On monday March 26 03/26
Redlight wreckers' tow driver Rony Calix towed my vehicle in front of my apt as I watched and pleaded with him not to take it and that I would pay any fees required by him or his company to keep my car from going to a storage lot. HE REFUSED me any sort of alternative to him towing the vehicle to a storage lot.
I spoke with Redlight Wreckers owner, Christopher Hoffmeister, as Rony Calix began to drive away. I let him know exactly what happened and that I had class the next day, and asked if there was any way he could ask his driver to return the vehicle, EVEN OFFERING TO PAY STORAGE FEES!!! Mr. Hoffmeister's response was verbatim:
"uhm. Well, that sounds like a personal problem to me..."
I immediately called a cab and went to the storage lot that was listed on the business card that the tow truck driver had handed to me right before fleeing the scene. The folks as RONDA LANE storage informed me that I was at the wrong storage lot.
I called Mr. Hoffmeister back and he nonchalantly gives me the Houston Police Tow line number. Knowing full and well I was headed to the wrong storage lot earlier, I'm surprised he didn't mention anything about how I would be going to the wrong storage lot when during our first phone call. He could have avoided this expensive cab ride, but he didn't seem to care and kept asking me with a sarcastic undertone, "is there anything else I can help you with SIR?.." What had I done to deserve this?
I called another cab and went home because the lot that my car was stored at did not answer calls after their business hours, and would not return my messages until the next day.
I stayed up all night and became very familiar with the TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND REGULATION codes pertaining to towing procedures. I found that I was the victim of and Unlawful Toy performed by REDLIGHT WRECKERS:
1. The tow truck driver should have offered me a "drop fee" as soon as I requested possession of my vehicle. According to the license agreement, as long as the operator of the vehicle is at the scene of the tow and requests possession of his vehicle, the tow truck driver MUST offer the "drop fee" (a reduced amount to release the vehicle back to the vehicle operator)
2. Removed and stored an unauthorized vehicle other than when allowed by law.
The next day, I got in touch with the Houston Police Auto Detail unit, and with their assistance, had Mr. Hoffmeister deliver my vehicle back. My vehicle was supposed to be returned around 10:30 A.M., However Mr. Hoffmeister did not deliver my vehicle to me until well into the afternoon.
When I arrived at the leasing office to retrieve my vehicle, Mr. Hoffmeister tried to bully me into signing paperwork and repeatedly threatened to leave with my vehicle if I did not sign right then and there. However, he did not bring the reimbursement check which had promised the Houston Police Auto Detail unit officer that he would. Mr. Hoffmeister did not give me enough time (I requested him to wait so that I could call the officer back, because Mr. Hoffmeister got off the phone with the officer saying that I did not have my receipts, WHICH WERE RIGHT IN MY HAND!!! IN VIEW!"
Mr. Hoffmeister refused, throwing a temper tantrum and taking off with my vehicle. I had to go back and pick up my vehicle at storage.
I will be filing a complaint with the Texas Department of License and Regulations and to the Harris County Justice of the Peace tow hearing. It seems Mr. Hoffmeister has a history doing shady business here in Houston.in the last year alone, he as been issued $6,000 in fines by the TDLR for unlawful tows. You think someone would learn their lesson!
Christopher Hoffmeister in no way, shape, or form is a business professional fit to run a legitimate law-abiding business. He uses his power as a licensed tow trucking company to take peoples cars and hold it hostage so that he can bully and mistreat people, trying to make money at the same time.
Here is their history of violations at the TDLR:
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Final Orders ListingHome | Back to SearchData presented in Document Date (descending), Complaint#, Order Description, Respondent Name order. You searched on:
License Type = TOW, Company Name as 'redlight'Name and LocationOrderBasis for Order
Company: REDLIGHT WRECKERS.com
City: BELLAIRE
County: HARRIS
Zip Code: 77401
License #: 6245364C
Complaint #TOW2009009762C
Date: 2/10
Respondent is assessed an administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000. Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Removed and stored an unauthorized vehicle other than when allowed by law.
Company: REDLIGHT WRECKERS.com
City: BELLAIRE
County: HARRIS
Zip Code: 77401
License #: 6245364C
Complaint #TOW2009010062CDate: 2/10
Respondent is assessed an administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000. This case was consolidated with TOW2009009762C, which states: Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Removed and stored an unauthorized vehicle other than when allowed by law.
Company: REDLIGHT WRECKERS.com
City: BELLAIRE
County: HARRIS
Zip Code: 77401
License #: 6245364C
Complaint #TOW2010010342CDate: 2/10
Respondent is assessed an administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000. This case was consolidated with TOW2009009762C, which states: Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Respondent charged a towing fee that was not on its published list of non-consent towing fees; Removed and stored an unauthorized vehicle other than when allowed by law.
BEWARE of Redlight Wreckers!!!
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