A COUPLE has been slammed with a $750 bill after getting their vehicle towed.
The drivers believed their car was towed by roadside assistance but later realized they were almost duped out of hundreds of dollars.
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The pair was driving late at night along a highway in Middlebury, Connecticut in late January when they collided with something on the road.
“Suddenly, I heard a boom, and I said what was that? And then I heard a second boom,” Bruce Landry told CBS’s Connecticut affiliate, WFSB.
While Landry was inspecting the damage to his vehicle, a tow truck had already pulled up, ready to assess the situation.
“I had the Triple A card in my hand, and I was just turning it over to look at the number to call, and he appeared out of nowhere claiming he worked for AAA,” Leslie Landry told WSFB.
A driver from the towing company, All About Auto Transmissions and Engines, seized the couple’s car before giving them a ride home.
This was the first red flag — consumers should always ask for identification from any towing company before handing over their vehicle.
Some experts even recommend jotting down the tow truck’s license plate, in case they lose track of where the vehicle is being taken.
The Landrys learned that their vehicle was being held auto shop at 592 Prospect Street in Naugatuck.
When they tried to retrieve their car the next day, the auto shop demanded they pay $750 first.
After being contacted by WFSB, AAA said they have no affiliation with the towing company or the auto shop.
“I’m like $750? That isn’t right. Not for a tow,” said Landry. “Meanwhile there was an intoxicated person on the hood of my car.”
The Naugatuck police informed Landry that the man, Braulio Angel Cancel, had already been arrested for operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
He also had been operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
After authorities arrived, the auto shop said the Landrys could take their vehicle free of charge.
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
This was not an isolated incident; another customer had been asked to pay $8,000 to get their vehicle back.
All About Auto Transmissions and Engines did not immediately reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
“Always be careful, someone should just happen to be there when you’re there and say I can go get a tow truck,” DMV commissioner Tony Guerrera told WFSB.
Connecticut has laws that limit how much towing companies can charge per mile and for storage.
Drivers should always double-check with roadside assistance about the status of the tow truck they sent.
If the car has already been seized, drivers should confirm how much the towing fee will be and ask about any hidden charges that could appear on the bill.
