lieing?).

2. "Don't you have to tow it from the rear?" (No, your car is front wheel drive)

3. "Are you sure?" (Well, I've never seen a rear wheel drive car with a transverse engine...)

4. "My battery is dead, can you bring me one?" (Sorry, we don't carry 27 different size spare batteries on our trucks)

5. "Oh, I thought you would just fix the tire" (No, our insurance doesn't cover us for making repairs; I can put your spare on for you)

6. "That much!" (Afraid so; if you saw what our overhead was in this business you'ld wonder why it wan't more)

7. "Is that all?" (Well, I can charge you more if you'ld like, LOL).

8. "Do I need to give you hand signals so you can get hooked up?" (No thanks, I do this a couple of hundred times a month)

9. "Are you sure? (YES, see #8 above)

10. "Do you take triple A?" (No, we prefer to make a profit and you can't call directly for towing with AAA anyway, you have to call AAA)

11. "I shouldn't have to pay for this tow; I just had the tires rotated there two days ago and now it won't start!!" (Oh, yeah; I'm sure there's some connection there! LOL)

12. "If I get you to tow my car, can I make payments?" (Yes, you can make one payment for the full amount when we drop the car. *Note: I do NOT make these up*)

13. "Do I need to put it in neutral?" (No, "park" is fine; the drive wheels are stationary on my wheel lift)

14. "Are you sure?" (YES!!!)

14a. "It doesn't have to be in neutral???" [NOOOOOOOOOOO!]

15. "That much? It's only 1/2 mile!" (Yeeees; I could charge you by the mile, but the next time you wanted a 10 mile tow it would be $300)

16. "We tried towing it with a rope to start it....." (Ahhh, you do realize this is an automatic, right?)

17. [The owner of a Lincoln with a broken ball joint that is sitting on the ground blocking traffic in a parking lot] "Can't I just go inside and get some people and we can lift it up and get it in the parking space?" (Well, if you try that it's a good thing this is a hospital parking lot)

18. "All-wheel drive???" [Yeeees; that means when you request a tow you need to specify our flatbed. We can tow 99% of the vehicles on the road with a wheel lift; but your's isn't one of them]

19. "You guys just worked on the ______________ the other day and now it's doing_____________!" ["We guys" are independent tow'ers; we didn't work on your car]

20. "I have __________ insurance; can't you just bill them?"
[Nooooo; you have to pay us for the tow and submit the bill to your company for reimbursement]

21. [At the end of the tow when presented with bill] "Oh, I have triple A!" [That's nice; now you get to pay me for the tow and try to get reimbursed from them - good luck!]

22. "Can't you just spray some ether in it to get it going?" [Where I would find ether starting fluid in sw Fla, I have no idea; beside which this AIN'T a '57 Chevy you got here]

Probably a bunch more I'm forgetting.

FROM: John [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 7:35:05 am

Oh, and FYI, our current towing rate is $36 first 5 miles then additional $2.50/mi. (a 15 mile tow is $61). Check the tow rates in YOUR area and then figure out how we get people who think that's too much!

FROM: kingsley Foreman [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 1:23:41 pm

I don,t know what towing compies are like in the U.S. but here in Australia people would die miles out in the Outback hundreds of miles from any were.
Its the towers who drive hundreds of miles on the smaller roads who come across people in cars most of them with out water to keep them alive.
It is days or longer that you may not see another car.
Tow truck drivers don,t get payed for driving hundreds of mile on bad roads and they will tow your car back before getting payed, most people are more than happy with the service.
The people pay us and are happy to do so all though they are safe and could get away with not paying us.
Kingsley Foreman
www.inselfdefense.net/outbacktowing

FROM: Greg
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 3:20:45 pm

Ryan: "And since when does every car have electrical problems in the rain? If that was true, the roads would become parking lots during storms."

Obviously Ryan, you've never been to Chicago when it rains.

And as with any industry/trade, there's a general professionalism but you'll always have those "bad apples".

FROM: mel
DATE: Friday January 17, 2003 -- 5:39:25 pm

Hmm. I've lived in Chicago for 25 years and never had a car crap out on me in the rain. Nor have I had the experience of not being able to get anywhere in the rain because the highways were littered with cars that don't work in the rain. What am I missing?

