A TOW company has been banned after charging a local business a hefty fee for a four-mile trip.
Anderson Towing of Billings, Montana, has been removed from the Montana Highway Patrol’s tow response list after sending a Bozeman hardware store a bill of $6,700 after towing a truck from a crash scene.
GettyA tow company has been banned from operating in Billings, Montana, after charging a local business over $6,000 for a removal of a truck[/caption] GettyThe sux-month suspension is the longest ever handed to a tow company in Montana, according to the Montana Tow Truck Association president[/caption]The firm has been placed on a six-month suspension for charging what KTVQ reports as two-and-a-half to three times the reasonable amount.
Andrew Butler, supervising attorney for the Tow Truck Resolution Complaint Committee (TTRCC), said: “The board determined that the billing in this case was egregious enough to warrant a suspension.”
The incident, which occurred on April 17, 2024, saw Anderson Towing charge Kenyon Noble Lumber and Hardware a cool $6,700 for a four-mile tow after a crash in Bozeman.
The store later filed a complaint that was sent to the tow-truck committee, which handed down the suspension.
It now means that when a stranded driver calls for a tow, Anderson won’t be the ones to respond.
Scott Wolff, the Montana Tow Truck Association president, said: “Six months, they hadn’t handed down a suspension of that length previously.”
Wolff also said that the incident is an anomaly and that 99% of towing businesses are good.
He added: “Once you get a towing company’s attention like that, I would hope that they would stay within the side boards of industry standards.”
The breakdown of the bill includes more than $2,500 for a hazmat response, despite the fact that fewer than 25 gallons of fuel spilled.
Anderson also charged $900 for a wrecker and $450 for a driver – while the average cost for both is typically $272.
“It’s egregious billing,” Butler said.
“Usually, you get the tow truck and driver.”
“Each charge was billed separately and was excessive.”
Furthermore, a $500 charge for traffic control signs, cones, and warning lights, was added.
Additional fees included a lien processing fee of $100 – even though the committee determined that there was no need to start a lien process – while the four-mile transport was $110.60.
Butler said: “A typical tow would cost several dollars per mile.”
Anderson’s suspension from the highway patrol rotation is set to be lifted on April 30.
Butler and Wolff both hope it will serve as a deterrent for Anderson and other towing companies.
Wolff said: “It’s a big step in putting some of these bad players on notice that they’re going to be held accountable for their actions.”
In response, Anderson has filed for a judicial review in Lewis & Clark County District Court.
The company’s owner, Cameron Cochran, recently spoke at the committee and defended the hazmat charges.
He said “his employees provided a proper cleanup” and that the amount of oil and fluids involved required hazmat.
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial. Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail. Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative. Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle. Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better. Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state. Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly. Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases. Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
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