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Author	Topic: Towing company sues over Facebook complaint page, loses half its business	Post a Reply Back to Topics

PD Moderator	Message Posted: May 25, 2010 1:20:05 PM Ignore PD Report Abuse The message is clear to T&J Towing of Kalamazoo, Michigan: take your customer complaints seriously, and don't try to sue them to shut down their Facebook page. Justin Kurtz headed the effort and started a Facebook fan page in February after T&J Towing removed his vehicle from his apartment complex, saying that the car did not have a permit to park in the area. Kurtz says he had a permit but that it was removed so the car could be towed and brought to be impounded. After Kurtz paid over one hundred dollars to get his car back from T&J, he noticed that the car had sustained front end damage, likely from when it was towed. He got nowhere in his attempt to rectify the situation with T&J. Since that... Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

Moderator

Message Posted: May 25, 2010 1:20:05 PM

Ignore PD Report Abuse

The message is clear to T&J Towing of Kalamazoo, Michigan: take your customer complaints seriously, and don't try to sue them to shut down their Facebook page.

Justin Kurtz headed the effort and started a Facebook fan page in February after T&J Towing removed his vehicle from his apartment complex, saying that the car did not have a permit to park in the area. Kurtz says he had a permit but that it was removed so the car could be towed and brought to be impounded.

After Kurtz paid over one hundred dollars to get his car back from T&J, he noticed that the car had sustained front end damage, likely from when it was towed. He got nowhere in his attempt to rectify the situation with T&J.

Since that...