FROM:
DATE: Saturday January 18, 2003 -- 12:29:35 am

FROM: Jeff
DATE: Saturday January 18, 2003 -- 12:46:30 am

I think all of you sorry people need to understand that if a towing service takes a long time to get to you it might be because they are having to take care of all the other idiots. Everyone that we deal with think that you are the only person that is broke down at that time. I have breaking news for all the idiots out there YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE WITH VEHICLE PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now stop your crying and deal with life.

FROM: BILLY
DATE: Saturday January 18, 2003 -- 10:49:02 am

Think about what you just said. If it were'nt for towtrucks, the streets would be like parking lots. You disgust me with your whining. Take responsibility for your own actions. You were illegal and you know it. You had plenty of time to fix the problem before there evar was a problem. Sounds to me like you only have yourself to blame. And asfor the tire "just a little on the line", are we allowed to break the law a little bit, maybe just steal a little of the money from the bank, or we'll just murder a little bit, maybe just a small rape, maybe just a little too drunk to drive home, maybe just kill one or two members of the family in the car we hit because we were just a little drunk. So maybe you are watching the Superbowl and your team is behind by four points, they are on the one yard line, the final seconds are counting down, time for one more play and the running back leaps for the endzone but the ball only touches the whiteline, is he in, is he out? Well, I guess that depends on whether it's good for you or not.
27 years in the towing business and not one time have I ever come to work dirty or out of uniform or with the intent on ruining someones day. They usually do a bang up job of their own. I've been there and done it all including getting my own car out of hock because I was'nt paying attention. Sure it was tough paying out all that money, but I think we all need to learn from these little lifes moments and move on. Name calling and bashing is not the answer. And Jeff, your not helping matters by calling our customers idiots, you are being just as bad as those who call us scum. Pick yourself up man, don't stoop to their level. If it were a perfect world we would not be having this conversation, but it's not.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Saturday January 18, 2003 -- 12:38:23 pm

Hey, Jeff, I'd agree with you, but when someone quotes me one hour, I don't expect to wait 3 1/2. Now excuse me, I need to go deal with life.

FROM: Cj
DATE: Monday January 20, 2003 -- 7:22:00 pm

I work in the towing business, and so does my dad and his dad. You people for one have any clue what you are talking about. If you think we charge to much why don't you buy a towtruck and see if it would be cheaper that way? Towtrucks cost over $60,000.00. Then you have the cost of fuel, employees, insurance, and repair work done on the truck. It's a hard life being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Most of you people that are putting towers down are most likely working a 9-5 job 5 days a week and sitting in front of the computer all day! When I was reading a persons comment he said stealing for a living. IF YOU WOULD PAY ON THE CAR PAYMENTS WE WOULD NOT TAKE IT. You people need to GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FROM: Cj
DATE: Tuesday January 21, 2003 -- 3:20:23 pm

I need to add one more thing. If you park in a parking lot and see a sign in front of your face (NO PARKING) don't park there and we will not take it!!!!!!!! If you do park there, when you come for the car don't get pissed at us because you are the person that parked there. You can park yor peace of junk some where else!

FROM: Paul
DATE: Tuesday January 21, 2003 -- 3:35:13 pm

CJ: You people for one have any clue what you are talking about.

That's very nice of you to say, thank you.

You people need to GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone needs to get his keyboard fixed.

FROM: Frank
DATE: Tuesday January 21, 2003 -- 5:33:21 pm

Cj tells it like it is!
As for all of you people talking trash about towers not knowing what you are talking about. I can not say what I want to say. It would kind of look like this...F@#% YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FROM: jusjon51
DATE: Wednesday January 22, 2003 -- 9:42:42 pm

In the AM the roads into the city are a rush hour route ie two lane roads
that if a vehicle is there between eg
7-9 AM BLOCK the road and cause a Bottleneck The same in the PM,park in either and I will tow your ass,Now autoclubs you pay your $80 a year to get a pretty card dont cry to me that you have been waiting 2 hours for me too show up. I go when I get dispatched,You get what you pay for
I make 60- 65K a year Whine all you want about Towing I dont give a crap
If you are stupid enough to have one-way insurance on your car
then dont cry when you wreck it and have to pay the tow truck driver $$$$
I sleep good at night jj51

