Report claims towing firms gouge drivers
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Private tow truck operators in the city of Philadelphia have been ripping off car owners, according to a new report issued by the City Controller.
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Signs often tell you that if you get caught parking illegally in a private lot, you can be charged $175 dollars for the tow, plus $25 dollars a day for storage. At the bottom are the words "Cash Only." But city law says the hook-up charge should only be $150 dollars, and companies must accept credit cards. City Controller Alan Butkovitz says the department of Licenses and Inspections isn't enforcing the law.
Butkovitz: You can lecture private companies to do a better job but the way we get compliance is by having teeth in the way the government enforces it. L and I supposedly has the teeth but in practice they don't. So that leaves a large gap through which you can drive a tow truck through.
Butkovitz says a car owner now has little recourse. He'd like to see the city limit ripoffs by requiring police issue a ticket before any private tow truck operator could take a vehicle.
I have found a company that has solution for towing companies to accept credit cards and debit cards. They have some cheap and fast options. Check out their website: http://www.elect-mer.com
This company helps towing and other road repair businesses. This is their website: http://www.elect-mer.com/
Check it out.
Many towing companies have trouble being approved for accepting credit cards since the towed consumers often dispute the charge and fight to get their money back. This makes it difficult for the processors to earn money for the service provided. Having towing companies required to have an ATM machine or accept pin debit cards might be more practical for all parties.