On May 29 my vehicle was involved in a two car accident. After police report was taken a tow truck appear and told us that they would tow my disable car to their garage. I receive a business card which matched the name of the towing company. One day later someone from my insurance called and said it would cost them more to fix my vehicle so they are declaring it a total loss. I was advice by my insurance company to move the vehicle and park it in my yard until the other driver's insurance (at fault) can complete the investigation. I called the towing company and spoke to the owner who identifies himself as Mr. Corey who told me to leave the car there until the other insurance can check it out. Again, in a few days at the advise of the adjuster I called the Collision Auto Dealer and said that the other driver's insurance denied my claim sighting their siding with their client despite the very clear police report. I also mentioned to Mr. Corey that my dues are mounting with storage fee and that I could keep the vehicle in my private driveway covered until the investigation is completed and I decided what to do with the vehicle. Mr. Corey again reassured me that he needed to keep the car there for the other insurance to complete their investigation.
This immediately sent red flags up. This man was being persistent and I voiced my concerns that I cannot afford acculimilating fees. He assured me that if its anything he would just "charge me the towing fee since he is the owner". On Friday June 6th I call one final time to let Mr. Corey know that I will be stopping by to pay my fees and move my vehicle. On monday June 9 and on Tuesday June 10 I called the office again and Mr. Corey asked me what I will do with the damaged car. I told him I may donate it to charity. He immediately went from just paying him towing fee to $570. He said that if I agree he would void the towing and storage fee if I could bring him the title and sign the car over to him. I said no, and that I will pay him his money and donate the car to charity. On June 11, I contacted "Donate 2 Charity" and made arrangements for them to meet me with their tow truck at the address of Collision Auto Body. I planned on paying my bill and right away donate the car. I called and spoke to both Mr. Corey and his Auto Body Shop Manager the day before of my intent to stop by before the close of business the next day to pay my bill and retrieve my vehicle.
On June 12,8:00AM I called the Auto Body Shop and reinerate my coming there before the close of business that day. The manager of the shop told me that I would need to speak to Mr. Corey because he does not have the car in his lot and that they have another storage location. I told him I will be at a conference all day until about 4:00PM and would call again, but I don't see why I would want to talk to Mr. Corey again since I made it clear that I would come pay my bill and get my car.
At about 4:30 PM the tow truck driver from the charity called and said he was there waiting for me, I was 10 mins away.
I got to the shop and the manager was acting strangely, no customer service, and said that he told me to call his uncle Mr. Corey before I came over. I told him to call Mr. Corey because I am here to get my vehicle. He called and said I owe them $520. This seems like a bargain after I was told that it would be $570 two days ago. I figured that they either do not know how to calculate or that they are giving me a discount. I had to wait with the tow truck driver because the manager said that the car was on another lot a short distance away. Another young man came in and he was told to ride with me to the storage lot. We arrived 10 mins later to a very secure gated lot and I immediately went looking for my car since I wanted to take my tags off. There was approximately 15 cars on the lot. I did not see my car. The young man called his Uncle Corey several times and was on the phone several more times. He was told by Mr. Corey and his "father" who was identified as the owner to keep looking. We walked up and down while the young man chatted on the phone with the two owners, finally after about 45 minutes he handed me the cell phone and it was Mr. Corey. He was very calm and said that "maybe the car was moved back to the lot we just came from and no one was informed" He then told me to leave and "we'll deal with this tomorrow". I told him that I have a tow truck driver from another town here, I cannot be available tomorrow and that I just paid $520 to him. He told his nephew to close the gate and leave and that was it. I told his nephew to call him back and have him call the police because he took money for storage of my vehicle and now he is acting irresponsible. The young man said he could not do that. So Icalled the police, in the meantime the tow truck driver from the charities had to leave because he wasted so much time and no one from the auto body place would take responsibility of a vehicle in their posession. The police came and spoke to Mr. Corey and another unidentified person on the phone and told them that I would like to pick up my car. That is when they told the police that the car may have been stolen from a gated lot and no signs of breaking and entering? The polic ask if they reported a stolen vehicle they said no, then the police ask about the fee they charge for storing my vehicle when it was not rhere. The police ask that they return my check which I had to drive again back to the original location and get. I went the next morning and reported my tags stolen and the police filed a report of theft.
In the end I believe that the shady business that Collision Auto Body of Edgeworth Drive in Maryland is so crystal clear. They owners wanted my car for parts and because I was planning on donating the car, they stole it first. This is very bad business practice and I am waring everyone in the Forestville, Capitol Heights or the DC area to look out ffor these crooks. I plan on taking this matter all the way and write to all the tv and newspaper stations.
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