Visit GasBuddy Blog for full article

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csh7586 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:4,898 Points:874,375 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 21, 2011 7:16:14 PM Ignore csh7586 Report Abuse There are towing companies that survive on people who park illegally because they are elderly, etc. and cannot walk very far. They hover in towns just waiting for the innocent. Sick.
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,843 Points:2,168,625 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jan 3, 2011 9:51:39 PM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse I got towed Thanksgiving Week 2009 for what was allegedly flat tires. Towing company was stupid. They sent the apartment manager pictures where she looked at them and said "They're not even low!" The towers ended out having to eat that tow, but I had to take a cab that I paid for to pick up my car. The apartment complex no longer contracts with that tow company. Seems I wasn't the only tenant that had problems with them.
luvmyburgi Champion Author Ohio Posts:5,967 Points:986,945 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 28, 2010 11:37:46 AM Ignore luvmyburgi Report Abuse We do not need business like that.
davidel57 Champion Author Houston Posts:5,120 Points:1,207,235 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 17, 2010 5:48:05 PM Ignore davidel57 Report Abuse Good for the power of the public!
TheDix Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,109 Points:607,360 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Dec 16, 2010 3:52:48 PM Ignore TheDix Report Abuse I like this story.Too many crooked tow companies and snow plowing companies.
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,148 Points:828,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2010 8:38:58 PM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse quick needed whem owner is surprised
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:9,377 Points:1,721,135 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2010 1:49:52 AM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse You see... Tow companies damage cars when they try to QUICK TOW a vehicle...
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,866 Points:1,718,545 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 27, 2010 2:55:55 PM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse Bad vibrations on both sides of this; depends on each individual situation; with no usually right position. Both sides feel discriminated against.
Road-Runner Champion Author Denver Posts:7,067 Points:1,910,115 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 27, 2010 12:34:39 PM Ignore Road-Runner Report Abuse Its always a sticky situation when being towed from private property. The police usually tell the party being towed to deal with the property owner or the homeowners association. Police won't intervene unless a specific law has been violated. To make matters worse, towing companies are not well regulated in lots of states.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,445 Points:1,665,645 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 9:29:52 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse OK?
kelsielee Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,389 Points:672,025 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:13:57 PM Ignore kelsielee Report Abuse Companies like this should not be in business. It's nice to see that "customers" of such rip-off companies can fight back and make an impact.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:20:52 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse which reminds me of something that happened here not too long ago: towing company towed (legally) parked vehicles from the curbside, took them to an auto yard and scraped them, sold the pieces and did not get caught until the 6th or 7th car they did this to! Talk about some nerve... Well, they're in jail, but I bet the owners of some of those vehicles will take them to the laundry for the value of their cars, too. And they should!
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:19:10 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse goes to show the consumer sometimes can do well... even in the face of some crooked businesses.
Centaur1129 Veteran Author Virginia Beach Posts:395 Points:109,870 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 11:24:59 AM Ignore Centaur1129 Report Abuse A while back I was visiting the Dairy Queen on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Before I could finish the Vanilla shake I had purchased, I noticed a tow truck hooking up my car for towing. I walked over, shake in hand, and ask them what they were doing. Looking at my shake, then me, the driver asked if this was my car. I said yes, and that if they didn't unhook my car I'd report them to the store manager. Guess what? They immediately unhooked my car, and drove out of the parking lot with their tail between their legs. Score one for the comman man! Also, how can I friend this guy's facebook page!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,579 Points:2,372,235 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 8:29:29 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse A very similar thing happened here. Towing legally parked vehicles and charging them huge sums of money to get them back. Do whatever it takes to put these kind of people out of business.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 5:30:00 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse LoneGuy: some places have you place either a sticker on the outside window or a metal tag onto your license tag (which I always thought was pretty stupid b/c it could easily be removed). So, there are more ways that the company could have done this.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,818 Points:1,636,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 5:27:37 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse customer service in the New Technical Age?
georgeo Champion Author California Posts:4,172 Points:179,115 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 2:33:28 AM Ignore georgeo Report Abuse Do the towing vehicles have a good MPG rating?
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,241 Points:1,379,620 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 2:19:07 AM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Standard practice the towing co. haul off the vehicle then charge a storage fee & put a mechanics lien on the individual. My adult son's mustang was stolen & not recovered for a few yrs. Striped to the frame & sold all the parts. Ins. had long before paid off on the vehicle, at a wholesale value of course, & title was given to the Ins co. Long story short. Police found the frame had it towed in to local co. Didn't bother to take to police impound forgot to ck if stolen. So the tow co called My son later, they had the car & he owed them a couple hundred dollars. When he told them stolen & belonged to Ins. co they said well too bad the title in Fl. is still in your name. So placed a lien on his Fl. License without his knowledge & when tried to renew current auto tag 2 yrs later the state refused. Said he would have to get a release of lien from the Tow co. The state attorney couldn't do anything about it. & the Ins co lawyers argued they had changed the title in their home state & since the tow co. Salvaged the vehicle they weren't entitled to any money. You want to talk about a mess. That's just the tip of the iceberg of what they do.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,319 Points:1,144,365 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:30:42 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse Facebook is having a bad week
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,660 Points:3,105,615 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:21:33 AM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Sue 'em!
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:8,610 Points:2,343,745 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:21:18 AM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse I wonder if they broke in to get the permit or if he left the car open.
