Retriever Towing The Predatory Actions of Retriever Towing Need to Be Stopped. . .NOW!!! Portland Oregon
I pulled up in front of my friend's apartment at about 9:40 p.m. on Saturday night, February 14, 2009. We were going out for a Valentine's dinner. I ran inside to let her know I was there. She wasn't quite ready. No more than 10 minutes later, we walked out of my friend's apartment to find my car gone!
I immediately dialed the police while my friend ran through the parking lot and out to the street to see if anyone had my car. What she saw was a tow truck with my car hitched up and just taking off through the gravel on the side of the road. She yelled at the driver and started to chase him - he sped off down the street.
I immediately got the number for Retriever Towing. I explained what had just happened and asked that they turn around immediately and bring my car back. "Call back in 20 minutes - I will give you the location of the car and the charges." What??! Then I was warned if I didn't make it to the location within 20 minutes, I wouldn't be able to get my car.
With a neighbor's help we located the lot where my car had been towed - it was in a seedy, difficult to find place down muddy, gravel roads with very few lights. The driver was still in the back unhooking my car from his truck when we arrived.
I finally got my car but, not before I had to pay $237.00! The charges were not negotiable.
I've been going to pick up my friend for 10 years and have parked in front when I know I'm only going to be there for a few minutes. This has been a common practice at this complex for both tenants and visitors when picking up and dropping off tenants, groceries, etc. There's plenty of parking in this lot. There were no fewer than ten open spots when I pulled up in front on Saturday night. The lot has two visitor's spots on the side of the complex - at least one was taken that night.
I attempted to talk to the driver human being to human being: "How would you feel - seriously, how would you feel if you were in my shoes?" He said: "What do you mean - you mean how would I feel if someone stole my car?" "Yes - exactly. That's exactly what you did - you stole my car!" ""Uh, no ma'am -I mean, the technical term is I impounded your vehicle."
What's really outrageous about this is that Retriever Towing is preying on citizens living in poorer neighborhoods who often can't afford to pay whatever "charges" Retriever Towing determines it wants. Every day these people are charged an additional storage lot fee until the cost to get their vehicle back is much too far beyond their ability. Retriever then auctions these cars off.
Retriever Towing is engaging in predatory behavior that should not be tolerated. Certainly, the driver's self-righteous assertion that he is upholding the law is outrageous and certainly not consistent with the intent of the property owner contracting with such companies.
It's frustrating that this kind of thing continues to happen. The laws enacted in Oregon 2007 were not enough. I can't believe the intent of property owners is to create an thriving industry of money hungry grab 'n go towing thugs who prey on tenants and their visitors.
Thank you.
Debra
Beaverton, Oregon
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
thegrimtower
Oregon,USA
Laziness is usually the root.
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 10, 2009
It doesn't matter that you've been parking improperly for 10 years or that "everyone" does it. What does matter is that on that evening you got caught. You rolled the dice and this time your number came up.
The $237.00 sounds fair enough, especially if it was after 5 p.m. (Mon-Fri). There is usually an after hours fee for these off-times.
Quit being lazy, you don't need to pull right up in front of your friend's place...if there's no parking, go park on the street and walk in.
The Mad Tower
Portland,Oregon,
USA
What you don't know.
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 06, 2009
What you don't know is that the property owner(s) of the apartment complex, parking lot and other such places has asked Retriever towing and any other towing company that does impound cars, a service for them. Them property owner(s) do not receive any kind of money from the tow companies whatsoever. You ask the tower who impounded your car how he would feel if he were in your shoes, ask yourself this, What would you do if i owned a piece of property and there was someone parked there who should not be parked there taking up spaces that either tenants use or your patrons use. Are you gonna spend the time looking for the owner of the vehicle if you have people coming home from work or trying to park at your business complex? As for them telling you to be there within a certain amount of time or you don't get your car back is just absurd. They are not allowed by the law and by the city towing commission to keep your car unless for some reason you decide not to come get your car for a few weeks or months for that matter. If you decide to leave your car there or cannot afford to get it out of impound they are allowed to put a lien on the vehicle and after a certain amount time if you have still not picked up the vehicle it becomes the property of retriever towing and to recoup the losses for the lien fee and tow fee they will send it to auction. if it does not sell for the price of the tow bill and lien fee then the have the right right to send the remaining balance to a collection company to get the difference. If you still have a problem with what i just explained to you then quit driving and take the bus. Nobody is forcing you to park stupidly. Nobody is holding a gun to your head forcing you to drive. And also they do not have to bring your car back if it was a legit tow for you violating the parking rules of the property. It is the responsibility of the tenant, the person you are visiting, the person who was given a copy of the parking rules by the landlord when they first moved in, to educate their visitors on these rules. Pity your friend didn't explain them to you.