A WOMAN has been stuck without her car and left with a bill costing nearly $10,000 after a towing company left her in limbo.
Joanie Bulls In Sight was shocked to receive the inflated bill after just one short tow last month – and she can’t even get her car back as the towing company refuses to answer her calls.
KTVQJoanie Bulls In Sight speaking to CBS affiliate KTVQ about her massive towing bill[/caption] KTVQThe nearly $10,000 bill charged her $5,185 for storage fees[/caption]Her nightmare began on February 19, when she was involved in a crash after swerving to avoid another vehicle in Billings, Montana, about a four-hour drive from Helena,
After Bulls In Sight hit a light pole, both the Billings Police Department and Anderson Towing Company arrived on the scene.
However, when Anderson Towing went to take the driver’s car away, they damaged the back of her vehicle, Bulls In Sight told local CBS affiliate KTVQ.
“I did tell them about that, and I didn’t get a response,” Bulls In Sight said.
A week later, Anderson Towing sent a letter about reclaiming the vehicle, but it was mistakenly addressed to the wrong location.
Then, 61 days after the incident, Bulls In Sight received a shocking bill for $9,669.77, which included inflated storage fees of $5,185.
She still hasn’t been able to get her car back, and she’s been left questioning the legitimacy of the charges.
This isn’t the first time Anderson Towing has been under scrutiny.
The company was recently removed from the Montana Highway Patrol’s towing rotation list after overcharging a Bozeman business more than $6,700 for a four-mile tow.
Anderson Towing faces a six-month suspension, set to end on April 30.
In the Bozeman case, Anderson charged more than $2,500 for a hazmat response, even though the fuel spill was minimal.
The company also issued an inflated wrecker charge of $900, compared to the typical $272 combined rate for a tow and driver.
Plus, a $500 charge for traffic control signs, cones, and warning lights, was added.
While Anderson has appealed the suspension, the company remains on Yellowstone County’s towing rotation list.
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
Its attorney, Matthew Monforton, maintains that the company will be “fully vindicated” after a judicial review.
Industry leaders, like Scott Wolff, president of the Montana Tow Truck Association, believe suspensions like this one are a step in the right direction to deter future overcharging.
“You see the same companies end up with the same cases over and over again,” Wolff told KTVQ.
NEXT STEPS
Bulls In Sight has filed a formal complaint with the Montana Office of Consumer Protection.
“I feel a lot more hope that maybe something comes of this,” she said.
Andrew Butler, a supervising attorney for the Office of Consumer Protection, reassured that most complaints are resolved without a lawyer.
“The process works, but it takes time,” he said.
Anderson Towing did not respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
KTVQBulls In Sight faced further frustration when Anderson Towing damaged the back of her car during the tow and sent a letter about reclaiming the vehicle to the wrong address[/caption] Read More Details
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