What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington state
Long story short, I called a company to have my car towed to my home, due to having flat tires. The driver initially agreed to tow my car for $250. It took them several trips because they had an issue with the first tow truck and after about four hours of just standing in the cold and rain, I moved my car and took a taxi home and told them what my address was so they could drop my car off. Having been up all night now, I waited for them in my living room to drop my car off and I eventually just fell asleep. So then they impounded my car. The location of my car, my home, and their shop are all about 20 minutes/10 miles or so from each other according to mapquest - we're not talking long distances here.
When I talked to them, they wanted me to pay $580, not including tax, to get it dropped off at my house. I said that was way too much money. He said $150 of it was for delivery, so I said I'll just go get it in person.
I went there in person, and they have zero paperwork. To determine how much it would cost me, the office guy simply called the tow truck driver who said $420 to pick it up, and he proceeded to simply write an amount on a simple receipt. I asked how much delivery would be, and he said $100. I asked how they arrived at their figure, and he said that they charge $250 an hour. I don't see how they could get to $420, but more importantly, it's pretty obvious that they are simply charging me in an arbitrary manner.
So in a nutshell, there's a towing company that has zero documentation for me, and has my car impounded at their lot. I am not sure what I should do. On the one hand, they can legally start charging me storage fees the longer my car is there. On the other hand, I don't want to rush in and pay some fee that was not what we agreed upon, and thereby "consent" to the charge.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know it might not seem like much money to some of you, and it is easy to say just pay it, but as a student, that amount hurts. Also, I really resent what they are doing.
Long story short, I called a company to have my car towed to my home, due to having flat tires. The driver initially agreed to tow my car for $250. It took them several trips because they had an issue with the first tow truck and after about four hours of just standing in the cold and rain, I moved my car and took a taxi home and told them what my address was so they could drop my car off. Having been up all night now, I waited for them in my living room to drop my car off and I eventually just fell asleep. So then they impounded my car. The location of my car, my home, and their shop are all about 20 minutes/10 miles or so from each other according to mapquest - we're not talking long distances here.
When I talked to them, they wanted me to pay $580, not including tax, to get it dropped off at my house. I said that was way too much money. He said $150 of it was for delivery, so I said I'll just go get it in person.
I went there in person, and they have zero paperwork. To determine how much it would cost me, the office guy simply called the tow truck driver who said $420 to pick it up, and he proceeded to simply write an amount on a simple receipt. I asked how much delivery would be, and he said $100. I asked how they arrived at their figure, and he said that they charge $250 an hour. I don't see how they could get to $420, but more importantly, it's pretty obvious that they are simply charging me in an arbitrary manner.
So in a nutshell, there's a towing company that has zero documentation for me, and has my car impounded at their lot. I am not sure what I should do. On the one hand, they can legally start charging me storage fees the longer my car is there. On the other hand, I don't want to rush in and pay some fee that was not what we agreed upon, and thereby "consent" to the charge.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know it might not seem like much money to some of you, and it is easy to say just pay it, but as a student, that amount hurts. Also, I really resent what they are doing.