FROM:
DATE: Wednesday January 22, 2003 -- 11:45:21 pm

FROM: Nick
DATE: Wednesday January 22, 2003 -- 11:56:41 pm

First off I'd like to say Randy Taylor and Dave Altom you two guys are not doing too good as far as making us towers look even remotely educated with what I have just read from you two, but anyway you still do the same job as I do and regardless we all have to stick together. Now as I said last week I work for myself not the cops or property owners or the motor leagues, I chase wrecks and service my clients ONLY but I have always found that the general public thinks that for some reason our service is negotiable, (YEAH RIGHT!!!) I'd like to see these same people who try to get cheaper deals from us on the towing walk into a gas bar and offer the attendant behind the counter what they think is reasonable for the gas they want, or how about walking into Sears and making an offer on the jeans they want, as far as I'm concerned these same fools who sit there and try to weasel a good deal on a tow are the same one's that see me walk into their stores and see that I pay the price that's on the tag WITHOUT even so much as a peep about the price.As for the cheapos I always do this to people that I stop for on the highway for example when they ask how much I tell them the price then when they offer me something (usually $30 less at first) I raise the price by $20, for the next round of offers they raise it $10 so I raise it $10 then they get all freaked out about what's going on right at this point, so my next response is "You want a cheap tow?" They say yes I say buy your own truck and drive off. So the next time you call a tow truck or flag one over think before you open your pie hole our equpment isn't cheap an neither is our insurance and our licenses and so on and so on. For those of you who live in colder climates and can't stand the cold try standing in it for over half your work day like we do and think twice about what we do and the risks we take to service you on the tragedy filled highways of North America, think before you speak, because we don't like when we all get painted with the same brush because I'm sure in what ever profession you are in there are some bad apples aswell. I would like to stress to everyone that as far as the AAA or the CAA is concerned or any other motor league DO NOT BUY THIS CRAP they are the cheapest around and somehow they will find some tow company to service their customers but at what cost, at your expense, you have to remember they are not paying good money to have the sub contacted towing companies come get you so that means they are not going to be coming to get you anytime soon now are they, no they're not so save the $50,60 or 70 plus that you spend on that crap because logically in the course of a year you may only need them once so you might as well pay the tow truck the $50 or $60 for that tow and get serviced quickly and freeze your ass off. I could probably go on night with what I have experienced over the years but I'll save it for another night, just remember when you're broken down you need me more than I need you so be nice because I really have NO problem driving right by you.

FROM: EJM
DATE: Thursday January 23, 2003 -- 2:23:53 pm

My car was towed while parked in a snow route in chicago last weekend. I have retrieved my car from the pound at 702 Sacremento Ave with extensive transmission damage and also damage to the grille and bumper. Does anybody know what action I can take. From what I am hearing, legal action is expensive and usually futile. If anybody can help please email me at emurtagh1@yahoo.com Thanks

FROM: CJ
DATE: Thursday January 23, 2003 -- 4:17:11 pm

Paul: S&S Towing is the worst. I have no personal experiences.

Paul you have no personal experiences...so shut up!!!!!

FROM: CJ
DATE: Thursday January 23, 2003 -- 4:23:29 pm

Paul: S&S Towing with their incessant signs across the city and suburbs.

Paul S&S Towing puts those signs up for people like you that park their.

Think about it!

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing Co.
DATE: Saturday January 25, 2003 -- 7:30:42 pm

In response to EJM: What type of car was towed? If you claim you had damage to the grill, (which is located on the front of the car) you would have to show evidence that the vehicle was either towed by the front and the driver backed into it, or #2 you would have to show evidence that the driver towed the vehicle from the rear and that he backed your vehicle into something. Question is: where was the damaged debris found? At the scene of the pick up? or at the scene of the drop off? or somewhere in route? If it's front wheel drive and you claim he picked up the vehicle from the front by damaging the grill, then damage to the transmission is impossible. If your transmission is standard, then no matter how he picked up your vehicle, damage to the transmission is impossible. There's really nothing hard about presenting a case, as long as you have the facts, irrefutible evidence and a proper presentation showing beyond a reasonable doubt that the tower caused the damage by a re-construction of the accident scene. Remember though the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. The reason why people in general claim that it's not always easy to present a case such as this against a defendant is because most people don't know how to assemble a case and always try to stretch the truth to the point of being unbelievable even to the point of telling lies. You do have to remember that we are professionals in the field and can easily identify and overcome a lie by using not only logic, but we have abundant case history with which we are very familiar with on our side. We also have a tight network wherein we can obtain additional experiences that can strengthen our defenses.

