OUR EXPERIENCE WITH A VEHICLE TOWED NEAR ASHFORD, ALABAMA…read more
In early August, our vehicle broke down at the Alabama Welcome Center while we were traveling with our three children. After speaking with Welcome Center employees and DOT in Cottonwood, we understood that the vehicle would be safe for several days. We left around 9:30 p.m. Thursday in a rental vehicle.
When we returned less than 48 hours later, the vehicle was gone. We contacted local tow companies and Houston County Sheriff's dispatch, but no one had a record of the tow. Because we could not locate the vehicle, we filed a stolen vehicle report. Our insurance adjuster also found no tow record using the VIN.
Almost three weeks later, we received a certified letter from Knights Wrecker in Ashford, Alabama, stating that the vehicle had been towed on August 8. The charges had reached approximately $1,450, increasing by $40 per day, with an October auction date.
We immediately made another seven-hour trip to Alabama. Although the company's website stated it was open 24/7, no one was there. We were told credit cards were not accepted for the impound, despite the website stating that major credit cards were accepted. We were also required to return the next day. After waiting nearly three hours, someone finally arrived.
The employee who helped us was very kind. Our concerns are with the overall communication, documentation, charges, and difficulty obtaining assistance. We do not know why the tow was not reported in the databases checked by law enforcement and our insurance company, or whether all requirements were followed.
This situation has cost our family approximately $3,800 in rental cars, hotels, and towing/storage charges, not including gas, food, lost time, or another required trip.
If you leave a vehicle at the Alabama Welcome Center near Cottonwood/Ashford, confirm in writing:
* Whether it has been tagged or documented
* When it may be removed
* Which company will tow it
* The company's contact information
* Towing and storage rates
* Accepted payment methods
* How and when the tow will be reported
We are sharing this experience so other families can document everything, ask questions, and avoid similar problems and hope you never have any dealings with the owner of Knights Towing!
