My car broke down in Arby's driveway (not drive-thru). I never turned the car off but it completely died while it was still running.
I could not even turn on the Hazard lights because of the electrical system.
Cars were waiting for me to pull out, but I had to wave them around me to let them know there was a problem.
I called the police because I thought there was going to be an accident and dispatch called a towing company when I explained the situation.
The police showed up and he helped me move it back about ten feet.
Two other guys jumped out of their car to help.
I told the police officer if we could push it back to an empty slot in the party lot. (Approximately 40 feet). Yes, it was long-distance but under the circumstances, I thought it was warranted.
The Arbys driveway is on a slope so I thought that it might roll back down to where we had pushed it.
But the Marysville Police officer said to put it in the park, so it wouldn't. He was missing the point. It was STILL a potential accident -waiting to happen.
Then he left.
I thought he might stay at least until the tow truck got there, but he didn't.
I know tow trucks take a long time -but still. He came and left.
Before he was leaving I asked him what he was so busy doing that he had to go.
He said something about going to the high school to help direct traffic as a crossing guard. I honestly have no idea.
Marysville's Car Care was across the street so I called them and they said they didn't have a tow truck.
Steve's Towing showed up and he towed it across the street.
I went in to tell them what happened and one of the workers (NOT the owner; NOT a mechanic -some guy working the counter, and while I waited in line, he went out to tell the driver where to park it. When I told the owner what happened he said to leave the car so I gave him the keys.
When I came out the driver had parked my car in their driveway. Mind you it is a very wide driveway, but still, that was illegal.
I told him not to park it there and pointed to an empty space near us. But he said, "The guy told me to park it here."
So I went back in and told the owner to tell him to move it, and when he did, the guy said the same thing, and he didn't want to load it up again. So the owner told me, "It wouldn't be a problem and left."
He didn't want to get involved.
Then the driver said it was $145 for the towing.
I figured it would be around $60 being that it was right across the street, but he said because the Police called them it was an emergency and they charged me as such.
I paid the bill with a credit card and he told me he would write me a receipt, I went in to talk to the owner to find out if they had a porter, and told him I would be right back.
When I came out of the driver was gone. He had left the receipt inside the car, without so much as a goodbye.
Yes, I was upset about the money, but he should have told me the cost of an emergency BEFORE I agreed to have him tow it.
He did not.
And you have to pay upfront and get a reimbursement from your insurance company.
Well, what if I didn't have the money?
I thought that's what road service was all about?
In summary, the police dispatch called them and two towing companies showed up.
Him and &S, (I didn't know either) this guy from Steves towing and he got their first.
He towed and parked my car from one driveway to another (illegally) told me about the charges after the tow -NOT BEFORE, and he was rude. Not so much in what he said, but by what he did.
Horrible! read more