At 0845 I called Sea Tow in Lexington SC due to a dead battery, and spoke to the self proclaimed Captain John Altenberg. I asked about purchasing a membership and the cost, and inquired if they could come less than 5 miles down the lake and give me a jump start. He said it would be an hour or so and I could purchase a membership from the guy that comes out and it would be $119. I told him to come.
At 0940 a boat shows up, he took my credit card info, and jump started my boat. He then proceeded to hand me a bill for $320. I explained the conversation that I had earlier with the so called captain, and questioned the charges. The young man on the boat said that they couldn't sell me a membership now and that it took two hours to get the ten mile round trip on the lake and that costs $320.
When I got home, feeling like a rape victim I contacted Sea Tow's corporate offices via email as it was a sunday, and I was sure that it was closed. I expected an email or telephone response from them but that didn't happen.
Instead they contacted The self procaimed captain to have him contact me (I guess that they thought that he would have sudden burst of honesty). He explained that he has been overcharging people at the same ungodly rate for the last two years, and that I shopuld count myself lucky that I wasn't in Charleston SC, because they are even bigger crooks than he is. Great sales pitch eh?
He also explained that this should teach me a lesson, and that he wouldn't sell me a membership when he has me over a barrel, and that it should encourage me to do business with Sea Tow.
These are my personal observations and lessons learned:
It doesn't take two hours to go ten miles round trip. Jack Lalane can swim it faster than that. Captain Altenbergs word is only good until he has your credit card number. Sea Tow does not take any responsibility for the in discressions of it's franchise owners. Sea Tow Sucks!
Dsell
lexington, South Carolina
U.S.A.
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