Martinez Towing & Auto Repair impound, towing, release fees, impound fees, auto club, upland police Upland, California
Single female's 2002 Tahoe loses total power while driving home from work in the early evening during rush hour traffic. She pulls her car to the curb just as it shuts down to avoid being directly in the line of traffic. Unable to reach any family or co-workers to assist her. After approx. 15 minutes in the dark she determines that it is not safe to remain the in the vehicle for fear of being hit from behind. She phones AAA for roadside assistance and exits the vehicle for safety reasons and walks to a nearby restaurant to wait for help. Approximately 30 minutes later, she is contacted by Martinez Towing. Martinez Towing states that they are at the abandoned vehicle with the local police. Single female states that she is on her way back to the vehicle but is told by Martinez Towing that unattended vehicles cannot be towed. Martinez Towing also contracts with the Upland Police Dept. for towing. As the single female is walking to the vehicle she sees that Martinez Towing has her 2002 Tahoe opened and on the back of the flat bed tow truck ready for transport. She approaches the scene thankful that her vehicle is being transported to her home in nearby Alta Loma only to witness Martinez Towing driving away without her car and without her. Instead of towing the car to her residence, Martinez Towing informs the police department that they have cancelled AAA's call for assistance forcing Upland Police to order the car towed from the scene to their impound yard where it would be held until the stranded single female pays Martinez Towing $190 plus $45 per day for release. This is an obvious move to scam money from an innocent, stranded individual. There was absolutely NO reason for Martinez Towing to tow the car to their impound yard and not to the single female's home.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Stranded in Upland
Upland,California,
STRANDED CONTINUED
#3Author of original report
Wed, April 03, 2013
Allow me to place myself back into the first person and provide the first person accounting of events as they should have been reported. In reference to your questions, allow me to explain.
The event occurred at 7:35 p.m. Conditions were quickly becoming dark and the temperature dipping into the low 60s. This particular location is approximately mile from a major freeway exit and shopping district. Traffic conditions were moderate to heavy. I was fortunate to be able to navigate the vehicle to the curbside of a three-lane north bound thoroughfare to best remove the vehicle from the line of oncoming traffic. However, the location of my vehicle was clearly in a NO PARKING zone.
As I approached the scene, Martinez Towing already had my vehicle on the flat bed ready to tow. Martinez Towing informed the police officer that he could not wait for me to arrive as he was called to another location. Im told later that in order for me to use my AAA towing benefits, I am required to remain with my vehicle at all times. Because I was not with my vehicle when Martinez Towing arrived at the scene, Martinez has no obligation to tow my vehicle under my authority. As Martinez towing also contracts with the police department, they have the authority to tow my vehicle under the authority of the police department.
All parties were aware that I was on my way from the nearby restaurant on foot as I was on the phone with Martinez Towing and the police department. The police department told me that I had five minutes to arrive at the vehicle if I wanted it towed to my residence. Martinez Towing opted not to wait the five minutes as they were called to another location in which case the police issued the order to tow my vehicle to the impound yard. When I arrived at the vehicle within the time frame indicated, the order was already issued to Martinez to take my vehicle to impound. Tat is why I witnessed my vehicle being carried away without me.
Remaining with my vehicle the entire 45 minute period was not an option for me or my safety. I chose to wait at the nearest, safe location. According to AAA, this action invalidated any obligation Martinez Towing had to complete the tow on my behalf. And because of this technical loophole, Martinez Towing had the opportunity to remove my vehicle and place into impound where they would be assured a higher price tag for their services.
The police department would have offered me a ride home when Martinez left the scene if my sister had not finally arrived at the scene to assist me. The entire series of events cost me $375.00 in impound fees not to mention the cost of repair to my vehicle and necessary rental car. It is not the dollar amount that Im so concerned with. It is the lack of regard towards my needs, safety and resulting stress added to an already stressful situation.
Robert
Irvine,California,
Why?
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, April 03, 2013
Why write this report in the 3rd person?
Perhaps you weren't this "Single Female" and just getting your information 2nd or 3rd hand. Perhaps there is information you are intentionally hiding. That could explain a few things.
Such as why the Single Female was in Rush Hour Traffic during the Early Evening, but also in the Dark when Sunset isn't until after 7PM. Which by just about everyone's standard is after the Rush Hour.
Such as how the towing company left the Vehicle(and the woman) Behind and in next sentence towed the vehicle to their Impound Lot.
Such as why even when the Single Female arrived at the scene before it was towed. The police, who were also at the scene, would apparently let the Towing Company cancel the AAA call and then order the car to be towed to the Impound lot.