On Friday, June 30 Hillside towing (LOCATION 200 E PALATINE RD, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004) was called to the scene of my accident to tow my vehicle. I specified to the police officer that I want this vehicle towed to Glendale Heights, my residence. Upon arrival, the driver of the tow truck was extremely rude and outright refused to tow my car to my residence. He stated he's got tows lined up all through the night and the best he can do is tow me to a hotel or gas station somewhere and drop me off there. I stated he is a tow company, he should tow where I ask him to. Again, he refused and said he is too busy to do anything other than tow me off the side of the road. So I authorized him to tow me to the side hotel that was just down the street.
He pulled up to the curb of the hotel and I stepped out of the vehicle. Without another word to me, he pulled away, without releasing my truck, took off down the road and abducted my truck from under me. He NEVER stated he was going to do this, NEVER told me WHERE he was taking my property, nor did he give me his name or any contact information on how I could retreive my truck.in fact, I wasn't even aware that he was going to take my truck at alll - when he stated he was going to drop me at a gas station or hotel I believed he was talking about myself and my truck.
I thought at that point that he had stolen my truck therefore I called 911. The operator at 911 looked into the situation for me and stated that Hillside is the company that towed my truck and after giving me the number stated this is not a police matter. After I got really angry with him and told him that this IS a police matter because my truck was just unlawfully abducted and the officer is the one that called this tow truck to begin with, the 911 operator informed me that I "requested" the tow. (I had not, it had been offered to me. There is a huge difference.) And he also stated that this is a company that contracts directly with the police so they are called all the time. He gave me the number to the place and told me I need to handle it directly with them.
I called Hillside and talked to a woman who stated their policy is to tow any vehicle to their lot unless other arrangements have been made. I told her I NEVER authorized him to tow my vehicle anywhere other than the gas station or hotel. Never. All she could say is that she was sorry for the inconvenience and that that's their policy. She did not offer any resolution and stated that monetary charges will be finalized upon pickup of the truck.
The scam here was clear. The tow is called by the police, the tow comes and refuses to tow anywhere but their lot so that charges of storage, tow and other can be incurred. I was fully taken advantage of by the police and tow company that contracts directly with the police. I have a form that was filled out by the police man titled Illinois State Police Tow-In report that was NEVER signed by me. The only two signatures, of course, are the police man's and the tower's.
The person that was towing my truck wouldn't even look at me as he talked, was an incredibly rude and unprofessional individual and took advantage of me so that he could make some money off my misfortune.
I plan on doing whatever it takes to raise awareness about this scam that the police and towing companies have as well as bring Hillside to the awareness of everyone in the area so that their disgusting service is not used and that others are not taken advantage of by these terrible people.
Consumer's desired resolution: refund of any/all charges associated with this scam. Absolute refusal to pay any charges for the unauthorized theft of personal property. All damages herein. All charges resulting in the unauthorized tow of my vehicle.
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