Is it just me or do we have out of control towing companies in this area?

They are either criminal enterprises or just run by the stupidest rednecks known to Virginia. But they are totally off their rockers and in business to SCREW you out of MONEY.

One big fat tubalard towed my car at Skyline Shopping Center but I got it back without paying because he dropped it off behind the Plaza instead of taking it to his lock-up.

I was smart enough to check behind the plaza instead of calling the tow company first. If they "relocate" the car you are free to drive away. If I had not thought of that it would have cost me 125 bucks. Why can the tow companies charge five times more than a municipal parking ticket would cost? its a RACKET !!

So i google searched the tow company name. Hundreds of complaints. Go figure.

CAN I GET SOME HORROR STORIES of local TOWING COMPANY VIOLATIONS from my fellow forum fiends?

Why Were You Towed? Question # 1

I have been towed in my former apt. complex (31 years there) because I did not have "The Sticker". Yes I went to Merrifield where back in the day, they had a storeage lot with a trailer and junk yard dogs, and rough fellows laying about catching some sleep, and it did cost me about 100 dollars cash 25 years back.. But I was the one who did not get the "sticker" when I was supposed to.

Some things I can really bitch about, but #1 is "am I right or wrong" ? and I was wrong so I had to pay up and shut up.

Your anger and frustration is misdirected, OP.

The fault is not with the towing companies. The fault is with the legislature and the lobbyists that represent the towing companies legal interests. The rates that towing companies can charge are ALL regulated by local and state laws. And of course, whatever the law allows for maximum charges...THAT'S what they're going to charge.

Pay attention to where you park and what the signs say. Towing companies typically take pictures before they tow your vehicle to prevent a dispute (legal or otherwise) of charges. The last thing you want to do at your job is to perform work and then not get paid on a legal technicality, right? Tow truck drivers are no different. They know the laws that govern the lots they are paid to patrol better than the police do. Why? Because if they fuck up and tow a car they shouldn't have...they know there'll be hell to pay and worse, their company owner doesn't get paid.

If you get towed, try to establish whether it was legal or not before you go and pick it up...if it was a legal tow, keep your cool. In 30 years of car ownership, I've had my car towed 6 times. And every time I roll up to the impound lot window I ask, "How much?" and no matter what he says, I ALWAYS respond with, "Really? Only THAT much? The last time I was here...it was a GRAND. This is cheap! You guys should charge more!" I slide my cash through the window and say, "Thanks for taking good care of my car, man...these '92 Camry's are classics!" and then I leave.

Bitch, bitch, bitch. Know you laws and learn a little economics before you run your mouth and make a fool out of yourself.

I own a tow company and it would appear there are a couple of things you should know. First there are no state laws specifying the max I can charge. If I am dealing with you directly, we agree on a price before I pick your car up. If you think I'm charging too much, simply call another company. If I am charging too much, there will always be other companies undercutting my price.

If I am not dealing with you directly, I am working under contract for a landlord (townhouses, condos, etc.) or a finance company that has loaned you money to buy the car and you are delinquent on your payments. In either of these cases the price I charge is defined by the contract. If I am trying to negotiate a price they consider too high, they will simply go to another company.

The towing business is extremely competitive and the only way I can stay in business is by offering a better deal than the next guy.

Quote

The towing business is extremely competitive and the only way I can stay in business is by offering a better deal than the next guy.

Or by cheating, which most of you do.

The only person lower than a tow owner (not oner)is a defense lawyer.

Anybody see that show "South Beach Tow"? hilarious.

There was a company in Alexandria that used to tow cars that did not have a parking placard on the rear view mirror. What they were doing was using a slim jim to enter the car then throw the tag in a sewer. They would then tow the car claiming there was no placard. The complex was reimbursing the owners since they were legally registered with the complex. Finally the complex figured it out and fired the tow company.

My rule of thumb is to not park anywhere I see towing enforced signs.

please Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only person lower than a tow owner (not
> oner)is a defense lawyer.


One makes money because you can't manage to park where you have permission to do so, and the other makes money because you broke the law and are scared of the consequences.

You know what's "low"? Doing things you're not supposed to do and then cheesing and whining when there are consequences. Grow up.

Maybe one of you posters can help me answer a question that I could never find an answer for. Some time ago, my car was towed from our condo lot and yes, I was guilty of not attaching the latest parking sticker, which I had paid for, to the car window. The taxi driver who took me to the impound lot in another county told me that it was against the law for the towing company to move my vehicle to a lot across the County line. I tried to research this online but couldn't find anything specific. Does anyone know? If a car is towed from Fairfax, is it supposed to stay in Fairfax?

