my car was towed?

Question

my car got towed today when i parked @ a mcdonalds customer only lot.

i went to the lot, they asked for my drivers license + $260 in cash. i gave it to them. im pretty paranoid tho since the towing lot/building was REALLY ghetto. the main "building" where i gave them the cash was this broken down trailer. when a car gets towed isnt it supposed to be towed by a legit gov. agency rather than some random company that doesnt even have a name? im worried. they know where i live. should i be worried?

Answer 1

Private companies do pretty much all the towing, the fees are usually set by the state or the city they operate in.

Their facilties often look a step above junk yard, just cheaper to operate that way. They don't have to impress anybody.

They check your license so they are sure that you are the owner.

Don't worry.

Answer 2

Did you ask the McDonald’s manager if they have cars towed from their parking lot? If they said yes, do they use this towing company? Ask the local city/town hall and/or the local police if this was legitimate.

Did you get a receipt? If not I would look into reporting them to the IRS, cash without a receipt or proof of service is a red flag for tax evasion.

Also try calling the Better Business Bureau to find out if the tow company is a legitimate business.

I cannot imagine McDonalds would want the negative reaction that towing away patron’s cars could bring. I know if it happened to me I probably would not stop at any McDonalds again (using a competitor instead).

Answer 3

probably should not be too worried. don't they all have trailer's as an office? really Ghetto is affordable, more profit that way. the government hires out the towing. that said, unless you are a vulnerable type female, (it is possible the towing company hires past felons) I think you'll be ok. If you are so concerned, document your adventure with a copy of your paper work and give it to a couple of responsible friends or family....just in case. but I think you will be fine. try to be more aware and not put yourself in that situation again. good luck to you.

Answer 4

Most towing is done by private companies - government agencies merely contract out that work.

However, I've heard of rogue tow trucks that find cars and basically get ransom for them, which is what you're saying.

But why is it that you didn't once say that you had no outstanding tickets? Are you SURE you don't know why you were towed?

If it really WAS fraud, then report it! You probably aren't the only one.

Answer 5

The city can use whatever company it wants to tow vehicles that are parked improperly. I'm sure this place does have a name (a lot of tow yards are "ghetto") perhaps the sign just isn't as big as it could be?

Answer 6

Towing companies are privately owned businesses like any other. They can be leased by different businesses to monitor their facilities and tow anyone who disobeys the law.

If you were not a customer of McDonald's they had every right to tow you.

FYI - many towing companies - especially in the Northeast - look like salvage yards......

Answer 7

If you parked in a legitimate parking space that you had the legal right to park in and there was no sign to state that you would have your car towed for parking in that space then you probably got ripped off. I would personally find out the local precinct for that area and go speak with the local traffic enforcement officer.
I would also go and speak to the McDonald's Restaurant owner and ask what he or she intends to do to reimburse your costs for being towed whilst parking in their lot (if you were in fact visiting their restaurant).

Answer 8

If you think that government companies do the towing, ask yourself when the last time you saw a tow truck with a government logo on it.

I suspect the answer is "never".

Answer 9

i'm uncertain of the line rules over there (i'm in WA) yet i think of that one motor vehicle towing yet another is criminal in easy terms for short distances i.e. interior of 10km of your holiday spot. different than that i think of that a tow tuck could be required. in case you call your states branch for Planing and Infrastructure they could be waiting to allow you be attentive to what you are going to be attentive to. desire this helps.

Answer 10

Towing agency's are all privately owned unless unless otherwise stated, but if I were you I would go back and inform that you would like your address removed, and if they don't let you just change it to a fake one by saying that was your "old girlfriends" or something.