Do I owe them if they failed at being timely?

[nyhof54]

So, I will be brief but I want to state everything.
I needed my truck towed today (non emergency just needed to get work done at a shop).
I called the local tow company at 2:48PM and they told me it would cost $129 in total and that they were currently cleaning up a collision and estimated they would be there in an hour (3:48). I then called at 4:20PM (an hour and a half later, 30 minutes past estimated time) and they told me that they were finishing changing a tire on the south side of town (15-20 minutes from me) I then waited and waited until 5:30. At this point I had to leave so I left a note in my truck saying thank you and that I have been waiting so I had to leave. The tow driver then called me at 5:48 (an hour and 28 minutes after being told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes at most away from me) He told me he couldn't find it, he was on 50th street rather than where I was on 60th st (5 mile difference). Honest mistake it's okay, I get it. Problem is I needed to get it at the mechanics by 5:00PM. And by the time the driver got to the mechanics he called again at 6:47PM saying the guy there was refusing it. The mechanic didn't have a place to put it since it's a small shop and had to get working on other project since it was already an hour and 47 minutes past 5PM. It easily could have gotten there if it was picked up from me by 4:30PM (which was still 45 minutes past when they said they could be there) Either way they didn't get it there until near 7PM which was a total of four hours between when I called and when they got there. After the mechanic refused to take it the company (not the driver) called me asking what was going on. I explained just like I did here (not as lengthy but the story summarized) and they brought it back to their office/lot. Problem is they want me to pay for the tow there and the tow back coming to over $300. To me it does not seem I should have to pay all that only for when it gets to the mechanics' at most.
Timeline:
2:48 Called and was told it would be roughly an hour
3:48 Supposed to arrive
4:20 Called again told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes from me
5:48 Driver called saying he was on wrong street five miles away
6:47 Driver arrived at destination
6:52 Company called me saying they were bringing it back to their lot

Asking for opinion and also how I get leverage back since they have my truck now likely behind a fence. Any suggestions are appreciated and I apologize for the length. Am I obligated to pay the whole bill even though they were 2 hours past when they said?

 

[quincy]

So, I will be brief but I want to state everything.
I needed my truck towed today (non emergency just needed to get work done at a shop).
I called the local tow company at 2:48PM and they told me it would cost $129 in total and that they were currently cleaning up a collision and estimated they would be there in an hour (3:48). I then called at 4:20PM (an hour and a half later, 30 minutes past estimated time) and they told me that they were finishing changing a tire on the south side of town (15-20 minutes from me) I then waited and waited until 5:30. At this point I had to leave so I left a note in my truck saying thank you and that I have been waiting so I had to leave. The tow driver then called me at 5:48 (an hour and 28 minutes after being told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes at most away from me) He told me he couldn't find it, he was on 50th street rather than where I was on 60th st (5 mile difference). Honest mistake it's okay, I get it. Problem is I needed to get it at the mechanics by 5:00PM. And by the time the driver got to the mechanics he called again at 6:47PM saying the guy there was refusing it. The mechanic didn't have a place to put it since it's a small shop and had to get working on other project since it was already an hour and 47 minutes past 5PM. It easily could have gotten there if it was picked up from me by 4:30PM (which was still 45 minutes past when they said they could be there) Either way they didn't get it there until near 7PM which was a total of four hours between when I called and when they got there. After the mechanic refused to take it the company (not the driver) called me asking what was going on. I explained just like I did here (not as lengthy but the story summarized) and they brought it back to their office/lot. Problem is they want me to pay for the tow there and the tow back coming to over $300. To me it does not seem I should have to pay all that only for when it gets to the mechanics' at most.
Timeline:
2:48 Called and was told it would be roughly an hour
3:48 Supposed to arrive
4:20 Called again told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes from me
5:48 Driver called saying he was on wrong street five miles away
6:47 Driver arrived at destination
6:52 Company called me saying they were bringing it back to their lot

Asking for opinion and also how I get leverage back since they have my truck now likely behind a fence. Any suggestions are appreciated and I apologize for the length. Am I obligated to pay the whole bill even though they were 2 hours past when they said?

