'Holding our car hostage,' cries driver towed after accident then charged $4,300 to get it back – it 'boggled' the mind | 2YJY87S | 2024-04-23 12:08:01
A COUPLE had been involved in an accident, and had their car towed to a dealership for repairs – their itemized bill was shocking.
In addition, the tow truck company was technically violating the law.
In March 2017, Margaret Roberts was involved in a car accident, and a tow truck from Jonny's Towing arrived quickly.
Her husband, George Hollo, instructed the driver to have his car towed to the dealership he leased it from – Lallier Honda in Ontario, Canada.
When Hollo asked the tow truck driver how much the bill would cost, the driver skated around the question.
"All they said is, 'Don't worry about it, the insurance company will pay for it,'" Hollo told CBC.
The next morning, he called the dealership to ask for an update and was shocked to find that his car had been turned away.
Instead of sitting at the dealership, it was towed to a lot for storage because the dealership didn't sign to receive the car.
After all, the bill was too high.
"They were asked [by the towing company] for $4,287.50 plus tax, plus money for storage," said Hollo.
"They weren't willing to sign that because they figured the insurance company wasn't going to pay for it."
Hollo's Honda was then held in the lot for storage until the astronomical bill was paid.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> "In effect, they are holding our car hostage," he said.
"There doesn't seem to be any regulations or doesn't seem to be any sense about what they could charge. Well, it's just unbelievable."
CBC contacted Jonny's Towing and spoke with the company's manager, Jon Kadir – who told the outlet that his company was dispatched as a subcontractor by Big City Towing.
He argued that Big City Towing, not his company, was responsible for the bill.
Big City Towing had only paid his company $100 for the tow.
When CBC contacted Big City Towing, it was promised the matter would be resolved.
Not long after the call, the bill came to $1,594.
Guy Lamoureux at the dealership told the outlet that Big City Towing found an error in the billing, resulting in the reduction.
Joey Gagne, the president of the Provincial Towing Association in Ontario, Canada, said the towing company keeping the car in a lot until the bill was paid isn't uncommon.
<p class="article__content--intro"> Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle. </p> </div> </div> However, he couldn't pinpoint why the bill was so high.
Normally, being towed away from an accident rarely costs more than $800.
"It isn't unusual for that to have happened, but how it gets to [over] $4,000 boggles my mind," he said.
In Canada, tow truck drivers must present potential customers with a rate sheet before a vehicle is towed.
They're also supposed to give customers a written quote to avoid being shocked by their bill.
Hollo said that the tow truck driver didn't provide him with either.
"The tow truck driver has a lot of responsibility," Gagne said.
"The consumers are considered to be vulnerable in this sort of situation because they've been traumatized by having an accident."
The couple could file a complaint with Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
"The Consumer Protection Act related to tow trucks is very clear that you have to make it clear to the consumer what they're in for for the rates," he said.
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