Is there any way to get your car back(no $) from a tow yard after it was wrongfully towed from a private lot.?

Question

-Car was in assigned spot at apartment lot.
-Management had no part in it.
-Tow company insists I still owe them $500.
-They say it was double parked (it wasn't), do they need photo for proof?
-Anyone know what I should say to them, these tow lot people are like Carnie Folk, and won't listen to reason.

Answer 1

you have to pay all the fees, keep every single receipt
then find a lawyer to sue the towing company
it happens so often in Chicago that Steve Goodman wrote a song
"Lincoln Park Pirates"
and here is a recent article
they not only illegally tow your car, they personally use it too

Answer 2

Sad to say but you will have to pay the fee for storage and towing. The only one to talk to will have to be the apartment manager b'cause they were the ones that called. If you did get a warning about double parking or has it written on your lease and did double parked then they can tow your car. I had a car sitting in my spot but it needed repairs and I could not take care of it right away, it was towed. It was written in my contract and I signed it so I guess I was at fault even though it was b.s. b'cause it wasn't hurting anything! They were being a**holes!
Best thing to do is talk to the manager and see what happened. Maybe someone lied but you should have gotten some kind of warning first before it was towed. If you didn't then they are screwing with you. ASK now and find out. Goodluck

Answer 3

Tow trucks can't just roar through a complex and tow at random. The management MUST know something!

I would talk to the police and see if you can file against the wrecker for theft, wrongful tow, something....seems like the burden of proof would be on them! If you have an assigned spot, why would you double park?

Answer 4

If the vehicle was towed from a private lot, they had to be authorized the the owner of the lot. This does not necessarily have to be authorized for the specific incident. They can be given blanket authorization to enforce parking regulations. You could demand proof that you were double parked and that the are authorized to tow vehicles from that lot.

From a practical standpoint, you should probable pay the $500 and then sue for damages.

Answer 5

Take the managment company and the towing company to court.

The management had no part in it? That's impossible. They are the ones that authorize the towing company to impound vehicles. I would visit the manager of the property and explain the situation. If you are a tenant there, you might have the ability to put the burden of proof on them even if you have to sue them in court to prove that the vehicle was legally parked.

Now if the vehicle was NOT legally parked and they towed you for the wrong reason- say that you had expired tags or you didnt have a parking permit on the vehicle even though they are claiming that it was double parked, you do not have a case.

Answer 6

If it wasdouble parked,then wouldn't the management have something to do with it? If not, the tow truck company is in the wrong. Call your police department.
I think we should start requiring tow companies to take a picture of the "offense" to prove why they towed your car.
Good luck Hon, I hope it all works out.

Answer 7

Someone called the tow company to have it towed. Small claims court is your only realistic recourse.

Answer 8

Try getting the property mgmt. to talk to them. You can try getting the police involved. Even the media, if you can find out that this company has a reputation for that kind of stuff. Do file a complaint with the BBB. Maybe a threat to sue from an atty?

Answer 9

If you can prove that the vehilce was removed for no reason, you can report that your vehilce was stolen from you, then the tow company will be civilly and criminally liable.....

Answer 10

pay and institute law suit immediate...this is a big scam that goes on daily. They do not have a leg to stand on, sue them for money and time, and PUNITIVE damage..you will win.