Fairfactoid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe one of you posters can help me answer a
> question that I could never find an answer for.
> Some time ago, my car was towed from our condo lot
> and yes, I was guilty of not attaching the latest
> parking sticker, which I had paid for, to the car
> window. The taxi driver who took me to the impound
> lot in another county told me that it was against
> the law for the towing company to move my vehicle
> to a lot across the County line. I tried to
> research this online but couldn't find anything
> specific. Does anyone know? If a car is towed from
> Fairfax, is it supposed to stay in Fairfax?


Part of the towing process includes the towing company reporting their impounded vehicles to the police. This way when you're in Arlington and you come back and your car is gone and you call Arlington Police to report it stolen then they can tell you, "Yes, your vehicle was parked improperly and was towed by {insert towing company} and is currently impounded at {insert address}."

But, for sure shit happens...some towing companies work in multiple counties and have their impound lot in say Arlington get full so they tow you to Loudon...just because...ya' know?

How about you park your shitty beater in a valid parking spot and stop your bitching you fucking cunt? What kind of inbred shitface goes to Skyline Mall anyway?

NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP

Here....this may help...from the county webpage on--

Towing


tow truck Trespass towing, or private property impound, occurs when a property owner or his agent requests a vehicle be removed because it is parked in violation of the parking policy of the property.

Fees and regulations related to trespass towing are found in Fairfax County Code Chapter 82-5-32.

Trespass tow operators are required to register with the Department of Cable and Consumer Services before engaging in trespass towing in Fairfax County.

Registered Tow Operators

These tow operators are registered to conduct trespass towing in Fairfax County. All vehicles towed by these operators must be stored at a storage site inside of Fairfax County only.
• A-1 Towing & Recovery
• Accurate Towing
• Al's Towing & Storage, Inc.
• Battlefield Towing & Storage, Inc.
• Boulevard Towing and Storage
• Community Towing Service, LLC
• Dominion Towing & Recovery, LLC (DTR)
• East Coast Towing & Storage, LLC
• Henry's Wrecker Service, LLC
• JDR Towing, Inc.
• King Towing
• Redman Fleet Services, Inc.
• Springfield Wrecker
• Virginia Towing & Storage

These tow operators are registered to conduct trespass towing in Fairfax County. Vehicles towed by these operators may be towed to a storage site either inside or outside of Fairfax County.
• Advanced Towing Company
• Blair's Towing
• East Coast Towing & Storage
• Henry’s Wrecker Service
• Pete's Towing & Storage, LLC
• Road Runner Wrecker Service

Helpful links for consumers:
•Fairfax County Towing Code
• Virginia Code 46.2-1200 - Chapter 12 - Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles

That was just the sort of info I was looking for. Thanks, Mr. GFR! You're a rock star!

Tow Company Oner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bitch, bitch, bitch. Know you laws and learn a
> little economics before you run your mouth and
> make a fool out of yourself.
>
> I own a tow company and it would appear there are
> a couple of things you should know. First there
> are no state laws specifying the max I can charge.
> If I am dealing with you directly, we agree on a
> price before I pick your car up. If you think I'm
> charging too much, simply call another company.
> If I am charging too much, there will always be
> other companies undercutting my price.
>
> If I am not dealing with you directly, I am
> working under contract for a landlord (townhouses,
> condos, etc.) or a finance company that has loaned
> you money to buy the car and you are delinquent on
> your payments. In either of these cases the price
> I charge is defined by the contract. If I am
> trying to negotiate a price they consider too
> high, they will simply go to another company.
>
> The towing business is extremely competitive and
> the only way I can stay in business is by offering
> a better deal than the next guy.

Hm? How does a towee "call another company"? Or are you talking about "my car broken down, please come tow it"? That isn't what this thread is about: it's about hostile towing. RTFT.

And what has the OP said that actually happened?? No clue?? Just bitchin

Why was he towd? Or is he just a Toad??

Im Toad Where Im Told To Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And what has the OP said that actually happened??
> No clue?? Just bitchin
>
> Why was he towd? Or is he just a Toad??


Shut the fuck up and go tow some cars you leeching, useless, parasitic tow-truck drive. No one cares what you have to say! Now the SHUT THE FUCK UP, (please).