speedys Champion Author Utah Posts:7,152 Points:2,585,610 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:21:07 AM Ignore speedys Report Abuse There should be set fees for towing just like there are set fees for taxis.
jackson661 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,826 Points:1,500,350 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:19:47 AM Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse These are unjust crimes because the victims do not have the big bucks like the Towing company. join the kids page against the towing company...
PetroScopper Champion Author Houston Posts:6,755 Points:1,576,660 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:19:16 AM Ignore PetroScopper Report Abuse It's hard to get away with treating people badly, anymore. Everything is so electronic...
EcoVore Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,538 Points:728,775 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:17:48 AM Ignore EcoVore Report Abuse The public has spoken on the democratic medium of the net.
TPlayer All-Star Author Fort Wayne Posts:578 Points:153,725 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:12:19 AM Ignore TPlayer Report Abuse Everyone with a facebook account join the kids page against the towing company...
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,844 Points:1,664,895 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 1:09:12 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse I have seen first hand how they do business here. A cop called a tow truck for me after a breakdown and even through I was a AAA subscriber( and he was a AAA tow truck), he demanded a huge ( over double) fee to tow. It would have been way more than AAA would have reinbursed. I told him to go to hell and I borrowed a cell phone to call AAA to send help. They responded woth the same company but with the AAA rates ( free to me). Moral : never let a well meaning cop summon help.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,397 Points:1,768,430 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:58:26 AM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Where is the lawyer starting a class action lawsuit?
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:7,292 Points:1,640,885 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:58:13 AM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Somebody needs to tell what towing companies are doing with their "arrangements" with police departments, insurance companies, etc. Our local news have reported on the shady practices which are widespread.
abfpat Champion Author Illinois Posts:28,349 Points:4,338,890 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:52:45 AM Ignore abfpat Report Abuse Towing company? A license to steal?
bobdec Champion Author Miami Posts:9,104 Points:1,797,520 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:43:13 AM Ignore bobdec Report Abuse Toeing companies get away with murder, they need to be held accountable
americanmade1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:8,071 Points:1,223,525 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:40:44 AM Ignore americanmade1 Report Abuse I hope he doesn't tell the president about it or he will call the tow operators STUPIDLY and the poor guy will NEVER get his vehicle back...
donzo00 Champion Author Nevada Posts:12,233 Points:1,666,880 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:33:40 AM Ignore donzo00 Report Abuse some towing companies are rip offs, with high impound fees. One time I had my motorcycle stolen and it was missing for 10 days. Finally called a towing company and they had it after the thief left it on the highway. they charged me 10 days of impound fees and didnt bother to notify me in anyway.
craigsf38 Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,848 Points:1,536,980 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:31:27 AM Ignore craigsf38 Report Abuse Good luck solving the problem
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,844 Points:1,664,895 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:31:22 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse When the tow truck drivers pay is based on how many cars they tow, you should expect a little hankey-panky. Crooks will always find a way to gain the system.
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:15,069 Points:1,618,825 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:29:32 AM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse Hmmm?
greenfog Champion Author Illinois Posts:6,625 Points:1,665,745 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:27:29 AM Ignore greenfog Report Abuse if they only take cash that is a sign of a dirty works company any way you look at it. if they did what was complained about i hope they go under. i have respect for most towing companies that try to do the right thing and follow the rules, but a company like this needs shut down with no chance of ever starting again.
HA4CNN Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,760 Points:1,570,215 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:26:52 AM Ignore HA4CNN Report Abuse Good luck T&J losing half of your business makes you lucky wait till you lose it all.
grouch311 Champion Author Peoria Posts:6,386 Points:1,596,990 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:25:15 AM Ignore grouch311 Report Abuse we have the same problem here
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,792 Points:1,326,080 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:25:01 AM Ignore jay4 Report Abuse And this concerns gas prices how...?
jadeusa Champion Author Dallas Posts:9,480 Points:1,850,740 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:20:45 AM Ignore jadeusa Report Abuse Towing business is a dirty way to make money. Too many politics involved with a supported monopoly having the license to tow in a certain city.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,332 Points:1,305,970 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:17:45 AM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse If the towing company did do this they got what they had coming to them. If they did this then the guy who started the page did this the right way, word of mouth is the best way to get things done.
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:7,009 Points:1,384,450 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:16:13 AM Ignore comprof Report Abuse The towing business in every city I have lived in is nothing more than a conspiracy between cities to get money form licenses and licensed crooks to charge ridiculous prices for towing vehicles.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,686 Points:1,197,290 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:15:46 AM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse This article deserves far more than 31 votes. Pump it up to 32 or more!!!
ang2010 Veteran Author New York Posts:322 Points:77,175 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:14:42 AM Ignore ang2010 Report Abuse Every one using the courts to their advantage makes our prices go crazy.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:23,608 Points:1,075,890 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:14:24 AM Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse => And this relates to gas in what way? <= Wow. There's one in every crowd. The relationship is that these "car" things very often are fueled by "gas". Who knew? Good for Kurtz- this has happened to me. The people strike back!
Badmoon Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:8,443 Points:1,678,215 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:14:11 AM Ignore Badmoon Report Abuse That is some real bad press.
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,672 Points:1,885,095 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:13:40 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse What does this have to do with gas?
rwm1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,336 Points:1,567,625 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2010 12:13:31 AM Ignore rwm1 Report Abuse This is a stupid story. This is why I don't hardly print anything or reveal anything on Facebook. Its supposed to be fun social interaction but it just became too much "Big Brother".