Complaint Review: Mike & Norm's Towing

 This so-called business is and probably will forever be, absolutely the worst I've ever had the 'pleasure' of dealing with in my entire 60 years. It’s a rinky dink operation that won't take a check card, debit card, credit card or check. Cash only. No change, either. It must be in the exact amount. It doesn't even have an office. Everything took place on a parking lot. It was just like a drug deal that we have all seen on t.v., very clandestine, even in broad daylight. In addition, this company has a ‘main’ office in another location that only has a P. O. Box number, yet the same name and phone numbers. They had no signage where they were located. It took me five minutes to even find it. Thank God for GPS, even though it had problems too. They were rude, condescending, belittling, unreasonable and uncooperative. Quote: 'Well, lady, I wasn't the one driving the car.' Duh, no kidding. That's why accidents are called accidents. If you could see the breakdown of the tow bill, storage, etc., you too would be shocked. Had I been present at the accident scene, they NEVER would have gotten a hold of the vehicle. By the time I arrived, it was too late. The driver was off being treated for minor injuries (thank God) and I arrived due to a call to pick up my dog who was with the driver. Then I felt like crying over the damage to the vehicle. It had rolled two and a half times and had ended up on its side. It was a total loss, even though the motor, drive train, etc., weren’t damaged. The body was, in a big way. The accident was basically caused by ice and slush on the road and the driver lost control even though he was not speeding. It was a clear, sunny day, but there were some slick spots on the road as I discovered when I was driving to the scene. The accident happened on a Saturday afternoon. The car was towed out by another company and to a place of MY preference Monday morning. I called on Sunday just because I wanted to retrieve house keys and work truck keys, but only got an answering service, some guy, not even a professional answering service. They were closed. Call back Monday morning at 9. I was charged THREE days storage, though it had been there less than 72 hours. So, I had call to make an APPOINTMENT on Monday morning as they are closed on Sat & Sun. (how very convenient for extra storage charges). It seems they are open for towing cars on Saturdays & Sundays, though. Their business card states ‘never cIosed’, but I could not get an APPOINTMENT until 12:15 p.m. on Monday to get personal belongings out of the vehicle. Nevertheless, I had to pay $730 CASH to get the vehicle! When I called for the appointment, I was treated like dirt. The business card also states they are open M-F from 9-5. I was told 9-4. My AAA approved tow company had to wait quite a while so that another piece of tin vehicle could be moved out of the way. They took their good ole time doing it, too. I've been told by one professional that this 'company' has had complaints from all of the big insurance companies, yet nothing has been done. This professional was one of the owners of the place I had the vehicle towed to. Suffice it to say, I am going public. The place has a State of MD contract with the local cops or so they say. Then I was told that tow charges are set by the cops. They really expected me to believe that? I have more reputable professionals backing me up than this dump even knows. My late husband was in the back end of the car business for over 30 years. I learned a LOT from him. I know how things are supposed to work. At the end of his life, he was the Body Shop Manager of a local well known shop. He had run service departments, parts departments and finally body shops. He was experienced in estimating, insurance adjusters, how to treat customers, tow companies, rental car companies, and more. He made that last shop a direct repair shop for big name insurance companies. He actually got out there with his men and helped pull metal or whatever. He was a manager, but he didn’t mind getting dirty. I know that all that is extraneous information, yet it proves my own knowledge. I am NOT a stupid woman that one can just pat on the back and send on her way. I do NOT back down when I know my cause is justified. In this case, it is. So BEWARE. Again, Mike & Norm’s towing out of Finksburg, MD.