Tow Damage

[Breadfan]

After going to MIR last weekend for the car show, I must have forgotten to replace my community parking sticker...so...I realized it this morning when I went outside and found no Mercury Marauder waiting to greet me.

Wanting to put my fist through an exterior house wall, I quickly made my way down to the tow place. Basically our community will tow cars without parking stickers. They usually only choose one per night, generally only towing cars that are long-timers and park in the same spot everynight. They know who they can screw and they do it, but when an out of state car shows up and steals my spot they NEVER are towed.

So, the point is, it was my fault, but I'm still absolutely upset. My parking sticker was in the car and I showed it to the dispatcher who in all his infiinite genious said "You're supposed to display that at all times." Sigh, I know, and you know what, my fault I forgot.

I told them I refused to pay anything until I could inspect my car. I found this:

A dented exhaust tip (luckily soon to be replaced by 4" Megs but now these are damaged so it limits their use once removed) and that white spot is a chunk of my bumper cover missing.
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/misc2/100_0549002.jpg

And a rear bumper scratch:
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/misc2/100_0550003.jpg

At this point I don't care about the money. I'm pissed beyond belief though. I got the number for the tow company manager and have to now call him Monday.

Talking to the dispatcher I told him I wanted to inspect it becuase since i walk my dog around the community alot at night, I've witnessed two seperate tow's by Dominion Towing.

He told me if my car was backed in they would "put sliders under it becuase that's cheaper than your tires" This is wrong - both tows I witnessed were like repo jobs.

They went like this: The tow driver spots the target vehicle. The two driver cuts the headlights. The two driver exceeds the mph limit in the community and backs up, puts the tire grabbers under it and forcefully pulls the vehicle clear of the spot.

Next the tow operator goes around to the other side and grabs the drive wheels to cleanly tow the vehicle to a "safe" spot. (I.E so the owner does not see.)

At the safe spot, usually around the corner, the tow operator chains the car to the truck and leaves. This all occurs within 5 mins.

So, after witnessing that, THIS is why I'm upset, I know my car recieved the same treatment, and I'm kicking myself for somehow forgetting to put my decal back on the mirror.

I have a number to call on Monday...we'll see...

[BAD MERC]

My girlfriends Monte Carlo was towed for having an expired registration and the tow driver swore that he used Go-Jack skates to get the FWD car out of the spot. RIGHT! About 40' of skid marks and a broken, YES, broken lower right rear control arm. Suspension on cars is not made to be yanked on in unusual directions. Regardless of what damage waiver you signed - they ARE responsible for the damage. Period.

[DEFYANT]

On a brighter note, this car could have been stole just as easy. A good idea is to try to park the car with the front wheels turned. They may have by passed your car for an easier target.

[buickconvert]

Sounds like the tow-truck driver needs to get his truck lowered. . . with this kit from KaleAuto:mad2:

lowering kit (http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_in fo&cPath=4&products_id=11)

[Breadfan]

Heh now I'm wondering how much luck I'll have there's 20ft of marks on the road in front of the tow place now, oops...

[Peter]

I had similar troubles back in Niagra Falls, I stayed at Sharaton for a few days and forgot to put the parking pass, anyways I came back and seen someone towing it I witnessed them yank it our of its spot and I yelled "stop!" He ignored then I confronted him and he said prove it that it is your car, so I showed him my licence and he used some lever and it dropped my Marauder two feet. Then I looked at my rims and seen scratches. I complained to the towing companie and recieved some money, I then went to my dealer and ordered a rim.
You are lucky its just the exhaust and some miner damage to the bumper, look at your rims might have happened to you too...

[Breadfan]

Yeah it could've been worse really. I'll do a 2nd check when I wash the car for the Hooters trip tommorrow.

I was mainly focusing on the rear bumper because the often times the crown vics will have their rear bumper covers TEAR when towed, mine seems ok except the scratch and I'll see if it comes out.

If not I guess I'll have to have the entire cover resprayed and the SS inserts replaced (as I don't know if they can be removed without damage...

[Hotrauder]

Man, that is tough luck. Seems that when everything is going along, no problems; whamo. One brain dead moment and a reason to say well, it could have been worse. Hope it all works out ok. Dennis

[SamF]

Tow truck drivers sukk. My car was towed twice after the accident, once to the holding yard (1 mile) and then on to the body shop (about 3 miles) a couple days later. By the time it got to the body shop the exhaust pipes and rear bumper were full of gravel, the left rear quarter had a 12" scrape, the rear bumper was cracked as well as the right rear tail light...AND the interior was covered in mud, nice huh? This in addition to the front end damage from the accident :mad2: Dont take any bull, if they damaged it have em fix it.

>>rant mode off<<


The beast should be out of the shop Monday or Tuesday :beer:

[Breadfan]

Update:

Drove the car a fair amount, cannot find anything feeling off in the suspension.

The scuff on the bumper may be able to be rubbed out - but not sure yet.