Aloha a me kapono kahiko

FROM: jerry
DATE: Sunday January 26, 2003 -- 6:03:07 pm

There is a tow company in toronto canada that is called Diamond Towing..They are real crooks! They pay there driver fuck all and nickle and dime them to death!

FROM: Paul
DATE: Sunday January 26, 2003 -- 6:16:45 pm

CJ, have you heard of a dictionary? No, I'm serious.

FROM: EJM
DATE: Monday January 27, 2003 -- 1:36:39 pm

In response to the reply from Haleiwa Off Road Towing Co. My car is an Audi A4 Quattro, all wheel drive.
The car was parked in second gear and remained in second gear while being towed. When I went to pick up the car at 702 Sacremento I could see that the grille on the front (just below the bumper) was damaged, piece knocked out. When I got into the car, it was still in second gear. I started up the car and put it into first gear only to be greeted with a sound of gravel where there used to be gears.
The car was dragged in second gear, it doesn't matter whether it was from the front or back being a quattro. Anyway. Like any business, there are good and bad examples, I was unlucky enough to be towed by a bad one. You are right though, it is hard for me to prove that my car was in absolutely immaculate condition before it was towed (which it was), now it looks and is a mess.

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing Co.
DATE: Tuesday January 28, 2003 -- 6:28:39 pm

Document your issues one step at a time. Then print it out. Then re-read what you wrote and fill in any blanks. Don't forget 1. where you parked. 2. How you parked. 2.1. condition or direction of the tires, 2.2. what gear you left the vehicle in 2.3. the parking brake 2.4. other vehicles surrounding your vehicle 2.5. direction of the vehicle (facing the road, or facing away from the road etc.) 2.6. Any witnesses as to the validation of the above parking issues. 3. Collect together any recent pictures of your vehicle. 4. Return to the scene and look for evidence of the broken grill, if nothing, note your findings 4.1. return to the garage where you first saw the vehicle and look around on the ground for evidence of breakage there. 5. Note any weather conditions on the day of your parking as well as the day of your picking up your vehicle. 6. Find any witnesses at the scene of the drop off. If they're gonna lie, then make them lie. Don't just not ask them questions under the atmosphere of a deposition because you already know are are afraid that they're gonna lie. Ask them. Make them lie if that's what they're gonna do. You'd be surprised how the truth comes out when a person is being grilled by a proper and well trained griller (attorney). If the facts don't appear to be on your side at first, get more facts that put the issue on your side. If you are in fact right and not at fault, the more facts, the better.

Hope this helps.

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing co.
DATE: Tuesday January 28, 2003 -- 6:31:09 pm

Another issue is: Were you billed for a dolly tow? Or was this vehicle towed on a flatbed? Being an all wheel drive. The vehicle has to have been towed on a dolly or a flatbed. There is no other way. If you weren't billed for it, you have a strong case right there.

aloha

FROM: EJM
DATE: Monday February 3, 2003 -- 3:49:58 pm

Thanks Haleiwa Off Road Towing co,you have given me a lot of good info there. I was not charged for a dolly tow or for a flatbed, at least it isn't itemized that way. Thx

FROM: Paul
DATE: Monday February 3, 2003 -- 7:45:15 pm

The Daily Ping: Bringing Haleiwa Off Road Towing and Its Customers Closer Together.

