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naynayblazer
Guest
I am from Missouri. My situation took place in Illinois. I was on the road to GA. w/ my 9 yr. old son when our car broke down. A state trooper helped me as best he could and called a tow truck. As it was we had only so much money and couldn't afford the tow right then. But the tow guy stated that I wouldn't have to pay until I came back to get my car. We were in the mid. of nowhere so I had to tow it to his family owned business. He also showed me his business receipt w/ the name of co. on top. He put down there I would pay only $40.00 instead of $60. for the tow. Verbally he said he cut me a deal since I didn't have all of it. I took out our things (all I could carry) out of my car. He dropped us off though in front of a Greyhound and McDonalds. I told him maybe I could call someone to get us or just take the bus the rest of the way to see my other kids. Trying to make a long story short, I hardly had enough money for everything he was talking about, parts and all. But I was going on his word I would only pay $40. and there would be no storage fee. He offered to look at my car to find the prob. and estimated $ on the parts I might need.I did not have the $ for all that and stated so. He said it would cost nothing for him to just look at it, but if I let him fix the prob. it would run me $1400.-$2500. depending on the prob. That was for parts. I thanked him. Gave him the number I would be at in GA. if I were to continue on by bus, my parents # and my home phone in MO. He said if he didn't hear from me in 2 days (because he supposively going to be away for 2 days), he would know I was at the GA. # and would try and contact me there. Other than that, he gave me 2 of his bus. cards and said to call the # on it. It would direct me to his phone if I couldn't get a hold of him. I could leave a mess. If he heard from me in the 2 day period, he'd assume I was at my # and would call me back. He knew I was supposed to be away for 2 weeks in GA to be w/ my other 2 kids for mother's day. He left w/ our car. My son and I are sitting in front of this place, not having a way to anywhere. The bus station woman said the next bus didn't come in 'til 1:55a.m./c. It was then 10 til 4:00p.m./c. The tow man comes back not more than 5 min. later and says he called his father at their business and told him my situation. He (not the father) felt bad that I was here alone and didn't want to just leave me sit there til the bus came or whatever w/ all my things. He then offered to get my son and I a room across the way out of his own pocket. I told him I couldn't pay it back, or pay for it at the time. I do have a limited income at the time. He said there was no charge at all. He was doing something nice for someone, because others do things for him, and he wanted to return the kindness, by doing that for me. I felt a little odd accepting his help like that, but what else could we do at the time? He got us a room at a Thrifty Inn. Before he left, we confirmed the phone numbers and information I gave him. I couldn't get a hold of this man while I was in GA. My mother and father tried to reach him, but couldn't. They were going to go and pay the $40. to get it out of the tow. I found out when they tried to call, that my stepdad had AAA and would tow it for $0. I didn't know before, or I would of used that option instead. Because now they tell us that I have to pay for the room, full towing, and storage. Apparently the mother of this man (since it is family owned) doesn't believe her son made such an agreement with me. I couldn't get a copy of their business receipt from the man because I had to pay the $40. before I could get it. Now it's been changed to $60. When I returned from my trip to GA. I again attempted to contact thie man who towed my car. No luck. His mother answers, and begins yelling at me saying I am ungrateful for what he had done for me. I in no way raised my voice to her, nor implied or said I didn't appreciate anything. The more she yelled at me, I remained calm and could not get a word in edge wise to say anything. She hung up on me. I need to know what I can do to get my car back at the price the man told me from the beginning, and under the same terms he and I agreed upon verbally then? I just want my car back. I haven't even had it a month before this happened. I had alot of work done on it before all of this. The woman I bought it from says she had work done on it too. So there is alot of brand new parts etc. put on it. Please help me. I will appreciate any advice I am given.