Dominion Towing Illegal towing scam ripoff Merrifield Virginia
A few weeks ago I was the victim of an illegal towing scam being operating by Dominion Towing - a large contract tow company that services many neighborhoods and apartment complexes in Virginia.
I arrived to visit my friend at an apartment complex in the Virginia DC metro region in the late evening. I parked my car in a lot that was clearly marked "visitor parking" and went to my friend's apartment for about an hour.
When I returned my car was gone. I quickly figured out it had been towed by Dominion - they had two other tow truck operators working the same complex's parking lots at that time and towing other cars. So I called the number on one of their trucks and yep - they had my car too. And the guy on the phone all too happily informed my that I could retrieve it, for a mere $100 impound fee.
One problem though - my car was legally parked when they removed it. You see, in Fairfax County it is a Class III misdemeanor offense for a tow truck operator to remove vehicles from a contractor's parking lot when there are no warning signs posted to tell you that parking there is prohibited, by permit only, etc. See Fairfax County Ordinance # 82-5-32. It requires the warning sign to be posted visibly at all entrances to the lot and to have the telephone number of the tow truck operator (i.e. Dominion Towing).
Well guess what. The lot I was in was marked "visitor parking" next to the entrance, and there were NO warning signs anywhere. There was nothing at the entrance, no telephone number to call, and nothing saying a permit was required there. In fact, there were no signs at all except the one that said "visitor parking." Under county law it was illegal for Dominion to be towing any cars from that lot! But they were doing it anyway. And mine was one of the ones they nabbed.
So when I called the guy at the Dominion impound lot he was just about the rudest fellow I've ever met in my life. You see, I was aware of what the law said about signs and I explained to him that my car had been illegally removed according to that law. He didn't like hearing that little inconvenient fact though because his truckers were making quite a killing that evening by towing other people from the same lot, marked "visitor parking."
He basically told me there was nothing I could do about it and said that his truckers were enforcing a "verbal policy" that said tenants had to obtain guest parking permits - even for people who were using the designated visitors lot. He didn't like it when I pointed out that this supposed "policy" wasn't posted anywhere and that his company was still in violation of the law. So I hung up and pulled out the digital camera to snap some pictures of the "visitor parking" sign as well as the conspicuous absence of any other sign.
By now it was like 3 in the morning and I had already given up on getting a good night's sleep before going to work the next day at 8. So I figured, what the hell? I'll go to the impound lot, attempt once again to educate this fellow about the law, and retrieve my vehicle. So I dialed up a ride and went to the address they gave me. It was just about the seediest, nastiest, dirtiest unlit hole-in-the-wall dumpster of an impound lot that I've ever seen this side of one of those sections of DC where they set all the murder records that you'd never dream of setting foot in after dark.
There weren't any lights, no visible attendants to meet me, no well-lit signs marking the place, no place to load or unload (we had to literally pull onto the gravel on the side of the road to get out of the car), and very minimal security beyond a ricketty old chain link fence that looked like it would fall over if you sneezed on it. But there was one thing - a constant stream of Dominion tow trucks going in and out of the place with the cars of other unsuspecting motorists. Keep in mind that this was at 3 in the morning. The whole world was empty and asleep, except for a parade of these tow trucks going every which way and entering or exiting every couple of seconds.
So I walk in and meandered my way through a completely unlit parking lot, hoping to avoid getting mugged or something along the way. I came to this dirty little trashed out building - also completely unlit inside and out - with a seedy looking fellow who looked like he was straight out of a West Virginia moonshiner camp. I said "I'm here to pick up my car and would like you to release it to me because it was illegally towed here." I told the guy about the county ordinance, told him about the "visitor parking" sign, and told him that his drivers were over there right at that very moment pulling other people's cars out of the same visitor parking lot without the legal authority to do so. His response? A big fat "that isn't my problem."
It was basically go fly a kite. The only way free my property from this modern day highwayman was to pay up. As in "hand over $100 right now and I'll free the hostage that is your car." Seeing as Jethro the Impound Attendant was seemingly impervious to the logic and letter of the law, I found myself without any other option...so pay I did. I had to eventually get home after all. And I had to drive to work in the morning.