What is the name of your state?

 

[nyhof54]

Michigan

 

[Just Blue]

So, I will be brief but I want to state everything.
I needed my truck towed today (non emergency just needed to get work done at a shop).
I called the local tow company at 2:48PM and they told me it would cost $129 in total and that they were currently cleaning up a collision and estimated they would be there in an hour (3:48). I then called at 4:20PM (an hour and a half later, 30 minutes past estimated time) and they told me that they were finishing changing a tire on the south side of town (15-20 minutes from me) I then waited and waited until 5:30. At this point I had to leave so I left a note in my truck saying thank you and that I have been waiting so I had to leave. The tow driver then called me at 5:48 (an hour and 28 minutes after being told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes at most away from me) He told me he couldn't find it, he was on 50th street rather than where I was on 60th st (5 mile difference). Honest mistake it's okay, I get it. Problem is I needed to get it at the mechanics by 5:00PM. And by the time the driver got to the mechanics he called again at 6:47PM saying the guy there was refusing it. The mechanic didn't have a place to put it since it's a small shop and had to get working on other project since it was already an hour and 47 minutes past 5PM. It easily could have gotten there if it was picked up from me by 4:30PM (which was still 45 minutes past when they said they could be there) Either way they didn't get it there until near 7PM which was a total of four hours between when I called and when they got there. After the mechanic refused to take it the company (not the driver) called me asking what was going on. I explained just like I did here (not as lengthy but the story summarized) and they brought it back to their office/lot. Problem is they want me to pay for the tow there and the tow back coming to over $300. To me it does not seem I should have to pay all that only for when it gets to the mechanics' at most.
Timeline:
2:48 Called and was told it would be roughly an hour
3:48 Supposed to arrive
4:20 Called again told they were finishing a tire change 20 minutes from me
5:48 Driver called saying he was on wrong street five miles away
6:47 Driver arrived at destination
6:52 Company called me saying they were bringing it back to their lot

Asking for opinion and also how I get leverage back since they have my truck now likely behind a fence. Any suggestions are appreciated and I apologize for the length. Am I obligated to pay the whole bill even though they were 2 hours past when they said?

Why didn't you cancel the tow when you knew that there was no way for your car to be at the mechanic by 5?

 

[quincy]

Thank you for providing your state name.

Because you knew you needed to get the car to the mechanic by 5pm and you knew the tow truck was running late, why didn’t you cancel the tow either at 4:20 or at 5:30 when you spoke with the tow company?

You can try to negotiate a lower rate with the tow company, or you could pay the $300 to get your vehicle out of the tow yard so the fees don’t continue to build and then sue for what you see as an overcharge later.

If the tow company was not informed of the importance of the 5:00 time, however, and/or if you had not made arrangements in advance with the mechanic to store your vehicle on the mechanic’s property after your vehicle was towed there, you might be out of luck in court should you sue.

 

[nyhof54]

At the time I didn't realize the mechanic (its a guy who does work on the side at his barn) didn't have any space. He wanted it by 5 to get started, at the time I didn’t realize how hard of a deadline it was.

 

[quincy]

At the time I didn't realize the mechanic (its a guy who does work on the side at his barn) didn't have any space. He wanted it by 5 to get started, at the time I didn’t realize how hard of a deadline it was.

I think you are obligated to pay the tow company the $300.

The tow company originally gave you an estimated time of arrival; you told the tow company that the tow was not an emergency; the tow company gave you updated estimates for arrival; you had several opportunities to cancel the tow when it became clear that your vehicle could not be towed to the mechanic by 5 pm; you failed to discuss with the mechanic whether he had room to store your vehicle; the tow company was left with a vehicle on its truck and had no where to go with it but the tow yard.

Although $300 is a lot more than $129, the tow driver had an additional trip and there are storage fees.

I am not seeing you have negotiating power but negotiation appears to be your best option. I definitely would not let your vehicle stay in the tow yard for long, though. The daily storage fees can be high.