‘Can’t make it up!’ cries driver towed from her own parking spot in middle of the day – she’s still being charged $172
A DRIVER is up in arms after her car was towed away from her parking spot in the middle of the day
The driver revealed that she is being asked to pay a $172 fee to get the vehicle out of the impoundment.
According to a Facebook post, the angry social media user was parked in her spot at Nova Glen apartments in South Daytona, Florida when the towing occurred.
"Volusia towing literally towed my car from my parking spot at Nova Glen apartments which had been parked since 3 p.m. this afternoon saying I was double parked," Jacqui Walker seethed in the post on Wednesday.
"Mind you they drive through here every hour on the hour. Why wasn't it towed earlier today."
"The tow driver stopped when I called out as I proceeded to approach the truck he drives tf off. So now it's $172.50 to get Ms Pearl outta jail," Walker continued.
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According to the frustrated woman, she was forced to call out of work due to the fact that she was having trouble reaching the impound lot.
Walker even added that she was also unable to raise the towing company on the emergency line.
"I just can't make this s**t up," concluded the woman.
Many users flocked to the comments area expressing their sympathy for Walker.
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"My mom stays over there that place sucks," one person wrote.
"Praying cause wow," a second user wrote.
Other users commiserated with Walker recalling their experiences of having their vehicles towed.
"I had mine towed twice from where I live one for backed in and once for being on the grass a little they don't play up here 166 each time," a user commented.
"I remember my complex towed mine baby I went off lol $200 to get it I was so mad," wrote another.
"They gave me my money backI! If you live there I would be at the office this morning."
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
Devin Bathgate, a Jeep owner, also felt the sting of a $175 fine when his car was towed while he was on vacation.
Bathgate said he parked the SUV in a private spot owned by the bed and bath hotel where he stayed and was subsequently towed.
"Not a good day in Philadelphia," Bathgate old local Fox affiliate WTXF-TV while fetching his car from the impound lot.
"Went to the casinos, and I lost a lot of money last night, and now I got towed today."
The driver said he had approval from the hotel to park his car in the space.
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"The ticket was supposed to be $222, but I'm going to dispute it, so they said pay them $175 today," he told the station.
Bathgate also said the tow truck left a dent on the SUV's front bumper where the vehicle was hooked.
