How to avoid paying a tow truck driver

[bottlebomber]

See, now you're solid. Just make sure you got those deputies names, and note the time of the conversation and you're golden.

 

[mattd2]

Man I really want ot hear how this one turns out. First I was thinking "damn, he should have paid but at least he realised that he should fight it after the fact", then it was "man he isn't doing himself any favours acting like this", then "hahaha, stupid towing company! I hope they do call the cops and get laughed at!"
One final note, you should make sure you call them to find out what the story is (assuming they do call the cops and get laughed at / already know they will get laughed at so want even bother calling the cops). Then once they say they will not be persuing it file a complaint with the cops / BBB for the fact they were trying to extort money from you with threats of police prosecution!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

See, now you're solid. Just make sure you got those deputies names, and note the time of the conversation and you're golden.

Internet legal advice worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[mattd2]

...I called them back and said "I'm not going to pay unless the cops tell me I have to. You do what you want." We'll see what happens.

What was their reply to that?

 

[bottlebomber]

Internet legal advice worth exactly what you paid for it.

That's something I've learned through my own legal struggles (though not through any derogatory behavior of my own). Write down EVERYTHING.

 

[landshark]

Bet you think all police officers are just bullies on a power trip, too, don't you?

Based upon all the ones I've met in person. Yes. The only one who wasn't just wanted to bust kids w/ weed so he could smoke it. Even he was pretty corrupt.

Most of the wrecker drivers I know are pretty cool guys.

 

[blizzard]

This is probably a dumb question, but can you even dispute a charge on a debit card? Seems like that wouldn't go far, especially if the guy has an imprint of your card. I say that guy was trying to extort money from you and good call on canceling the card.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

That's something I've learned through my own legal struggles (though not through any derogatory behavior of my own). Write down EVERYTHING.

What I meant was saying barney fife said they couldn't do anything to you will do little, if anything if that information was incorrect.

 

[bottlebomber]

What I meant was saying barney fife said they couldn't do anything to you will do little, if anything if that information was incorrect.

One more time, for me. I'm slow tonight lol

 

[dkwolf]

Based upon all the ones I've met in person. Yes. The only one who wasn't just wanted to bust kids w/ weed so he could smoke it. Even he was pretty corrupt.

Most of the wrecker drivers I know are pretty cool guys.

Your mileage may vary, I guess. One of my best friends in high school's dad was a reserve officer, shortly after college I dated a 911 dispatcher for a couple years, and after that I dated the secretary for a different department. Plus, on my fire department, we have an active Sheriff's deputy, a retired deputy, and a former reserve officer. You could say I know a *lot* of members of law enforcement. There's always a couple bad eggs, but the guys I know are all decent guys - both on and off duty.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

One more time, for me. I'm slow tonight lol

In most, if not all states, instruction by a government official that violates the law does not excuse you violating the law unless it is somebody of supreme authority, like the chief of police. So unless he talked to the chief of police or the sheriff, knowing who he talked to probably won't do any good if they were wrong.

 

[bottlebomber]

In most, if not all states, instruction by a government official that violates the law does not excuse you violating the law unless it is somebody of supreme authority, like the chief of police. So unless he talked to the chief of police or the sheriff, knowing who he talked to probably won't do any good if they were wrong.

Maybe not, but in a small town if the cops came to make a report, and OP was able to say the I talked to Deputy SoandSo last Tuesday, it would carry a lot more weight than otherwise. They may dismiss it. I wasn't trying to say that as a catch all having a law enforcement officers blessing gives you exemption from the law. Sorry if it seemed that way. I was only referring specifically to this case.

 

[RandomGuy99]

Hi, I ended up in this thread via google but, by law, if you arrive before your car is hooked up they are required to allow you to move it.

If the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle arrives at the scene prior to removal or towing of the vehicle, and is legally capable of removing the vehicle, the vehicle shall be disconnected from the towing or removal apparatus, and that person shall be allowed to remove the vehicle without interference upon the payment of a reasonable service fee of not more than one-half (1/2) of the applicable rate for such towing or removal, for which a receipt shall be given unless that person refuses to remove the vehicle from the property where it is otherwise unlawfully parked. There shall be no charge if the vehicle has not been connected to the tow truck.