Crazy wierd bad day

[thesauce]

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I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

 

[chocomorsel]

I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

Yeah dude, talk to the manager of the towing company. They just can't screw you like that. Try to find out where that info came from, cuz I have a high suspicion that it came from one the restaurant workers. Unless you pissed off someone lately. Try to explain the situation to the manager or owner or whatever and see what happens. That is if you already haven't done so. If not, you could always file a complaint with the police.

 

[thesauce]

Yeah dude, talk to the manager of the towing company. They just can't screw you like that. Try to find out where that info came from, cuz I have a high suspicion that it came from one the restaurant workers. Unless you pissed off someone lately. Try to explain the situation to the manager or owner or whatever and see what happens. That is if you already haven't done so. If not, you could always file a complaint with the police.

Thanks for the advice. The info came from some guy that works for the towing company that sits there and patrols the lot and gets payed on a commission basis for evey car that's towed. He may not have been lying, maybe he was just confused, but he is wrong.

 

[deuist]

Unfortunately, you may not be able to get that money back. I've had multiple friends towed and few of them have ever gotten a refund, even after talking to the police, filing a grievance with the BBB, or threatening legal action.

 

[tiredmom]

That sucks - sorry for your bad day! Tow trucks are notorious here for being shady - they had some guys out putting debris they picked up at a scrap lot out on remote stretches of the interstate and waiting for someone to hit it so they could go tow them. They finally got caught when a motorist got suspicious when the tow truck showed at 2 am without having called for help.

 

[SoCuteMD]

I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

If you used a credit card, dispute the charge. Most credit card companies will forgive the occasional charge like that.

 

[exmike]

If you used a credit card, dispute the charge. Most credit card companies will forgive the occasional charge like that.

a tow company that takes credit? ha!

 

[SoCuteMD]

The one time I got towed they did.

 

[thesauce]

The one time I got towed they did.

That would be great, but no such luck. I had to pay cash. Thanks, though.

 

[Paws]

South Orange, hmmmmm. Is that anything like East Orange? or is it more like West Orange. And were you eating at an IHOP in Newark? Suddenly, it all begins to make sense. This is familiar to me now. Right!! Dude, go and talk to the cops and see what they say. They might laugh and make jokes, but at least you can ask anyway and they might actually be helpful. It sounds like a NJ scam to me. [No offense to NJ in general, but sometimes NJ is too close to NY for it's own good ...]

 

[thesauce]

South Orange, hmmmmm. Is that anything like East Orange? or is it more like West Orange. And were you eating at an IHOP in Newark? Suddenly, it all begins to make sense. This is familiar to me now. Right!! Dude, go and talk to the cops and see what they say. They might laugh and make jokes, but at least you can ask anyway and they might actually be helpful. It sounds like a NJ scam to me. [No offense to NJ in general, but sometimes NJ is too close to NY for it's own good ...]

You said it! I had a couple of people PM me and say they had the exact same thing happen to them at the same IHOP. Is a class-action lawsuit in order? Hmmmmmm.

 

[PoorMD]

You said it! I had a couple of people PM me and say they had the exact same thing happen to them at the same IHOP. Is a class-action lawsuit in order? Hmmmmmm.

sorry about your luck, that really is a some bull$&#. we all have bad days once in a while.. kind of funny, its the one thing we all have in common

 

[Paws]

👍

Go for it man!! Criminals, what're you gonna do. You might think that going to work from 9-5, 5 days a week would be an easy enough way to make a living, but NO! they gotta go and try and rip off people with stupid scams like this. 🙄

Personally, I prefer the company plan with a nice health care package and maybe even a 401K plan. What can you do, to each his own. Cops are good, I like cops. Cheaper than a lawyer ... or the local newspaper might be even better. Justice tastes really good for breakfast, better than pancakes.

 

[Willow]

I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

I'm not getting their story. Why would you getting in another car and then coming back to eat be grounds for towing your car? That makes no sense.

Were you parked in the IHOP parking lot? If so, I would take it up with them, since it would have to have been a staff member requesting the tow. You're far more likely to get the money from them than from some shady tow company. Plus, if you make a stink, I bet they will keep an eye on any tow trucks in their lot from now on.

 

[Wookey]

I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

Towers are so shady... They basically have a license to steal. I wouldn't be surprised if they made the whole thing up. I would talk to the owner of the towing company and demand to get the money back. Your best weapon would be telling them you're filing a complaint with the police. If a tower has too many complaints they get their license revoked.

 

[2Sexy4MedSchool]

Three words: Small Claims Court.

This is exactly the kind of thing that small claims was designed to deal with -- a legal dispute over too small an amount of money to justify an attorney. You pay the filing fee, fill out the paperwork, get a friend to serve the scumbag defendant, I'm sorry, I mean the "towing business owner/manager", and then you hope the small claims judge is experienced enough to buy your side of the story.

It would help if you still have your IHOP receipt and the paperwork from the towing company showing when you dined and when your car got towed. You might also want to get an affidavit from a friend/witness who can say when you went to the restaurant.

Worst case scenario you're out a few hours of time and another 35$ or so for court fees. Best case? You win back your towing fees, court fees and anything else the judge throws your way -- say, "costs" for transportation to pick up your car, "interest" you owed your friend/family for fronting you the $180 on short notice, whatever.

 

[Law2Doc]

Three words: Small Claims Court.

