OT: Predatory tow trunk company in Downtown Orlando

[Optimus_Steel]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 8669.story

Martin, whose Coca-Cola truck regularly makes deliveries to an Orange Avenue office building. A TowTruck Company of Orlando employee insisted Martin didn't have a parking permit and demanded $400 to remove the boot. The company refused a police order to turn the Coke truck loose, starting a parking-lot showdown that ended when Martin's boss called his own tow truck to retrieve the tractor-trailer, boot and all.

"It was ridiculous -- it's a loading dock," Martin said. "These guys are mercenaries."

*A MetroWest woman who was somehow able to remove her wheel -- and the boot holding it in place -- and drive home on a spare tire. In a police report, she accuses TowTruck of retaliating by coming to her home in the middle of the night and towing her car from her driveway. With no witnesses, she was forced to pay $400 to get her car back.

*A 70-year-old Winter Park woman whose Toyota was booted in a bank parking lot while she was visiting the bank. The boot was removed after the bank manager intervened.

*A Tampa woman whose van was booted while her family was sitting inside. The boot was removed after the woman called police.

This is down right despicable. A couple of years ago my fathers truck was towed away in downtown for a similar reason. This company is evil. Its truly sickening. I hope they get shut down.

[MagicMadness]

Refused a police order?

Couldn't the cops then just go down there and arrest the person/persons who were ordered to remove the boot?

[CourtsideTV]

^ no

[MagicMadness]

What is the exact significance of a police order?

[craig01]

I've heard stories about the tow truck co, but the booting thing should be illegal.

Pricks.

[Optimus_Steel]

You guys should read the comments part of this article to see their despicable tactics.

Buddy Diarreah wrote: "i was out w/ a lawyer friend one night, they started to tow his car as we got there at 2:55 am. problem: no parking AFTER 3am. as the tower is loading his car, my lawyer friend repeatedly yells "you have no authority to take my car. if you take it, i will call the sheriff and charge youw with burglary (holding up his cell phone showing 2:55am)". they towed it, and the owner gave it back to him at no charge after he called the sheriffs office from the tow office."

we see it all wrote: "I work downtown and have a window view of this company and their tactics. They are extremely unethical in how they handle situations and vehicles. We have watched them break into cars to release the parking brake. When they couldn't break into the car, then we have watched them pull a car out of a parking space with the front wheels locked and just being dragged along the pavement. They fly through the parking lot with the towed vehicles causing who knows how much damage to the vehicles. They are abusive and take advantage of people. They will park blocking the road way then yell at you when you try to pull by them so you can park as you are legally entitled to do. I have almost been hit head on by their "spotting van" when they were flying through the parking lot as I was pulling into a parking space. I would love nothing more than to see them all fired and the company shut down. As time has gone on the tow company has become more abusive and brazen and they will continue to do so until someone finally puts an end to this! Don't worry though, we have a video camera in the office and are looking to capture some of this on tape. Eventually, one way or the other, you will be stopped! "

JPK wrote: "I have a parking space in a private lot downtown. I have to hang a tag in my mirror to prove I can park in the lot. I was towed twice by these guys. When I went to pick my car up they told me they didn't care if I had a tag or not, and that I had to pay them $100 or I wasn't getting my car.

There is a lot across from the Mexican Consulate downtown which they patrol. A large number of non-English speaking folks park there every day. The signage indicating that it is a private lot is insufficient. They tow and boot people there all day long.

When will the city do something about these guys?"

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

This HAS to be Johnson Wrecker... If there was a list of all time Douchebags these guys would be right near the top of it.

I once went to a halloween party where they towed 20-30 cars in the pouring rain. And everyone was parked legally! So many sad, wet faces...

For some reason they hadn't got to my ride yet.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Another time they towed my car they actually stole stuff out of my car, and I saw one these schmucks pulling stuff out of my car as I walked up...

I still had to pay to get it!

[Optimus_Steel]

Its not Johnsons, although that one is just as dirty and evil. The one on this article is TowTruck Company of Orlando.

[CourtsideTV]

Another time they towed my car they actually stole stuff out of my car, and I saw one these schmucks pulling stuff out of my car as I walked up...

I still had to pay to get it!

Did you retaliate when the guy was stealing stuff from your car?

[FFBlitzace]

lol @ the title. It had me thinking along the lines of Stephen King's short story (and movie adaptation) "Trucks"

[AdamTheGreek]

Yeah this has been a growing problem for years now as more and more outrageous towings occur. I tend to find my parking spots without running into these guys.

[Optimus_Steel]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/loc ... 7299.story

Owner Paul Gren complained in an e-mail to the Sentinel that he was being treated unfairly and said his company only tows or boots vehicles violating "No Parking" rules.

"All vehicles that are towed or booted are illegally parked on property we have authorization to enforce. . . . If you are illegally parked, ignorance of the law and/or time frames are no defense," Gren wrote. "You're still illegally parked on someone's private property. It is not your place nor the driver's to complain that how my clients choose to enforce and what they elect to allow is wrong. If you don't like it buy the property and do it your way. Talk is cheap."

The city's towing rules don't address the use of boots because city officials said they never thought the devices would be used on private lots.

"Towing is not booting," City Attorney Mayanne Downs said. "We are looking into it, and it seems to us that booting may not be authorized."

What a douche bag.[/quote]

[BN]

The very same company towed my dad's e150 somewhere downtown, largely due to the fact that there was a bum (with a cell phone) covering the private parking sign...

[LiteHedded]

one of those law offices is a client of mine and if you park in their lot you'll be towed IMMEDIATELY
it's a joke

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

-= original quote snipped =-


Did you retaliate when the guy was stealing stuff from your car?

Unfortunately no...

I was like 17 at the time and didn't know any better.

[UCFJayBird]

I work downtown, and one of my coworkers once ran into a business to pick up something, there was no other parking so he had to park in a lot that was for another business. He came out 5 minutes later and the guy was loading him up on the truck, he told the guy what was going on and the guy made him pay $50 or he was towing it. My friend ran to an ATM, got $60 out, and the guy obviously wouldn't give him change.

A couple months ago I was looking for parking to go into Seacoast National Bank. I didn't see any, but then saw a business lot on the other side of the road. I quickly parked and jumped out and ran across the street. As I was coming out of the bank I saw the tow truck drive in front of me. It had to go around the corner to get into the lot because of the "do not enter" signs on the exit on the street I was on, I sprinted to my car, jumped in and fired up my car and swung out in reverse. The tow truck was literally behind me and I saw him bang his hand on the steering wheel, lol.

Talk about cutting it close.

But yea, these guys are despicable. The ticket guys aren't much better either. My coworker parked in a lot that used to be public, but had just been switched to City Hall only. A cop was sitting in his car right behind my friend, and even nodded to my friend. He then gave my friend a ticket. Instead of just telling my friend he couldn't park there, he gave him a ticket.

douche.