So I did a little research the next day and printed out the law they violated, then faxed it over to the landlord's office at my friend's apartment. When I talked to them on the phone they admitted that I had been illegally towed. True - they had a contract with Dominion to go through their lot after hours, but Dominion was bound by the Fairfax County ordinance on towing that requires them to abide by posted warning signs in the parking lot.
Since there weren't any signs where they were towing from, Dominion owes me my $100 for their "mistake" (read: scam) of illegally impounding my vehicle. Now they're supposedly trying to get me a refund. I'll wait and see but given my encounter with the "professional, customer-centric" folks down at the impound lot doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
And it all leaves me wondering how many other innocent victims these people are towing. Well, I know there are at least a few others cause I saw them being towed from the same place as my car. But will any of them stand up for their rights and property against this sleazy extortion machine?
Jim
Fairfax, Virginia
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Greg
Springfield,Virginia,
Number 254838
#8General Comment
Wed, March 26, 2014
My rebuttal to Number 254838's complaint against Dominion Towing in Merrifield, VA: The complaint is incomplete. In addition to the complaint against Dominion for improperly towing vehicles from spaces clearly marked as "visitor" and without County-mandated signage to the contrary, Dominion's most noticeable problem is its failure to observe local speed limits. I worked graveyard at a place of business seven or eight blocks from Dominion's lot in Merrifield and regularly went out to eat at McDonald's at about 2 AM and witnessed Dominion's trucks night after night speeding up and down Gallows Road. Never did I ever see a Dominion truck observing speed limits. I would imagine that that company's revenue is based upon the number of vehicles it tows. Such an arrangement would be an unsafe business model.
Chris
Levittown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Update on the law - its curious thats for sure
#8General Comment
Wed, August 18, 2010
I contacted the local police down their and finally got some sort of answer as to what law I would be violating if I just took my van back.
Larsony. Theft of services.
what is NOT clear is would I simply receive a ticket or be arrested?
Its interesting they can TAKE my car and force me to goto court for redress but I can NOT take my car back and for THEM to take me to court for redress.
Chris
Levittown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
These people are criminals
#8General Comment
Wed, August 18, 2010
Dominion has TWO locations the other is here on
http://tinyurl.com/dominiotowing
I know because I had an unpleasant encounter with them.
I went to the avant to pick up a friend. we were sharing the cost of a trip to a rocket launch out in colorado.
in less than ten minutes my van was towed (I thought stolen though in reality IT WAS stolen)
We get to the yard I get in my van and start to drive it out. They close the gate on me. I am tempted to just drive through it but I don't want to hurt my van or hurt the other person. I was going to get out remove him and open the gate but wanted to avoid a physical confrontation.
I called the police they informed me I had to pay but could not tell me what law I would be breaking if I refused to pay. I paid under duress and video taped the encounter.
I will be taking them to court They illegal towed my van and damaged it in the process. Any idea how uncomfortable it is to drive nearly 4000 miles with a virtually open header sound? (they must have jammed the tail pipe with the tow bar or something I just had $700 work done to the exhaust and no none of that is damaged)
Now most of this I did not know till AFTERWARDS but I am going to list it all now in order anyway.
I have a copy of the lease. I was parked lawfully. 1 night stay (I was to be their 30 minutes) required NO permit so long as I park legally and not in a reserved resident space.
The resident was ok with me parking and directed me to guest parking spaces.
There is not ONE SINGLE SIGN in the entire complex saying either that one can not park or one could be towed. we drove around 30 minutes LOOKING for one figuring I must have missed it or something. Resident has never seen one either.
later that week I called the main office. THEY ALSO said I could lawfully park their offered to set me up with a temporary pass but said not needed when I said I would be their half and hour. They said 1 night no pass needed.
They had even more excuses (dominion) this is what made me look into this if I was not allowed to park their WHY did they need excuses?? My BS meter went off the scale at this.
They claimed I was taking 2 spaces and I was a commercial vehicle (both prohibited and towable offenses)
I am not commercial. its a club wagon van. not registered or plate commercial (did not even know I COULD do that) they claimed because of the sign on my door I was commercial.
what sign I said? OH wait. you mean the picture of I took of the MODEL ROCKET and proudly display on my car when I got launched (I am a rocket photo nerd of sorts)
and as a photo tech geek or sorts I have a lot of camera's including a high def wide angle DASH CAM. which I have the recording proving quite clear I was parked PROPERLY.
