yes, they will tow without an authorization which means they can't charge you "extra". once you sign the tow authorization in an accident, you're screwed.
If you don't sign the ticket, they will tow your vehicle to their VSF, but they can only charge the city regulated fee. If you sign the ticket, they can charge what they want.
OK.............is this correct? Scenario: The driver (vehicle owner) is in an accident and needs to get to the hospital in a timely manner (not life or death, but much more than a bloody nose). The police become your representative with the wrecker driver selected for the tow since you are already rolling to the hospital, or unable to make a business decision(concussion or similar). 1. The police officer that is now representing you is not allowed to negotiate with the wrecker driver..............thus the wrecker driver can only charge the city regulated fee. 2. Do they still select the driver winning the tow with the medallion drawing? 3. However, if the driver has only a bloody nose and is available to negotiate with the wrecker driver(s), then he/she will be going into a business discussion (negotiating a tow) that they very seldom do and are at a definite disadvantage because of it. It seems that it would be easy for the city to authorize that the city regulated fee would be the maximum allowed whether the tow is authorized by the police or the driver. Why does the city allow drivers to be put in a disadvantageous situation in regards to dealing with wrecker drivers?
i had a friend that towed cars for a while. he actually made alot of money. he quit because the hours sucked and the owner was a a#$.
The only regulation they have from the city on structured fees is when you are in an accident and incapacitated-unconcious- the fees are set to keep you from being ripped off while hurt. My son was rear ended by a hit and run driver near the Astrodome. The tow truck towed the car to their lot less than 2 miles away on Holmes Road. The fee they wanted and I had to pay in exact cash was over $ 700.00. I had to bring the title, proof of insurance, and 2 forms of ID. I had to come in person with my hired tow truck to get the car. I had to wait over 1 1/2 hours while they moved cars around with a giant forklift to get to my son's car. Anyone would have been disappointed to see how they handled the cars- if you had owned one of the Acura, Mercedes, or Lexus they were moving around with that forlklift machine. I talked to the one of the owners of the tow company-he said - do not worry - get your insurance to pay-turn in the receipt for reimbursment. He said in the future to make an agreement with the tow company on cost before they tow the car-otherwise the tow company has discretion on what they charge.He smiled at me with a Colt Python 45 cal sitting on the desk in front of him. This happened in early 2002- so by now I'm sure they have improved things. The state of Texas does not regulate fees charged by Tow companies. The city of HOuston only regulates fees charged when you are incapacitated. I know they pay taxes-but this is wrong.
The city doesn't regulate agreements between the vehicle owner and the tow driver (free enterprise?). And as TBar said, wrecker drivers tell owners that insurance companies will pay it (they are partially right .....we are starting to fight these things alot more because we are paying out 2-3 times what other areas are in tow bills/storage fees). COH has changed the regulations on fees many times and it hasn't seemed to help. VSF owners and wrecker drivers find ways to work the system. I'll give you a perfect scenario: You have a wrecker, police come to scene and wrecker driver shows up. Regulations say since it is police scene, wrecker driver can only charge $225 plus $15/day storage at the VSF (on top of impoundment and notification fees). You tell wrecker driver you want vehicle brought to Toyota Body Shop. He says ok, but he has to take to his VSF first (which is basically a lie) and then he'll take to your shop. He has you sign a blank ticket. He takes to his VSF (never actually drops the car, just stops in the parking lot), and then takes to your body shop. Charges: $225 (city fee) tow fee to VSF, 1 day of storage @ $45/day (since you have now signed the ticket, it is no longer a police consent tow, which means they can charge what they want), $125 notification fee (this means they sent you a registered letter saying they have your car), $20 impound fee, another $225-$375 for a "transfer" to your body shop, and then tax on the storage. Its easy for tow bills to get up to $700.00 when you know how to work the system.
There's a reason these mother****ers sit behind a bullet proof window when you go pick up the car. Question: what if your car is totalled? what happens if you just leave it in their lot?
What is exactly different in the Free Enterprise concept with Taxi Cab Companies versus the Free Enterprise concept with Towing Companies? Vehicles for Hire Both are regulated by the COH and both need permission (medallions) to operate their business.
They can file a mechanics lien (abandoned salvage) and become the owner's and do whatever they want with it.
It ceases to be an agreement between the wreckers and the COH once the owner signs the ticket. Once that happens, the wrecker driver is working for the vehicle owner, not the COH.
I understand the part about the driver signing the ticket, but if the COH is able to regulate the cab business and implement the tier system for rides from the Airport, then why are the Towing Companies allowed the potential for pricing freedom denied to the Taxi Companies? What is the real difference in a Taxi Cab moving you with a posted fee structure and a Towing Company moving your vehicle with a much more openended fee structure?
I have no idea why. I deal with the tow industry, not the taxi industry. I have no idea why. I deal with the tow industry, not the taxi industry.
