Both of these businesses run a scam together. Arbor Woods is modular home development and Discount Towing is a tow truck company, both in Ypsilanti. Arbor Woods posts signs saying that you can't park in their streets at any time. Fair enough. But then they proceed to tell you that you CAN park in your driveway or vacant property driveways, just as long as your car is off the street. Then they contact Discount Towing, have your car towed, put up a little paper sign in the ground and split the money. To have your car impounded is $250 per DAY. So if you are out of town for a few days, god forbid a week, you might as well plan on cleaning out your checking account to get your car back.
Now here's the best part of the story. My wife and I did some investigating and found that the signs that they had posted were illegal. Not to mention, that they were placed in the ground AFTER we were towed. We filed against them in small claims court and the judge agreed and we won. The towing company is owned by a husband and wife and they bring their kids to court with them. And the kids know the manager of Arbor Woods. A coincidence? I think not.
After our first court date, because we had to go back twice, Arbor Woods went through and pulled up all of their little paper signs because the judge told them that the signs were illegal. Then they sent all of the residents letters stating that they were sorry for anyone that has had their car towed but that it wasn't their fault and they could not come back on them. Why would you apologize for something you are not at fault for? I'll tell you why. Because they were, and still are, of all the residents taking them to small claims court and getting their money back.
Arbor Woods development in Ypsilanti is private property. But the state statutes take precendence over that of private property.in other words, just because you own property doesn't mean you can make up your own laws. After the judge awarded the judgement to us, and the bailiffs had to come into the court room, the office manager and towing company threatened us outside of the courthouse. They got our plate number and vowed to have us towed again. Lucky for us, my car was at the mechanics garage and we had a rental car that day. Many people in the development have experienced the same thing as us.
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