Tow Company Oner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bitch, bitch, bitch. Know you laws and learn a
> little economics before you run your mouth and
> make a fool out of yourself.
>
> I own a tow company and it would appear there are
> a couple of things you should know. First there
> are no state laws specifying the max I can charge.
> If I am dealing with you directly, we agree on a
> price before I pick your car up. If you think I'm
> charging too much, simply call another company.
> If I am charging too much, there will always be
> other companies undercutting my price.
>
> If I am not dealing with you directly, I am
> working under contract for a landlord (townhouses,
> condos, etc.) or a finance company that has loaned
> you money to buy the car and you are delinquent on
> your payments. In either of these cases the price
> I charge is defined by the contract. If I am
> trying to negotiate a price they consider too
> high, they will simply go to another company.
>
> The towing business is extremely competitive and
> the only way I can stay in business is by offering
> a better deal than the next guy.

Hey asshole. You're right about the state laws. However there are laws set by the COUNTY on the $ limit you can charge. I participated in the lawsuit against Frank's in Arlington several years ago and actually got all of my money back from his piece of shit CRIMINAL operation.

I used to own a retail shop about 10 years ago. I won't say what it was or what we sold, but it was hobby-based. In other words, things that people wanted, not needed. My staff knew that when a tow truck pulled into the lot, they should automatically jack up the prices on anything that the white trash piece of shit bought. Most of them can't count anyway and we always rung them up for double what they actually picked off the shelf. Its not like they could understand a receipt either.

You aren't an honest business with a few predators - You are a predatory business with a FEW honest folks. Everyone knows that the towing occupation is like night construction - an "end of the line" job for people who just can't make it anywhere else.

regents park in ffx tow for sure make sure you are parked in the right spot and the tower is horrible

I've seen a tow truck driver at my mother in law's in herndon jimmy the car door to open it up and release the Emergency Brake. Fucking criminals. If I ever catch some piece of shit breaking into my car, he's getting fucked up, tow truck driver or not.

matt 703 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've seen a tow truck driver at my mother in law's
> in herndon jimmy the car door to open it up and
> release the Emergency Brake. Fucking criminals.
> If I ever catch some piece of shit breaking into
> my car, he's getting fucked up, tow truck driver
> or not.

Yep...I got towed once when I had put the parking brake on. I was actually (slihtly) relieved to find that they had obviously opened the door and released the brake, rather than towing it with the brake on...but yeah, I wonder about the legality of this.

Read the county code on trespass towing. Unless something changed the tow companies can not legally break into your car to tow it. They are required to use wheel dollies but this takes too much time so they do not want to. it comes down to your word against theirs. Get them on video doing it and see how their attitude changes.

And the tow companies will claim its legal for them to do it and they are only protecting your car when they tow it. Some may even try adding on a special fee for "using special tow equipment".

OK Lets Start With Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why Were You Towed? Question # 1
>
> I have been towed in my former apt. complex (31
> years there) because I did not have "The Sticker".
> Yes I went to Merrifield where back in the day,
> they had a storeage lot with a trailer and junk
> yard dogs, and rough fellows laying about catching
> some sleep, and it did cost me about 100 dollars
> cash 25 years back.. But I was the one who did not
> get the "sticker" when I was supposed to.
>
> Some things I can really bitch about, but #1 is
> "am I right or wrong" ? and I was wrong so I had
> to pay up and shut up.


well yes and no. it is "tradition" to tow but your wrong about why and wrong about what is legal.

if they KNOW you live there and take your car over a disputed sticker fee: that's highly illegal. 1) it's seizure of property before a trial which is illegal 2) it's far more than the disputed ammount.

if they tow an unknown car because it's space is needed and the occupant either can't be found or refuses to follow rules: they can tow

if you agreed the bank holds the title to your car and they can tow if you miss a payment (note: in that case you pre-agreed and signed to that)

-------------------------
supposedly only the owner of the apartments can call for a tow and only for when there is some legal right to demand the car be removed by law (and the car owner refuses).

if it's townhouses then "who's allowed to call a tow" is immediately diputable as to legality (unless it's the real owner of the space, not some hoa member jerk)

i've heard fees of $800 in DC - the value of the car towed infact, which the company kept - a scoff law quickly turned into auto theft.

$100 for tow and lot is totally reasonable if there was a reason to tow to begin with. the drivers have to be paid: so you hve to recover false towing from who called for the tow

99



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 08:14PM by VA_Repoman.

