My car broke down and I had it towed on three occasions, once to the nearest mechanic, once to the parking lot at my work, and the third time to a friend's mechanic in San Jose to get a second opinion. I mention all of this so you know I'm no stranger to dealing with towing companies. I decided not to fix the car, and donate it to charity instead, so I needed one more tow.
Not having dealt with anyone in San Jose I tried ABC tow and got Roy. He seemed ok and I scheduled a pick-up time. I live in San Francisco and had to rent a car to meet him in San Jose. I called him once I arrived, he said he was still held up and I should leave the car unlocked, he would pick it up later - which was fine, since the car doesn't run anyway - I give him the pick-up and drop-off addresses (drop-off being the parking lot at my work) and go on my way.
After returning the rental, I get back to my place in SF and see that I have a missed call from Roy and two text messages that read (typos preserved for posterity):
"I have an incorrrect address tuto this car 2 therefore I cannot tow it until you call me with the correct information thank you."
and:
"You are not returning my calls. I have no choice but too told this car to my shop storage fees are $55 per day call me tomorrow with a correct address to tow the car to thank you"
Puzzled, I text him with the address - which I had *already* given him. He does not respond. When I call him the next morning, to ask about the car he has no idea what I'm talking about and says he'll call me back - he then gets back to me around lunch and informs me that he'll be charging me $50 since he didn't have the correct address, insisting that I gave him the wrong address. After arguing with him on the phone I got fed up and agree to pay.
Wondering if there was any precedence for this kind of behavior, I googled "A Better Cheaper Tow" and found a review on Yellow pages from a Kenny C, who had a surprisingly similar experience. When Kenny C refused to pay the extra charges, charges that Roy invented due to his own failure to keep his original appointment, Roy held the car hostage.
I've worked at this office for over three years, and in that time have had all sorts of things delivered there - I know my work address. It turned out that when he was taking down the address he left out the first digit... and inexplicably decided that the right thing to do was bill me for his own carelessness and lack of attention to detail.
After he arrives with your car, he'll tell you how much he hates to raise prices on people... but he'll go ahead and gouge you, and he'll do it with a smile. read more