Complaint Review: Scott Smith Towing

I called the 24 hour service of Scott Smith Towing because I knew their service was related to AAA, with whom I was familiar. Little did I know what I was asking for. Triple A Service Scott Smith Towing charged me $350 to go from Finny Blvd. to his garage, approximately 1 mile.

Being that it was 10:30 at night at the time of the tow, the next morning I called to speak of the reason for the tow. I was cut off verbally early in the first sentences of the conversation by Jessica, an employee of Smith's. She continued to tell me to pay $350 for today and $50 extra per day plus tax. I asked for an explanation and she said she had to get a driver out of his bed to tow me. I stated that their advertisement states that it is a 24 hour service. She said it was an after hours fee because of the time of the call. I remained confused and asked to speak to a supervisor. Still in shock of the charges I spoke with Nicole (secretary/owners girlfriend.) I mentioned to her that I requested them to tow my truck and to fix it and asked why they are charging me that much. Eventually after discussion, compromise, and understanding they lowered it to $250. I was somewhat relieved.

Even though the charges were lowered I still had to find the money to get it out. I immediately started taking our furniture and things we didn't need to the lawn and held a lawn sale. Anything me and the kids thought would sell we placed on the front lawn. Amazingly we ended up getting $258 exactly! That was what I went to Smiths with.

Today, Being that I had to wait for a ride and it was close to closing, I called ahead to be sure that I would be serviced. Jessica (secretary) told me yes. Nicole called me back a few minutes later to confirm my arrival. All was set. I got a ride to their shop. When I got there I took out money and I told Nicole I just wanted to pick up my truck and take it someplace else because they charge too much. She left the office and came back in with Scott, he was outraged and began to yell and verbally assault and stare down my daughter who came with me in the office. I intervened and asked that he address me being that I was the customer and it is my vehicle. He wanted to know who was driving the vehicle at the time of the call. I said, "It doesn't matter because I want to pay and pick it up." He said he didn't appreciate a big issue when it comes to paying the charges for the tow!

I told him that I was there to pay the charges but I wanted to drive it away today. He said he only dropped the price to $250 because he thought he was going to work on it. I said well work on it then. He told me, "No I'm not going to work on your truck, I am not touching it." I said, "Then let me pay for it and drive it to be fixed someplace else." He yelled "Excuse me? Excuse me? Get off my property!" I told him again that I would pay even the extra charges. He said, "I have you on camera, everything is being recorded." I told him, "Good I am not afraid of being recorded, I am doing nothing wrong." He picked up my money from the desk and threw it in my face. Then he pointed toward the road and said, "If you don't leave right now I will have you arrested for trespassing!" Because I knew it would be difficult to have to pay another day storage. With one last attempt I told him, "I have the money and Nicole said I could come in an pay it." She said, "No I didn't I never talked to her."

Finally, He said he wanted proof the truck was mine, insurance and registration. Thinking things were diffusing, I put the papers on the his desk in front of him but he did not accept them. He stared at me and said, "Hand me the papers in my hand." and held out his hand toward me. I simply told him that I didn't touch men" and personally I didn't want to approach him. Glaring at me he said "You don't have to touch me just put the papers in my hand." He raised his hand higher and I pushed the papers toward him on his desk, not knowing what he was going to do. He began yelling again and told me to get off his property! I looked at Nicole and she was sitting in the corner chair with her head down, I couldn't see her face. I called police on my cell phone to see if they could help keep the peace in the situation and that I felt threatened. The officer told me they can't do anything because its a civil matter and told me to leave his property.

Is this a town where a tow guy can hold your vehicle hostage and charge you penalties for extra time when your ready to pay?

Is this is a town where assault on a woman and her child is a civil matter?

There has been numerous accounts of violence against woman in this town, including domestic shootings, beatings, rapes, stabbings, and intimidation yet these violations against woman continue to be brushed under the rug by officers who refuse to charge a man with a crime against woman. Violence against woman continues to be an everyday occurrence here, while Malone Village Police officers are busy following innocent teenage drivers and out of town plated vehicles until they make a mistake on the roadways, then they hand them a ticket. The longer you keep domestic violence quiet and tolerate it, the bigger it gets, it will not go away by ignoring it, and certainly not by encouraging it with light slaps on the wrist to the abuser. Girls and boys here need to be educated about respect and morals in school and out. Women need to be empowered and uplifted.

I am not from Malone, NY. I do not allow violence in my home nor have my kids ever lifted a finger in rage toward another person. I have been kept an outcast for not being born in this town, discriminated against because of my race, and belittled by the town office workers who remain on a power trip. I am educated yet remain unemployed in this town, and I am still here. I am not going to bow down to Smith or be intimidated by any abuser, let alone sit back and watch him abuse my daughter, who actually played on his softball team as a teenager! I have come too far in life to accept injustice in any shape or form! I know what abuse is, I stand where I am today because I am a domestic violence survivor and I will not be forced to deal with anyone who thinks they can abuse or dominate me or anyone else! Nor do I want my boys influenced by this towns acceptance of male violence against women. Is this the town that time forgot, are we left in the Rule of Thumb days or has the town simply become the Rule of Numb?

So now I have to go to Smiths Towing and pay $350 plus an extra $50 storage cost plus tax because he wouldn't allow me to pick it up today. Is that even legal? Can a business hold your vehicle hostage for no reason for another day simply because they want more money? As for the Malone Village Police, they told me at the time, "He can run his business anyway he wants to." I am feeling anxious about going there tomorrow, and I have no idea what condition my vehicle will be in.

I can't believe AAA holds him responsible for all their calls in the area!!! If AAA uses him to take care of all their business I am no longer going to call them when I need service in northern NY, I may as well find another roadside assistance company!