If you ever see an unattended tow truck from a sleazy company in a parking lot, feel free to slow them down a bit if you know what I mean. When that fat piece of white trash comes back with his 6 Big Macs and massive drum of Coke, he'll realize that he needs new tires.

99



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 08:15PM by VA_Repoman.

I have one for you...

I live in Sterling, VA just over the border from Herndon and Fairfax County. There is a development on the Herndon side that
organized and formed an HOA of sorts there about 4 years ago. This HOA then made it a rule where none of the people in that area
could park on the road anymore and they brought in a towing company based out of Manassas to tow cars in that community. Now
remember that I said that I lived in Sterling, not very far down the road and just over the border between Herndon and
Sterling, on the Sterling side in Loudoun County? Well apparently that towing company couldn't read a map, they came over
into Loudoun county and started towing people on my street. I woke up to my car being towed with my car alarm going off.
Since I own my car, I knew it wasn't repo'd so I called the Sheriff's department. When they told me it had been towed and
mentioned the development, I told them that we weren't even part of that development and that these fuckers were coming
over from Fairfax County (Herndon). The make a long story short, they towed my car over to the far side of Manassas. The
Loudoun county sheriff's department charged the tow truck drivers, fined the HOA, and the towed vehicles were returned.
I had to go with a deputy over to manassas to get my car. Towing companies are total dickheads and are some of the most
idiotic, uneducated fuckers that walk this Earth.

99



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 08:15PM by VA_Repoman.

VA_Repoman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have to agree with you on the last part, but we
> have more money in our accounts then you will make
> in a life time, Need a job look me up :) as far as
> your car being towed to bad, get over it.

I hope you try to tow my car away, I'd love to blow out your tow truck with my spas 12 shotgun.

"Pay attention to where you park and what the signs say"

Whaaa, I'm too important!

This kind of stuff makes this area the land of suck, literally.

VA_Repoman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Call me for all your towing needs......... my Rates: $30.00 on hook plus $2.00 per mile first 5 miles free, so be nice to me and tip me, cus if you piss me off i'll charge you Henry's rates.

Um, gee Mr. TowTruckMan...how can I call you for your erm..."special" service if you don't post your cell phone number? I need you to put your hook in my trunk and pull me out...

VA_Repoman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have to agree with you on the last part, but we
> have more money in our accounts then you will make
> in a life time, Need a job look me up :) as far as
> your car being towed to bad, get over it.
> Call me for all your towing needs......... my Rates: $30.00 on hook plus $2.00 per > mile first 5 miles free, so be nice to me and tip me, cus if you piss me off i'll > charge you Henry's rates.

Actually decent rates....

I've seen tow trucks at the Tysons DMV tow cars to another parking lot. They never spend the time to go back to the yard since there's many more cars to get.

9



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/2013 08:13PM by VA_Repoman.

Dominion Towing's the worst of these companies. They hide signs or don't put them up in the first place and then tow. They count on people giving up rather than fighting for a refund. Next to West Springfield high school, they changed the parking regulations which the neighborhood had the right to do. However, Dominion Towing hid the sign on the left side of the entry behind foliage so students making a left turn into the street couldn't see the new sign. Dominion Towing made thousands of dollars off of the students until the School Resource officer announced the deceptive towing sign to the students.

I am posting a picture where the sign is hidden behind that tree to the left. At this intersection on school days, lots of students walk so drivers need to be hyper alert. The county says a driver should even look on the left side of the street for parking signs. In this case if drivers were looking each morning like the county says a driver should, they may strike pedestrians.

In my opinion, towing signs should always be on the right side of a two way street visible through the windshield of a common car. If you have to look out the driver's side window or passenger window to see the sign, that should not be considered clearly visible.

Please also be hyper sensitive to checking your car for damage. Dominion Towing does not always take pictures of all sides of your car. Even though it's county ordinance to take pictures of all sides, the county's official policy is that there's no repercussions for not having photos of all sides of a car.
Attachments:

Fairfax County needs to follow what Montgomery County did to protect their citizens.

Dominion Towing recently towed my car from our townhouse community parking lot. I'll accept responsibility for forgetting to place my decal on the rear-view mirror when I got home that night. However, I don't appreciate that the Dominion representative with whom I spoke gave me false information regarding the location of my vehicle. He told me the car was impounded at their location in Merrifield. Upon arrival there I learned the vehicle was actually impounded at Dominion Towing's location in Lorton. On top of that, they added every surcharge they could to my fee.

