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Guest
What is the name of your state? California
I parked my car in an Officemax parking lot while shopping there. I purchased an item, but my friend and I decided to go to dinner and leave the car in the parking lot. We returned at 1:00am, but the car had been towed. We saw some police officers from Westminster nearby who told us that the tower informed them that Huntington Beach (a diffierent city) Police called in the tow. However, a call into Huntington Beach revealed that they had NOT called in the tow, and that the towing company towed the car of their own volition. The manager told us that they "scavenge" and tow cars off private property because they have a "contract."
The towing company has to report the tow to the Police department prior to towing. On the report, it stated that they towed the car because it was "customer parking only." Well, I was a customer and I purchased things at the store.
The towing company argued that when Officemax closed, I was no longer a customer, and therefore subject to towing even though no one filed a complaint, including the property owner.
I visited the parking lot, where some signs were posted saying "no overnight parking," however, these were poorly lit and not noticeable from where I parked. I did come back to pick up the car at 1:00am, and did not leave it there overnight nor did i have any intention of leaving it overnight.
The police said my only remedy is to file a civil suit. Can anyone help. Is there any other remedy? I'm out $165 cash, and a lot of wasted time. This is a lot of money for me, I am unemployed with no income.
I parked my car in an Officemax parking lot while shopping there. I purchased an item, but my friend and I decided to go to dinner and leave the car in the parking lot. We returned at 1:00am, but the car had been towed. We saw some police officers from Westminster nearby who told us that the tower informed them that Huntington Beach (a diffierent city) Police called in the tow. However, a call into Huntington Beach revealed that they had NOT called in the tow, and that the towing company towed the car of their own volition. The manager told us that they "scavenge" and tow cars off private property because they have a "contract."
The towing company has to report the tow to the Police department prior to towing. On the report, it stated that they towed the car because it was "customer parking only." Well, I was a customer and I purchased things at the store.
The towing company argued that when Officemax closed, I was no longer a customer, and therefore subject to towing even though no one filed a complaint, including the property owner.
I visited the parking lot, where some signs were posted saying "no overnight parking," however, these were poorly lit and not noticeable from where I parked. I did come back to pick up the car at 1:00am, and did not leave it there overnight nor did i have any intention of leaving it overnight.
The police said my only remedy is to file a civil suit. Can anyone help. Is there any other remedy? I'm out $165 cash, and a lot of wasted time. This is a lot of money for me, I am unemployed with no income.