Complaint Review: Priority Wrecker Service - Batavia IL

I left work and found out my car wouldn't start.  I figured it was a dead battery as there is a voltage leak somewhere in the vehicle I am driving.  I searched on Google for a towing service to jump start my vehicle.

Don't use Google.   You need to Vet all people and companies that provide any service for you.  I didn't do that.  So not only did I not get a reputable towing service, I called a service that was based in an area almost 40miles away from the orgin of the tow.  

The towing company lied to me about the ETA.  If they had told me honestly that it would take over three hours to arrive at my desination, I would have found a tow service closer to my location.

The dispather asked for my name and my credit card number and three digit code, so I am sure if I canceled the tow due to excessive wait time that I would have been charged for mileage and time the driver lost when underway to my location. 

When the driver arrived, he asked for my license,  and took photos of the front and back.  Something no tow service has ever done.  So know this company had my credit card number, name, DOB in their database leaving me vulnerable depending on how that information is stored, and who has access to that information.

It took three minutes to jump start my vehicle.  And I was then presented with a $239 bill.  I was incensed with the charge.  I had a vehicle towed over 50 miles to my home last year and it cost me $250.  This was a jump start.  I told the manager dispather that the charge was absorbanant, and said that half that amount seemed realistic. 

They offerd a 40 reduction to $195.  I just accepted the fact that I was duped and moved on to payment.  They then told me their credit card system was down and that they accepted only Chase pay, Venmo and cash as payment.  I asked then why did you ask me for my credit card number?  Why can't I use it for payment? 

The driver said, I would have to go to a cash station and pay with cash.  I got in my car thinking the driver would follow me th the cash station location.  and the driver immediately started using his vehicle to block me from leaving.  I got out of my vehicle to ask why he couldn't follow me, and he said either you get in my truck and we go to the cash station together, or I hook your car and take it to our inpound yard"  So the driver wouldn't let me leave, and threateddned to TAKE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT MY CONSENT. 

This is illegal in Illinois and most states.  I agreed to the charge as I was never not going to pay.   I resented the agressive blocking manuever and threat that they would take my vehicle.  Mind you, it wasn't loaded on the truck at the time.

The driver took me in his truck to the nearest cash station and waited for me to return with funds.  He took me back to my car.  I paid him, and he left. Nothing about this company seems legitimate.  Stay away from them.

Hindsight is Twenty-Twenty:

The play is Call your insurance company, AAA for roadside assistance for a reputable towing service.  Do not use Google.  Have an emergency kit in your vehicle.  I have two Halo Bolt portable car jump staters, but I didn't have them charged and in my vehicle at the time. 

Have a charged battery jump stater in your vehicle as part of your emergency kit in your vehicle. Never let yourself become a sheep as I was that day.