This is exactly the kind of thing that small claims was designed to deal with -- a legal dispute over too small an amount of money to justify an attorney. You pay the filing fee, fill out the paperwork, get a friend to serve the scumbag defendant, I'm sorry, I mean the "towing business owner/manager", and then you hope the small claims judge is experienced enough to buy your side of the story.

It would help if you still have your IHOP receipt and the paperwork from the towing company showing when you dined and when your car got towed. You might also want to get an affidavit from a friend/witness who can say when you went to the restaurant.

Worst case scenario you're out a few hours of time and another 35$ or so for court fees. Best case? You win back your towing fees, court fees and anything else the judge throws your way -- say, "costs" for transportation to pick up your car, "interest" you owed your friend/family for fronting you the $180 on short notice, whatever.

Agree. If you have the time and want to put in the effort, you have a potential remedy. Start with the police or the better business bureau and see whether you can make out a complaint. Get a copy. Also contact the managers of the towing company and the IHOP, respectively, in writing. Send them each a letter indicating what happened and asking them how they plan to remedy the situation and be sure to keep photocopies. Then if you don't get your money in a reasonable amount of time, as 2sexy suggests, you go to small claims court, and fill out a complaint, with copies of your police/BBB complaint, and correspondence, and receipts, and witness affidavits attached as your exhibits. It will take time and is a pain, but some percentage of the time you get your money back. Good luck.

 

[thesauce]

Agree. If you have the time and want to put in the effort, you have a potential remedy. Start with the police or the better business bureau and see whether you can make out a complaint. Get a copy. Also contact the managers of the towing company and the IHOP, respectively, in writing. Send them each a letter indicating what happened and asking them how they plan to remedy the situation and be sure to keep photocopies. Then if you don't get your money in a reasonable amount of time, as 2sexy suggests, you go to small claims court, and fill out a complaint, with copies of your police/BBB complaint, and correspondence, and receipts, and witness affidavits attached as your exhibits. It will take time and is a pain, but some percentage of the time you get your money back. Good luck.

Thanks Law2doc, I was hoping that I'd get your advice on this thread.

I got the paperwork for small claims court and it seems simple enough, so I'm just going to fill it out and then call the manager of the tow truck company and tell him to give me my money back or I'm going to file. If he doesn't, I'll file and then see what happens. I'm glad that school is out and I have time to deal with this.

 

[dbhvt]

Thanks Law2doc, I was hoping that I'd get your advice on this thread.

I got the paperwork for small claims court and it seems simple enough, so I'm just going to fill it out and then call the manager of the tow truck company and tell him to give me my money back or I'm going to file. If he doesn't, I'll file and then see what happens. I'm glad that school is out and I have time to deal with this.

sauce,

If you're going to do it, do it right. Go back and read L2D's post again.

 

[thesauce]

sauce,

If you're going to do it, do it right. Go back and read L2D's post again.

Okay,

1. Police or BBB to fill out the complaint
2. Letter to IHOP and towing co.
3. File small claim if I haven't gotten my money

That probably is the best thing to do anyway.

 

[ShyRem]

I would definitely keep pushing the IHOP thing. Towing companies generally can't tow on private property without owner consent - doesn't this put IHOP ultimately liable??

 

[thesauce]

I would definitely keep pushing the IHOP thing. Towing companies generally can't tow on private property without owner consent - doesn't this put IHOP ultimately liable??

No, the towing company owns the lot even though the lot is for IHOP costumers. It's really corrupt.

 

[ShyRem]

that is seriously messed up.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

I would be seriously temped to firebomb the place. Molotov cocktails and all.

 

[prana_md]

jeez, sauce, the way you sold it in the title, I thought someone was going to die at IHOP or something ...

all suspicious activity commences in a Honda Accord.

but seriously, that really sucks. $180 for some pancakes is too steep.

 

[thesauce]

jeez, sauce, the way you sold it in the title, I thought someone was going to die at IHOP or something ...QUOTE]

They almost DID die. I almost killed them!

 

[Brickhouse]

I went to meet my buddy at IHOP this morning and was towed while I was dining in the restaurant. The guys at the towing place to told me that they had an informant tell them that I got into a Honda Accord and left the premesis and then came back and ate at the restaurant.

I never got into an Accord and I never left the premesis, I just went in and ate and that's it. I still had to pay $180 to get my car out of the towing lot and I spent the rest of the day dealing with the hassle. Now I'm stuck $180 in the hole and I'm not sure what to do about it. Any thoughts?

Those were some expensive pancakes. Do you have the receipt from the restaurant to prove you were there?

 

[prana_md]

They almost DID die. I almost killed them!

😀 I apologize for minimalizing your experience.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

$180 for some pancakes is too steep.

Those better have been some good friggin pancakes...

 

[Paws]

This is becoming the eating puppies thread. I love these avatars!!

🙂

 

[Brickhouse]

This is becoming the eating puppies thread. I love these avatars!!

🙂

LOL, I just noticed that.

 

[thesauce]

Those were some expensive pancakes. Do you have the receipt from the restaurant to prove you were there?

Yeah, I do. I have a receipt that says that I was in the restaurant from 12:30-1:30 and I have the receipt from the tow truck company that shows that the guy patrolling the lot called them at 1:00 claiming that I left in another car. It's an iron-clad alibi in my opinion, but the tow truck company didn't think so.