'AGGRESSIVE'
Homeowner fumes after ‘verbally abusive’ towing firm targeted her street – but it says it’s just following HOA’s orders
Homeowners didn't have a problem with rule enforcement - they had an issue with an abusive driver
HOMEOWNERS felt so strongly about the towing company appointed by their HOA, that several signed a petition to replace it.
Six homeowners told the media they filed police reports against the company.
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In the Spring of 2023, homeowners in Charlotte, North Carolina seemed okay with their HOA hiring a private company, Justt Towing, to enforce their association's strict rules.
However, when homeowners like Natascha Krause had nothing but negative experiences with the driver of the company's truck, she and her neighbors decided to take action.
"We don’t have a problem with the towing, but we have a problem with the company itself," Krause told ABC affiliate WSOC-TV.
She said all the drivers she's experienced were "verbally abusive, very aggressive, and very rude."
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Krause had enough experience to draft a petition for her neighbors to sign and send to the HOA.
The petition demanded that the association replace Justt Towing Company with a different one.
Krause's petition gained signatures quickly, as her neighbors also felt strongly about the company.
"From a level of one to 10, I would say we are about an eight at this point (in terms of being upset about the situation)," Krause said.
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Krause's association wasn't the only community that had issues with the company.
WSOC-TV reporters found that several apartment complexes made similar complaints against the company.
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Six drivers, investigators found, filed police reports against the company for aggressive behavior and verbal abuse.
Several complaints mention breaking the city's towing ordinances, like only accepting cash and not credit cards.
The city's ordinances state that towing companies must offer customers multiple methods of payment.
Additionally, Charlotte laws say that a tow driver must release a car if a driver shows up within 45 minutes of the initial call.
Reporters contacted the towing company, and the owner, who didn't name themselves, told the outlet that the HOA hired them with instructions to be aggressive.
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
The HOA, they said, mentioned aggressive behavior as a way to get people to follow the rules.
The owner also said their company does accept multiple forms of payment, as long as they're legitimate and he can confirm payment will go through.
As far as not being available within 45 minutes, the owner said they try their best.
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He also said calling first helps them better prepare a driver to arrive on time.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Justt Towing for comment.