Hello, we are digging in on this because we are tired of these crooks.
We were never booted, our driver made 3 attempts to pay, once in the storage and twice with the guys on site while they were arguing with another truck driver. He was told to wait which he did. After 20ish minutes, a tow truck pulled up. He was towed.
I have the recorded phone calls where they explained that our fee was $2700ish and that we could pay with EFS or ire and that our driver could not come onto the property to get his truck.
We had another driver show up with the $2700 EFS check. We were told that they would not accept it, they would only accept a wire and that the fee was now $4900. On the call, the tow company was asked why the jump to $4,900. We were told, “Because your driver assaulted our driver and wasn’t arrested". Again, we have her on a recorded line making this statement.
If you look at the invoice, you will see that we were not charged for anger, driver not being arrested or violence or anything resembling what this employee explained. Now, they did bill for 5 hours but I would like to state that it is pretty obvious that A1’s caused most of this delay by rejecting a payment after they initially agreed to accept it. IF there was a delay in verifying the wire transfer, it was a delay caused by the tow company in their refusal to accept payments that they are legally required to accept; credit card no fees etc… Any expense related to this can not be billed to the victim.
Impound $0
Tow/Hook Fee $ 430.00
It did not take 5 hours to tow this vehicle 4 miles. They have billed 5 hours of time, for what???? We have the dash cam footage to prove this.
Trailer $465.00
Why is it more expensive for the trailer. If they towed them together, they why bill individually for each? Scam
2nd Helper $100.00 By TN Law, Helpers can only be billed for the time of arrival until the time that the hook was completed. Maybe 30 minutes.
Fuel $0
These people are violating numerous ordinances, state laws and regulations and the consumer protection act. The only way to stop them is if you guys go out and write them violations for each infringement. We are willing to file an official complaint if you are willing to write them violations. As long as we can prove the violations, Mr. Cathey can not claim that Memphis is picking on him.
There’s much more, how about them stalling our driver who was trying to pay, while the tow truck was on the way. Your city attorneys are FAR more intelligent than I on this stuff, will they help?
I almost forgot to mention, Tn State law clearly indicates that if the driver returns before the hook is complete, the t tow can not go forward even allowing for the issuance of an invoice WITHOUT payment. Yeh, there are about 4 violations in that. Your ordinance can get A1’s out of this requirement. Our driver was present even before they got around to him because they were waiting for him.
Is it legal to charge a $400 boot fee? This is where the arguments start that lead to the delay while a tow truck is in route. It’s total crap. This blatant for this long and no real action? Yes, you got him suspended momentarily but it is time to take real action. Is this single corked tow company owner more powerful than the city of Memphis administration? God I hope not.
Leander Richmond
Standwithtrucking.com
Additional:
TN Laws that went into effect on July 2023
If the individual who is requesting removal of the device elects to make the payment by credit card or debit card, and the payment cannot be completed by that method without undue delay at the site where the vehicle is located and an optional online payment method is either unavailable or has been refused by the individual, then the person engaged in the business of installing devices must remove the device and issue a billing invoice for payment due to the individual who is requesting the removal, if the individual provides a valid form of identification or by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle.
*There was never a boot installed because the driver was trying to pay. So, A1's never should have even hooked to the truck because the driver was present before, the tow truck arrived. It would seem that the proper and only LEGAL option available to A1's would be to help the driver make the payment or to ask the driver to leave. THEN, and only then, if the driver refuses to leave, are they able to tow.
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CAP ON PRICING FOR REMOVAL OF DEVICE
This amendment prohibits a person engaged in this business (booting) from charging more than $75 to remove a device. However, the cost of removal may increase by increments of $75 for each 24-hour period that the vehicle remains immobilized.
MEMPHIS ORDINANCE
The fee for the use of a licensed driver helper will be $75.00 per hour. The licensed driver helper's time will commence at the time the wrecker arrives on the scene where the vehicle is located and will terminate at the time the wrecker and vehicle to be towed arrives at the final destination.
E. Rate card—Display. Every wrecker used to make non-consent tows shall be issued a rate card by the permits office setting forth the maximum authorized rates and charges permitted by the City of Memphis. Such card shall be displayed in such a place as to be in full view of anyone wishing to inspect same.