My car was involved in an accident that was not the driver's fault. The car was totaled and FHP had the car towed. The car was originally towed to Cisco and then 1-2 days later transferred to this company without anyone's knowledge. 3 and 1/2 weeks later I received a certified letter that storage costs were over $1000 and that they would be selling the car in 2 weeks if the fees were not paid. Since the accident was not our fault we were still waiting on info from insurance companies to have the car assessed for damage and fees paid by the responsible party. Unfortunately the insurance info given to the police was not correct... Causing us to have to find a lawyer, and to have our own insurance company research into who is the insured of the car at fault. Meanwhile I attempt to have my license plate returned and the towing company says the fees have to be paid first. Rip-Off 1: the towing compay has got to know that they cannot keep any personal property in the car anyway, and also cannot hold onto the license plate as it is state property, not even personal. I shouldn't have to ask for it... It should have been sent to me with my original 7 day letter of storage... But. Oh wait... RIP Off 2: I never received that original letter. Yes... The towing company did not even inform me that they had my car for 3 and 1/2 weeks. SO when I call to ask for my plate, I get to speak to this woman with a very nasty attitude and she attempts to segue into Rip Off 3: that FL police was supposed to contact me about the whereabouts of my vehicle and she has a statement signed by the police that they contacted me.
Well after she threatens me with the lien they are going to put on my record to keep me from registering my cars for 5 years (after of course selling the car to also recoup their losses in fees)... As per FL law... But evidently skipped the part in the law where a certified registered receipt letter is to be sent by the company within the first 7 days of storing the vehicle and good faith attempts at contacting me (I was not that hard to find 3 1/2 weeks and $1000 later though). Hmmm... That police statement means nothing because they do not have a signed receipt of ever notifying me in the first week. So according to the very own FL law I owe towing fees and the first 7 days storage to remove any lien placed... Do the math $400 vs $1500 at this point. You would think they would actually want to try to recoup from the insurance company and get the full amount. But even better is the utter professionalism that this employee showed when she then proceeded to make nasty assumptions about why it has taken a month to get lawyer and insurance (anyone else able to have that resolved in a day?) and tell me my car would be sold whether the insurance company needed it or not and then very rudely hung up on me.
So not only are they rip offs but they are very rude and ignorant and any person in FL should make every attempt to pre-research a trustworthy storage facility they could trust their car with in case they are ever in an accident...
It's not that I wouldn't have expected a bill for towing costs and estimate of storage in the first few days, or that I am averse to paying it, although at this point it is part of an insurance claim so it is not in my best interest to pay anyone anyway. But do not blame me for costs incurred when you did not notify me in a timely manner that you even had me car or even as is required by your own state law, then try to hold onto personal property as coercion to pay a bill, which is not required by law and could be deemed illegal, and then use threats and rudeness.
Dear J&J, I suggest you properly follow the law in the future!
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