Saturday, October 3
My daughter, my granddaughter and I went to the Lee County Flea Market at approximately 10:00 am (CST). We parked across the street from the flea market in an area that looked like a parking area. Other cars were also parked there. No signs were posted saying "private property or no parking".
At approximately 11:00 am we were leaving the flea market and noticed that my car was being towed. I approached the tow truck driver (Rodger Dykes) and asked him to wait and let me pay him. He told me it would be $125. I told him I did not have that much cash that I could write him a check. He would not take the check. I questioned him as to the law for towing. He told me the owner of the house called and asked him to tow all the cars. I asked him to allow me to call the police so I could be sure he was not towing my car illegally. My daughter called the police at 11:28 am. He told his driver to leave with my car.
My daughter and I stood in front and in back of the truck so they could not leave before the police officer got there. The driver of the truck tried to run over my daughter and one of the other employees pushed her. She was 8 months pregnant. My granddaughter is 6.
When the police officer (Officer Worley) arrived she told us that he had a right to tow my car but that they had tried to get the people that own the house to post signs. The police officer told us that she could call a taxi for us or take us to get the car. I didnt have the money to get the carjust a check. She suggested we walk.
Later we were told by someone that the tow company and the owner of the house split the money from the towing every weekend. We asked Mr. Dykes if he would wait because we didnt have a way to get to the car if we got the money. He told us we would just have to walk. He was very arrogant and nasty.
I called my friend and asked if he could loan me the money. When he arrived, over an hour later, he called Dykes and asked for directions. When we got there we were told that the bill was now $265. When we paid Mr. Dykes for the towing he asked for proof of ownership of my car. He followed my friend to the car to make sure the key fit. They had put Abandoned Vehicle on the windshield of my car.
There was another woman there getting her car and she was only being charged $125.
As we were leaving one of the employees was standing in the door taking pictures of Lees car.
Something needs to be done about this scam. They are taking advantage of people with this scam. What is going to happen when an elderly person or a handicapped persons car gets towed?
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