It's time for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to crack down on these predatory towing companies and cap tow fees at no more than $100. And the towing companies should be required to not only refund your money but also pay damages if they give false or misleading information about where the car is impounded.

disgusted towing victim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dominion Towing recently towed my car from our
> townhouse community parking lot. I'll accept
> responsibility for forgetting to place my decal on
> the rear-view mirror when I got home that night.
> However, I don't appreciate that the Dominion
> representative with whom I spoke gave me false
> information regarding the location of my vehicle.
> He told me the car was impounded at their location
> in Merrifield. Upon arrival there I learned the
> vehicle was actually impounded at Dominion
> Towing's location in Lorton. On top of that, they
> added every surcharge they could to my fee.
>
> It's time for the Fairfax County Board of
> Supervisors to crack down on these predatory
> towing companies and cap tow fees at no more than
> $100. And the towing companies should be required
> to not only refund your money but also pay damages
> if they give false or misleading information about
> where the car is impounded.


Sounds like you have greater issues at hand. If you live in a townhouse it means that you are a loser. You have been poorly educated or have been educated in a ineffective area of study. Stop blaming others for your shortcomings. Try to improve yourself and you will benefit.

Niggers

Wolf Run Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> disgusted towing victim Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Dominion Towing recently towed my car from our
> > townhouse community parking lot. I'll accept
> > responsibility for forgetting to place my decal
> on
> > the rear-view mirror when I got home that
> night.
> > However, I don't appreciate that the Dominion
> > representative with whom I spoke gave me false
> > information regarding the location of my
> vehicle.
> > He told me the car was impounded at their
> location
> > in Merrifield. Upon arrival there I learned the
> > vehicle was actually impounded at Dominion
> > Towing's location in Lorton. On top of that,
> they
> > added every surcharge they could to my fee.
> >
> > It's time for the Fairfax County Board of
> > Supervisors to crack down on these predatory
> > towing companies and cap tow fees at no more
> than
> > $100. And the towing companies should be
> required
> > to not only refund your money but also pay
> damages
> > if they give false or misleading information
> about
> > where the car is impounded.
>
>
> Sounds like you have greater issues at hand. If
> you live in a townhouse it means that you are a
> loser. You have been poorly educated or have been
> educated in a ineffective area of study. Stop
> blaming others for your shortcomings. Try to
> improve yourself and you will benefit.

Lived in a townhouse with my family for a couple years. No shame in it. Leaves extra money in the budget for vacations, and for the half-decade I lived in one, I watched its value go up almost $100k. Set us up well for the next home upgrade. Still miss the place sometimes...

Those who mock people who live in condos and townhouses don't understand that they are tools for building wealth.

As for towing problems, yeah, I've been towed three times in the last 15 years. Sucks when it happens, but its been a while.

Tow Company Oner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I own a tow company and it would appear there are
> a couple of things you should know. First there
> are no state laws specifying the max I can charge

Old thread I know, but this information is incorrect. Fairfax County regulates towing companies as authorized by Virginia statute §46.2-1200. If a company is engaged in trespass towing from locations in Fairfax County, it must register with the County and abide by County regulations, even if the Company is located or stores the vehicles elsewhere.

Fairfax County does limit the maximum amount that a company can charge for trespass towing from private property. There is a maximum rate the company can charge for the towing and holding the car for 24 hours, based on the vehicle weight and the time and date the vehicle is picked up. Based on the last fee schedule I saw the maximum amount for towing in the first 24 hours is $185. Beyond that the company is authorized to charge a storage fee of $50 per day. Tow companies are also entitled to charge a drop fee of $100 if they have picked the car up but not removed it from private property. This assumes the location has proper signage and the tow company is licensed.

Complaints about towing can be addressed to the Regulation and Licensing Branch at 703-324-5966.

Townhouse/condo/ apartment people are losers who deserve to get towed.

They are definitely very opportunistic but the rules are set for them and besides the blatant rackets described by some unscrupulous types in the towing industry they generally are adhering to the laws set forth.

Usually it's either "user error" or middleperson such as a HOA, Property Mgmt. or Landlord that are the real asshole/incompetent one.

Most of my rentals have rules that don't allow the companies to troll, they are only allowed to come out if they're called. Not all complexes do this, I see them out with their flash lights at night looking for violators.