What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Birmingham, Alabama
A few weeks ago i was unknowingly parked in a tow zone. A silly mistake, i know but I was visiting a friend for about 10 minutes when i heard a tow truck outside. As i ran outside i saw the truck parked behind my car, blocking me in. My car was NOT YET on the truck. I then told the driver and his female "co-worker?" that I would move the car. They then both essentially said that "it's too late. The car is already in the system and we have no choice but to tow it." So at that moment they hastily put my car on the tow. I then asked them what I could do to not have it towed. They then told me that the only way they would let it down was if I payed $285 cash and nothing less. The only option i thought i had was to pay the fee. My car was on the truck and they were going to tow it either way. So i payed the fee and they left me with a receipt with a company name and other information. I feel like i should've called the cops, but i'm so unsure of the laws on this in alabama so i didn't know what to do. I now feel like this was illegal. How can they charge me a fee that high just to take it down? And is it legal for them to put my car on the truck when i'm telling them not too? I don't understand how it's under their possession if it's not on the truck. If this all was illegal what should i do now? The whole situation just sounds way to sketchy to me.
I have also heard from a friend that the same towing truck towed her car and when she went to get her car they gave her the address to the lot. Apparently the tow truck was in a random car shop. So when she got her car she went inside the shop and asked the front desk if that was their tow truck. They then told her that they didn't even see they truck and that they don't tow cars. Is it just me or does this sound like a predatory tow truck scamming people?
A few weeks ago i was unknowingly parked in a tow zone. A silly mistake, i know but I was visiting a friend for about 10 minutes when i heard a tow truck outside. As i ran outside i saw the truck parked behind my car, blocking me in. My car was NOT YET on the truck. I then told the driver and his female "co-worker?" that I would move the car. They then both essentially said that "it's too late. The car is already in the system and we have no choice but to tow it." So at that moment they hastily put my car on the tow. I then asked them what I could do to not have it towed. They then told me that the only way they would let it down was if I payed $285 cash and nothing less. The only option i thought i had was to pay the fee. My car was on the truck and they were going to tow it either way. So i payed the fee and they left me with a receipt with a company name and other information. I feel like i should've called the cops, but i'm so unsure of the laws on this in alabama so i didn't know what to do. I now feel like this was illegal. How can they charge me a fee that high just to take it down? And is it legal for them to put my car on the truck when i'm telling them not too? I don't understand how it's under their possession if it's not on the truck. If this all was illegal what should i do now? The whole situation just sounds way to sketchy to me.
I have also heard from a friend that the same towing truck towed her car and when she went to get her car they gave her the address to the lot. Apparently the tow truck was in a random car shop. So when she got her car she went inside the shop and asked the front desk if that was their tow truck. They then told her that they didn't even see they truck and that they don't tow cars. Is it just me or does this sound like a predatory tow truck scamming people?
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