A FAMILY was scammed out of $40 and then hit with a $260 tow fee after parking near a stadium for a Post Malone concert.
Manda Isbell, from Austin, Texas, set out to neighboring San Antonio with her family to see the US rapper’s Big Ass Stadium Tour at the Alamodome on May 7.
KENS 5A driver was hit with a $260 release fee from a tow firm after their car was taken away from a parking lot[/caption] KENS 5They paid $40 to park at what they thought was a legitimate parking lot for a Post Malone concert[/caption] KENS 5Manda Isbell and her family later realised they were victims of a predatory scam[/caption]But when they arrived at the Alamodome after their lengthy journey, they found parking in the main lot was full.
However, they soon found a nearby lot which advertised parking for just $40 for the night.
Speaking to KENS5, Isbell said: “It looked like a legitimate parking lot. I have been to hundreds of concerts. I have parking in many parking lots.
“There were probably about 20 vehicles already there. They had attendants at either end of the parking lot.”
But when the family returned to the lot after the concert, the parking attendants were gone and, even worse, so too was their car.
It turned out that the attendants were actually scammers who’d covered up the lot’s ‘no-parking’ signs, and a tow company called Atlas Towing and Storage had been called out and taken their vehicle away.
“It was terrifying. We are not from San Antonio,” Isbell said.
Desperate to get their car back, the family called the number on the sign for Atlas Towing and Storage and also called the police.
Isbell said an officer came out and even went to the storage site with them to try and help.
“The police officer told the [Atlas Towing] attendant, ‘These people have been scammed.
“They’ve got the receipts. You need to get your manager on the phone and explain what happened.’”
But despite that, Atlas Towing made the family pay nearly $260 to release their car – adding that they knew the family had been scammed but didn’t care.
“The tow truck driver was laughing about it,” Isbell added.
Following this harrowing incident, the owner of the lot told reporters parking there was restricted and confirmed the scam.
They added that they did not work with Atlas Towing and Storage, and that when they found signs for Atlas towing on the property – they immediately called a crew to have them taken down.
They also added that the authorization information the tow company used to justify the towing was fake.
The San Antonio Police Department were later contacted about the issue, who said their tow unit is investigating the incident.
In a statement, they said: “The San Antonio Police Department is investigating recent scam reports and urges patrons to avoid cash-only attendants who cannot provide a verifiable receipt, verify location signage, and report suspicious activity.
“The best way to ensure a secure parking experience is to use verified lots and official apps or meters.”
Any drivers who were towed in this incident are being urged to contact the Bexar County Justice of the Peace and request a tow hearing.
A person can only request that hearing within 14 days of the tow.
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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