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing co.
DATE: Tuesday February 4, 2003 -- 3:57:27 am

Aloha a me kapono kahiko

FROM: The Happy Huker
DATE: Thursday February 6, 2003 -- 1:17:42 pm

Sounds like in the first two "Pings" that you need to take up the problem with your apartment complex management. I, too, am a "towing nazi"... but, we only tow the cars as specified by the managment of the complex. First of all, if your girlfriend can't hit the stall without parking on the line (very rude of her to expect someone else to have to crowd themselves because she can't drive), maybe she should take driving lessons! (By the way, we take photos of all the vehicles we tow so that any violations, as specified by the apartment complex management are clearly shown)! And the second time, when you were on expired plates, that too seems to be a policy of your apartment complex... if you have a problem with it, maye you should move. As for the last problem... maybe you should look at your own story a little closer- you said in one part that you told the towing company that you had never left your car when they said they had been there and you were not present, but earlier in your little story you stated that during the 3 1/2 hour wait, you to the police station and asked them to jump start your car... unless you can be in two places at once, how were you at your car the whole time? Sounds like you are just a habitual complainer...

FROM: Michael Smith
DATE: Thursday February 6, 2003 -- 1:31:46 pm

I am a student at Trinity College. My research method project is what makes patrons have attitudes toward tow truck companies that tow their cars or vehicles for parking illegally. Some of my understanding has lead me to know that the police and only resident managers have the power to have vehicles towed. Of course some of the literature that I have retrieved from the internet is conflicting. This will be an indepth research project with uncertainty in my final conclusion.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Thursday February 6, 2003 -- 1:53:20 pm

First of all, if your girlfriend can't hit the stall without parking on the line (very rude of her to expect someone else to have to crowd themselves because she can't drive), maybe she should take driving lessons!

They were small spaces. It was unusual for cars NOT to be touching one of the two lines in that lot.

By the way, we take photos of all the vehicles we tow so that any violations, as specified by the apartment complex management are clearly shown

When we asked them to produce pictures to prove that she was over the line, they couldn't do it. And that's with good reason: she wasn't. I can only assume those jackasses towed her, figured she'd pay without challenging them. But she did and they weren't able to produce any evidence, so she got off without having to pay.

If you have a problem with it, maye you should move.

We did. Quite a while ago.

you said in one part that you told the towing company that you had never left your car when they said they had been there and you were not present, but earlier in your little story you stated that during the 3 1/2 hour wait, you to the police station and asked them to jump start your car... unless you can be in two places at once, how were you at your car the whole time?

The police station was directly across the street from where I was parked. The police were outside the building, so for the 30 seconds I was talking to them, my car and the parking lot were in my view, less than 100 feet away.

Sounds like you are just a habitual complainer...

Only when there's a valid reason, sir.

FROM: Keith Werner
DATE: Thursday February 6, 2003 -- 9:01:46 pm

What really bothers me is that fact that most of the people on this ping know nothing about the towing industry! They think about the times they were broken down and may have had to wait. They don't think about the long hours we work, the harsh weather we endure, spending hours at a time going from call to call. Making sure the people in the community where we serve are dealt with in as timely manner as possible. Or the fact that we put our life on the line every time we step out of our trucks to provide a service of some sort. Are they aware of the towing profesionals who are killed in the process of doing their job, which is providing a service to community? People think it is scary sitting on the side of the road broken down and the people who have no consideration as they fly by heading to where they need to get to in such a hurry. But a wrecker operator is put in that position sometimes 5 to 15 times in one week yet most people break down on the interstate only once or twice a year. As far as private property impounds, rules are posted on the property in visible sight, if you have a lease read it , but don't blame the wrecker operator who was called by the property management to do his/her job. For those who get behind the wheel of their vehicle either intoxicated or breaking the laws on vehicle registration, those choices come with consequences.