Tip is dented, but will be replaced with a Meg's 4"-er soon. I can probably repair the damaged tip when removed and put it back on the shelf in case I find another use for it.

I spent time cleaning and spending time with the car - helped me mood a bit.

I do have a few questions, mainly, do they have a right to forcefully enter my car? They jimmyed the lock and tied the seatbelt to the steering wheel to keep the front wheels from turning. It ws clear by a scuff on the trim that they used a slim-jim.

He's lucky my side impact air bag isn't in the door, people have been killed doing that...

I just wnat to know who the hell gave them the authority to enter my car - sounds like an unathorized search and seizure of my vehicle - at no time did I give them permission to enter my vehicle.

Finally, one of their future towing may end up on video.

[merc]

I hate the towing company at my condo. I witnessed a resident that was on vacation get her car towed for not displaying a sticker. I heard a really bad snap from the front wheel drive assembly as they picked up her car. Several people come out to witness the towing, because the snap was just that loud. Needless to say the condo management association was voted out. If someone towed my car I would be sharing a cell with Lee Boyd Malvo. Brother, I feel your pain.:mad2:

[Bigdogjim]

If you "live" there don't they have a list? Seams odd they just tow of the hel* of it? Dispactcher not very frinedly? Maybe a letter is order? Phone calls are not always your best approach. Will talk to you Sunday.

[Raudermaster]

That sucks dude. I hate how tow truck drivers, repo men etc. think they have the right to do whatever they want to your car as long as it's under "their care." Yea right. Perhaps you should get them on video and show that to the management on how "carefully" they tow vehicles. Seems odd how they broke into your car though, I would definately investigate that more. Hope all turns out well.

[ctrlraven]

One of my client's had parked their vehicle out side of my shop and it sat there for months. Well I kept trying to call the client to let them know that it was going to get towed if they didnt come get it. In the mean time the car had been broken into (stereo stuff stolen) so I went into my car, removed my unit and called the property onwer to have the car removed because the client's number was disconnected and after 4 months I gave up. I saw the tow wrecker truck come in back up to the FWD car and when his grabbers squeezed the tires one of them popped and THEN he decided to get out of the vehicle (was inside using a control for the grabbers) to hook the straps up ranked the car out of the spot and drove up like he didn't even have a vehicle hooked up speeding out of my lot and up the road.

Even if your going to replace the tips, still get them to comp you for the damage to them cause they don't know they came on the car when you got it. That sux though, I would of freaked out if I came out and saw my car missing cause my first thought would of been some punk stolen it.

[Breadfan]

That sux though, I would of freaked out if I came out and saw my car missing cause my first thought would of been some punk stolen it.

That was my first though. :( Made for a bad wake up this morning. Took me about 5mins of standing there to remember the parking sticker...

[wsmylie]

Sorry bout your bad luck Breadfan. Have seen (and investigated) alot of this crap over the years. I'm assuming the initial hook was a private property tow with no true law violations/infractions and that the cops were not involved, right? Not sure how far you want to pursue this, but if you do...you should closely check your state statutes and city/county ordinances regarding the requirements on this kind of towing activity. Also ask to read over the actual contract (if one exists) between the property owner or condo association etc and the tow company. Pay special attention for signage requirements, weather there is a requirement to sticker the violating vehicle first accompanied with a time period following the stickering for the owner to move the car, weather or not a property management official is required to be present on the scene to authorize (in writing) the hook and if there are any max distance limitations regarding how far your car may be towed from the scene etc. This stuff varies greatly from state to state and local jurisdictions. Good luck, let us know how it turns out.:D

[Motorhead350]

Sorry to hear about that. If it makes you feel any better I found 3 tickets on my Marauder after I parked it overnight on a busy street this week. One ticket was because the cop was totally stupid... I got one for having an expired tag and if he READ the plate it is still good for another 11 months. I even had to go to jail once for a mistake another cop made. Way to serve and protect. I've really lost a lotta respect for police this past month, but I know their not all bad.

[Mike Poore]

Sorry to hear about the trouble, Mike. It's a lousy when stuff like that happens to our friends. I wonder if the jerk got any satisfaction, thiking he might be towing an LEO vehicle?

Have fun at HOOTERS today, and enjoy the surprise.

Things are not going well, here at the moment, I'll tell you about it later.

We need prayers

[Breadfan]

Sorry to hear about the trouble, Mike. It's a lousy when stuff like that happens to our friends. I wonder if the jerk got any satisfaction, thiking he might be towing an LEO vehicle?

Have fun at HOOTERS today, and enjoy the surprise.

Things are not going well, here at the moment, I'll tell you about it later.

We need prayers

Sorry to hear... :( Call me if you need anything, you should have my #. Hope all is ok.

Mike

[SergntMac]

What wsmylie posted, is exactly what I was composing in my head as I read through the posts. Not a law enforcement issue in any aspect, if the proper agreements between the property owner and the tow company are in order.

Best wishes for agreement on Monday.