No Receipt, I call Police! Can a store refuse to give a receipt?

Question

Can a store refuse to give a receipt? Can anyone give me a link to the specific law?

I've been parking for $55 a mo. at this parking lot in L.A. behind a store. I was out of town for a few weeks and when I got back I thought my car had been stolen. Fred the store owner laughed and said, "No, we towed everybody." So for whatever reason they decided to tow all the cars in the lot. My car had been at the tow company for a few weeks so the price to get it out was well over a $1,000. I asked for a receipt because I wanted to take it to court but again they refused and the father actually hit me that time. Today, I went back and this time I got it all on camera. Again the father hit me and he actually called the police when I asked for the receipt. Can I use this tape in court? Was he supposed to give me a receipt? Is it legal for him to physically attack me? He said it's because I took his picture. I know men shouldn't hit women but is there a law that law says he can't hit me? Thanks

To clarify I've parked there for more than six months and they've always refused to give receipts. It was a week or so before Christmas that my car was towed. The tow company now says I'll have to pay $5,000 and they'll garnish my wages. I contested the Tow Company registering the car in their name. They said they'll sale it at auction and I'll still have to pay $5,000 in storage fees. Every month I paid the parking lot and sometimes in advance. I do this because parking in L.A. is ridiculous.

The first month I paid them I didn't even think to get a receipt because I was in a hurry. The next month when I paid I asked for a receipt and they refused. The father started to hit me but his friend stopped him and he begrudgingly scribbled chicken scratch on a piece of paper and threw it at me. There are no signs posted that refer to it as a parking lot, and no signs that tell what Tow Company they use. Do they legally have to post something that tells what Tow Company they use?

Thanks everybody.
Everyone around me told me not to go to the police because the Police asked no other questions on the phone other than what race I am, and everyone I've talked to says that sounds fishy. I really like LA but there are some shady corners in this city. It's the mexican district so some people aren't here legally and a lot of the businesses like the parking lot are pulling scams left and right. Trying to get witnesses in court had proven to be impossible so I took my camera with me this time. The police told me on the phone that it was illegal for me to take pictures of him or his property and that it was punishable by law. He actually started hitting me when i was on the phone with them. I told the dispatcher that he was attacking me after I got away from him and she kept asking what race I was, no concern whatsoever to the situation. So I just don't know. Maybe I'll leave Los Angeles if all these people are crazy and they're allowed to get away with doing crazy thin

Answer 1

Good job on the camera.... You can now sue him for assault, and use the funds you win to cover the cost of returning your vehicle....

He has no right to assault you. If you were filming in a public place, then it is completely legal - although in the State of California, recording someone's voice without their consent is illegal - but still not defensible with an assault.

As for the tow company - they are required to give you a receipt if you ask for one. A company that refuses to give receipts is doing so because they are illegal and are probably cooking their books so as to avoid paying income taxes on large amounts of cash they usually receive.... I say you call the Better Business Bureau as well and report this company and their treatment of you. Hopefully, they will be investigated and shut down...

EDIT - after reading your added details, Im convinced that the tow company owner is related in some way to the parking lot owner - tell your attorney to check up on that. Sounds like a running scam to me: get people to pay to park in your lot. When they go on vacation, have their car towed. When they return, they wont be able to afford getting their vehicle out of impound, so we can then sell the car, split the profits and STILL charge the victim for storage fees. Smart, easy scam, but transparent to this investigator....

Answer 2

Once he physically attacked you he opened up his company for a lawsuit. Businesses cannot refuse a reciept because under tax law you have to record all income, which would mean that he would have to make a record of it, which means he should give you a reciept, but there is no law, it is just generally accepted that you get a receipt.

Since you video taped it you can use it in court in a civil suit, and you may be able to use it to prove assault. Whether the judge allows it or not will depend on the local jurisdiction.

Answer 3

Unless there is some specific law requiring a receipt -- which there may be in your case -- they need not.

Now, as to hitting you, nobody is allowed to do that. -- ever! Definitely see a lawyer. Definitely bring the camera to the lawyer. If I was licensed to practice in CA I'd be e-mailing you my phone number & a retainer contract. A woman socked by a tow truck operator? It doesn't get much better than that!

Answer 4

Unfortunately I don't think they do have to give you a receipt. Granted they should of but its not required of them. But if you paid with a check your returned check is proof enough to use in court that you paid him. As for him hitting you thats assualt. Unless you made some sort of attempt to hit him first he had no right to even touch you.

Answer 5

Actually you should have pressed charges for assault...no matter what the reason is that he hit you. You are entitled to the receipt. And yes you can use the video in court.

Answer 6

What??!!
Umm.. yeah by law they have to give you a receipt.

Why didn't the police take him to jail when he hit you?