FROM: Kathy
DATE: Thursday February 6, 2003 -- 10:04:16 pm

First of all, my fiance is a tow truck driver and I am VERY proud of his work ethics he has for his job. Granted I don't like not seeing him for the majority of the day because he's always working, but that's just something I (and everyone else that is in a relationship) have to deal with. Secondly, the towing company he works for has a very good reputation where we live. I have ridden with him on quite a few occassions and most of you don't know what these fine men and women have to do. There are a lot of times that he tells me that he's had to hook a car up on an interstate with cars driving past 80-85 miles an hour. Now if that doesn't take guts and skills I don't know what does. I know for a fact that I wouldn't be brave enough to be on the side of the road doing that. I know of quite a few close calls that a lot of his colleagues have had to deal with i.e. one guy had the door of the car he was loading up on the side of the road ripped right out of his hands by a motorist that crossed over the flares that had been set up by the police. As for the days that it is raining outside, it is usually a lot busier and the calls do tend to pile up and they get to the next call as soon as they can. Granted 3 1/2 hrs. is way too long to wait, but like most everyone else is saying, that's only one or two towing companys out of many that ruin the reputation for all the others. I have also seen many a time with AAA where they don't read the calls as soon as they get them, they let them pile up and then tell their station that there are 4 or 5 holding when not 2 min. before they said they were clear. When the towers finally get to the scene where the members are waiting, it makes it look like their fault that it took so long, when in fact it was the dispatchers mistake. Reading all of these comments about towers being the scum of the earth really bother me because they are out there doing things that half of you people don't think about doing or want to deal with. Aparently, there are a lot of people that have nothing better to do out there than complain about the way other people do their jobs. The only thing they are doing is what the dispatchers tell them to do. They are making a living just like everyone else. All I have to say to summarize this comment up is:
THANKS TO ALL YOU TOW TRUCK DRIVERS OUT THERE FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I APPRECIATE YOU EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE DOES! : )

FROM: Haleiwa Off Road Towing co.
DATE: Friday February 14, 2003 -- 7:07:37 pm

Actually, I think most if not almost all appreciate towers. There are a very few small minority of people who have had problems with individuals who claim to be towers who probaly have no business in this industry anyways. The real towers go to the expo's and have been in classes learning how to become better towers. They are insured. They are concerned about their image in the industry and they deeply care about their customers because they want and need their returned business. Towers support each other because it's our nature. But when a tower makes a mistake, he also is not afraid to admit it and pay his fair share. The problem is, all to often there are some customers that want more than his fair share and that's partially where the problems arise.

Aloha

FROM: John
DATE: Monday February 17, 2003 -- 7:39:38 pm

For a in depth feel of what working conditions the towers have to put up with imagine your boss getting paid
$100 for a call ,you are to get 40%,
now imagine he says he is only paying you on $40 you get $16 because the whole industry is corrupt from the auto clubs with their over inflated salaries to the owners and their admin fees, The Drivers mostly have to fend for themselves
as the towing company owners like to call the drivers self employed contractors now that is a pantload.
visit
www.selfemployedmyass.com
I am fed up with the lack of RESPECT
that the Drivers receive from Members and auto clubs et al and Owners as well. To educate the general public of the dangers of the job is beyond my reach as our rep has been soiled for years

FROM: steve
DATE: Thursday February 20, 2003 -- 8:05:18 pm

I parked in a spot for 5 minutes to run into a new school to get a temporary parking permit for the main parking lot. when i came out some worthless piece of trash towed my vehicle away. i did not know where to park because the visitor parking had no available spots.
five minutes and i had to pay these THIEVES $150.00 to get it out. If this were a country in the middle east these thieving tow truck drivers would probably get their hand cut off like they deserve.

FROM: Nick
DATE: Wednesday February 26, 2003 -- 11:18:11 am

As I said before I do not do private proerty towing and nor will I ever do that but it's amazing how everyone always says I was only in there 5 minutes and I came out and my car was gone, well I have news for you in order for the car to be towed someone had to CALL the tow truck so don't go into your bullshit rant about I had to pay these theives $150.00 because he/she wasn't sitting in his/her tow truck hiding behind the maple tree waiting for you to jump out, you shouldn't have been parked there so the person in charge of security or parking CALLED the tow truck, and it's not like I approve of this practice but when this happens to people they label all the towers as theives, but when you're on the highway in the middle of the night and broken down and in need of a tow remember one thing the guy in the tow truck knows that chances are the person in this broken down car more than likely thinks he's a crook so try not to put on that fake nice guy front to weasel a $30 tow out of him/her when you're really think "Great here comes one of those theives let's see how much he wants to go 15-20 miles or kilometers" because when we approach you we know what the general public is thinking, and if you have had the unfortunate luck of being towed away because of where you parked beleive me I know how it feels because when I was young I had my 69 Camaro towed away because of where I parked and I sold the car to a guy in the pound for half what I paid for it because I didn't have the money to get it out after all I spent all I had buying the car and was unemployed at the time so guess what I've been there too, by the way I loved that Camaro

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Wednesday February 26, 2003 -- 12:59:43 pm

I don't think there was a period in that entire paragraph.

