but when he went to gather up a few personal things he was told to "leave them in the car as now they were owned by the towing company until he paid them for towing the car away? A policeman was present who had a chat with the breakdown recovery driver then told my mate if you could leave them in the car and he could pick them up tommorow! is this rite. He is third party and the car is a write off i think the bill is £130.00. not sure if his possession are worth that but surely thats not the point. can anyone advise many thanks
2007-12-17 15:31:43 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The tow company owns nothing in the car at any time.
They have a lien over the car until the charges are met (that just means they can keep it) , but if the tow company were concerned as to your ability to pay, they should have taken a credit card or simply refused to get involved.
They can't hijack your ipod and bits and bobs just to make sure you pay. I think that's called blackmail.
2007-12-17 21:52:09 · answer #1 · answered by JZD 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By the sound of your question and the monetary 'pound" denomination, I deduct you're this accident didn't happen in America, where obiviously--the laws regarding such are quite different.
I get the sense, however, the tow truck operator/driver may have been hasty, protective of being ripped off, but he needn't worry if your friend was insured.
Trust the cop: his experience indicates the car is a write-off and insurance will deal with the tow bill, so no harm in your friend gathering his personal belongings from the vehicle.
If the towing service has a problem with it, they can take it up w/ the rather large cop accompanying your friend: you may fight the law in stubborness--but those who do lose.
2007-12-17 23:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Wizard 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The car is the only thing that the towing company can keep,but not the personal stuff in the car.
2007-12-18 00:24:19 · answer #3 · answered by Kevin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You pay the money and he gets his car and his things back. If the car is going to stay at the tow company, he can talk to them and pay a different, lesser amount for just him getting his belongings.
2007-12-17 23:34:15 · answer #4 · answered by pcchocoholic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No ,your personal items should have been given back to you as a matter of course, as if the items disappear during the car staying in the compound, they will say that they are not liable for any loss that you have suffered.
2007-12-18 02:03:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the owner of the car owes the debt and the other things are someone else's and not part of the car then that doesn't seem right at all.
2007-12-17 23:34:04 · answer #6 · answered by Eisbär 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel disgusted with this report everywhere that you go in the UK it seems that some company or other is trying and seceding to rip the motorist off
2007-12-17 23:57:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i used to work on recovery and no they cannot stop your mate from collecting personal goods from the car
2007-12-18 04:04:17 · answer #8 · answered by denco26 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i guess if they dont mess with it
2007-12-17 23:34:50 · answer #9 · answered by spongebob! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