He claims he has a picture of me taking two spaces. If he does it might explain my damage as it would mean they pulled me out of my space and put me back in "two" spaces so they could get the picture. I was also on the phone with the resident (I had never been their before so I needed final direction) on the video so my phone records can validate the video timestamp and recording. he was never able to produce these pictures.
its also a class III misdemeanor to town off private property with no signage to warn the people parking their.
I am going to do everything in my power to make the lives of these people a living hell.
DO NOT let them off the hook and I am STILL curious.
if I just DROVE OFF with my van what if any law would I be violating by not paying them?
Jay
Merrifield,Virginia,
U.S.A.
I'm not doubting the overall unpleasantness of your experience but...
#8Consumer Comment
Tue, July 22, 2008
I could not help but notice a couple inaccuracies in your report making me wonder how much you may have exaggerated. If your vehicle was towed to Dominion's Gallows Rd location (which is the only location I've seen) then there is NO gravel anywhere in sight, the entrance to their lot is paved with asphalt and is a shared driveway with a Sunoco gas station. The lot sits at the intersection of Gallows Rd and Lee Hwy in Falls Church, VA.
I've never been towed by Dominion but I have observed the high volume of vehicles they bring into there lot, which is not completely unlit, and as dim (not dark) as the LOT may be the surrounding area is fairly bright. You made it seem as if you were afraid for your safety in this area, this area is HEAVILY patroled by Fairfax Counties finest mainly because it is a convenient cut through leading to Fairfax City, Tyson's Corner and Falls Church and is virtually CRIME FREE.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
If the tow company is under contract with
#8Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 11, 2008
either the landlord or the property management then the tow company is acting as an AGENT OF THE LANDLORD/PROPERTY MANAGEMENT when they tow a vehicle and said landlord/property management can be held civilly liable for the actions of the AGENT (tow company.)
It is simpler and easier for the OP to sue the landlord/property management for the illegal tow and then let the landlord/property management work it out with the tow company.
""The Apartment Didn't Pocket His Money.""
The apartment CONTRACTED the tow company, hence the tow company acts as an AGENT of the apartment when they commit a tow from this private property.
""A judge would simply through out the small claims case and tell the claimant to sue the correct party... in this case the tow company the city tow guidelines were written to regulate.""
Incorrect. This tow was performed on private party per the contract between the apartment managment/landlord and the tow company. The OP can choose to sue the tow company, the apartment landlord/management or both. It's easier to sue the apartment management. If management doesn't like it, they can negotiate NEW terms of their contract with the tow company.
I own 2 businesses; property management and computer services. I know of what I write. I have reserved parking for my tenants and I don't hesitate to have non resident vehicles towed utilizing a local towing service. If a tow WERE to be performed illegally, I can be held liable in civil court.
I have the required notices in place and I call to have a vehicle towed. One time, someone did file a small claims against me for their car being towed- the suit was unsuccessful, but NOT because the towed party should have sued the tow service instead of my property management company. The plaintiff lost because the tow was lawful.
TB
Baltimore,Maryland,
U.S.A.
The Apartment Didn't Pocket His Money.
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 11, 2008
Why persue costly and divisive actions with the apartment complex?
They aren't the ones who towed his car or pocketed his money?
A judge would simply through out the small claims case and tell the claimant to sue the correct party... in this case the tow company the city tow guidelines were written to regulate.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
Contact the Apartment Complex Owner
#8Consumer Suggestion
Sat, June 16, 2007
The towing company has a contract with the apartment complex, correct?
Then they are acting as an agent for the apartment owner and the owner can be held liable.
Send a certified letter to the apartment owner demanding (use polite language) a complete refund of all monies you expended because of this and give them 10 business days to refund the monies.
If they don't comply, simply go to the local authorities and file a small claims court claim against the OWNER of the apartment. Let the owner fight it out with the towing company.
I bet you get the refund without going to small claims court, but if not, hold your ground and go thru with it.
Good Luck.