FROM: john
DATE: Friday February 28, 2003 -- 10:23:53 pm

hey Nick i before e except after c

FROM: Kaleimomiokuupuuwai
DATE: Sunday March 9, 2003 -- 11:45:37 am

Hey Steve: Don't you think that your statement about being parked in a "no parking" zone for 5 minutes is a little under stated? C'mon. Tell the truth. You parked, it took some time for the security to find your car and call it in. I doubt if that was less than 20-30 minutes. Then he had to call his supervisor and then he called the towing company, another 5-10 minutes. Then the towing company had to drive over there another 20-30 minutes. That's probably at least an hour that you were improperly parked. Then it took another 3-5 minutes hooking you up, while security was waiting at your vehicle in case you returned. But you didn't. You also probably left no note on your car explaining to security where you were. Nobody was out to "get you". Not the security or the tower. They were both just doing their jobs. You blew it. Now just pay your fines and learn from your mistakes. Don't blame others for your problems.

FROM: Anon
DATE: Sunday March 23, 2003 -- 10:59:36 pm

You people defending the tow truck drivers are out of your frickin skull. Let me tell you a little something about a town full of tow truck nazis known as State College, PA. I lived in a small apartment complex, Sutton Court, and they charged outrageous parking $, so I paid to park at another lot that was about a 15 min walk away. So, it was time for fall break. I was going home to see my parents. I had all my shit ready to go, I only needed 1 bag of clothes for the extended weekend. So I walked and picked up my car. I parked out front, with the flashers on, and opened the trunk. I ran inside to grab my bag, and saw my car up on a tow truck. I was like what the fuck are you doing??? He said my car was illegally parked and was being towed. I said it wasn't parked, I was just loading my car. Nothing. I had to pay him $40 just to put my car down. I was pissed. Later on in the year I noticed that the tow truck driver would watch from across the street and wait for people to leave there cars out front. And we knew that's all he was looking for b/c he couldn't even see the parking lot from there, the lot was behind the building. I was very glad to see, near the end of the year, someone else had this problem and things got out of control and the cops got involved. The cop made the tow truck driver put down the kids car for free. Tow truck drivers are not only the scum of the earth, they should be tortured and killed. The rest of the time I was at school we enjoyed throwing many a beer bottle at tow trucks.

FROM: Johnny Tower [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday March 28, 2003 -- 5:37:49 am

I'm a tow truck driver and I like rippin people off. You rich bitches think you are all that, but whe I GET THE ASS end of your car hausted up, I know I'm eatin good tonight.

I luv rippin you kids and older punks off. I am scum and I know it. Hey, at least I admit that I wait and watch cars and trucks so I can steal their car for afree $150. I have been in jail lots, and my bosses never check my criminal record.

http://kelowna11.tripod.com/

Seeya Biatch!

Johnny

FROM: sallie
DATE: Tuesday April 1, 2003 -- 2:55:29 am

My husbund and I own our towing
company. We do impounds and pvt prop impounds. We only can take them when the police or property owner call. We are not out to steal from anyone or any of that.We are inspected by the state patrol ever
year and I want you all to know that all impounds are at a state set rate and for all of you that think you know about tow companys but do not they set our price for all you people that park were your not suposed to.and for the kid that threw bottles at the tow truck you are no better than he is.not all tow companys are scum.I think you who say that about are rude.you know one day you will realy need a tow truck for something serious and I hope you feel like shit for what you said.I alsow want you to know that last summer we must of about 5 to 10 calls that people have locked their kids in the car with it running in the heat and guess who was their ? yep our tow company.We are good at what we do and Iam very proud of my husbund to go out and help people like you who just bash him. Well its midnight here and we have to go jump start someone who needs us.for all you good tow companys keep up the good work.

FROM: tow truck driver
DATE: Thursday April 3, 2003 -- 1:11:15 am

i want you to go out and run 12 13 calls a day and have to put up with certain members that have to wait there turn all companys arent bad

FROM: Paul
DATE: Thursday April 3, 2003 -- 9:49:14 am

Ryan, this Ping is crying out for Dumb-Ass mode. Look! Tons of 'em.

FROM: Ryan
DATE: Thursday April 3, 2003 -- 10:20