Have to rant a bit

**Jerry** · 31st August 07, 04:44 AM

This is way off topic, and I'm so P.Od. that I need to rant some. Anyhow, My daughters rented a cottage in Corolla (Northern outer banks of N.C.). It was an "off road access" only cottage. No problem, since Both daughters drive Jeep Wranglers. This past Tuesday night, they are driving along the beach access back to their cottage, well within the posted 35 MPH speed limit (Around 20 or so), when my oldest hit a washout. It was dark and the washout hadn't been there when the left that morning. Both front tires blew out on the TJ and it nearly rolled. The suspension was driven upwards into the fenders, bending them upwards and from what the younger one tells me, much of the front suspension was bent up. Now for the rant part. The road is beach is patrolled by the local police, so it was only a few minutes before an officer stopped. He called for a Tow truck. (A1 Towing of Corolla) The truck arrived and towed the TJ off to his lot. The next day, the owner refused to talk with my daughter, saying only, "The Jeep is Totaled". The Younger of my two daughters who drives an older YJ says it doesn't look that bad and that my son who builds Jeep Wranglers for rock crawling can fix it. Finally they got in touch with the Towing lot owner. He said he couldn't release the Jeep until the insurance company came by to look at it and paid the collision claim. Then it would belong to the insurance company and my daughter could bid on buying it back from them. I called the insurance adjuster and she said that the guy is crazy, that she would rather we paid the tower and trailered the Jeep back to Virginia. It would be easier for them. She called A1's owner. Then he called my daughter, saying that the insurance company authorized him to release the Jeep and we could get it as soon as the towing and storages were paid. This, as of yesterday, amounted to $550.00 ($450 for towing the vehicle 5 miles to his lot, and $50 per day for storage) Does anyone have any experience with off road towing, and is this charge reasonable or is he trying to rip off my daughters because they are women. I suspect the latter. I think that the Jeep is probably repairable and he wants to obtain it his self, fix it with junk parts and sell it at a nice profit. My daughter did have a guy she met at the beach call A1 nd ask how much it would cost to have a damaged 4x4 towed from the same area. He was quoted $350 for towing and $35 a day for storage. I'm heading down this afternoon with a trailer to get the Jeep, and I don't see any recourse other than to pay what he says and get out of there before my son and I decide to beat the crap out of him. If I leave it there until the insurance pays the claim, it won't be long until the storage fees eat up the insurance pay off and he'll buy it from the insurance provider and either fix it or strip it for parts. Anyhow, any money I have saved for Kilts is now going to A1 towing.

**sorcererdale** · 31st August 07, 05:12 AM

That seems awfully high. I have had vehicles towed over 30 miles and paid only $50 - $80. Maybe they are the ones that "washed" out the road.

DALE.

**mbhandy** · 31st August 07, 05:16 AM

We had the same kind of problem here in Park City a few years ago. One of the towing Co. were doing the same to the tourist and he picked on the wrong one. The tourist was a State Commissioner for Towing regulations some where back East and he contacted the License Board here in Utah and the State Police. Long story short the towing Co. Lost their License and Fined and the Police took the Co. of their call list. Part of the problem is if you don't get a qoute before they hook-up You are at their mercy. Pay him cash and he might lower the price???? But if you are getting Insurance claim make sure you get receipt.

Sorry to hear about the no kilt for awhile thing.

MrBill

**Graham** · 31st August 07, 06:22 AM

To quote a current TV ad for Telstra using US actors....."it wouldn't happen in Australia".
what a rip off!! hope it works out for the lasses.

**demobud** · 31st August 07, 07:06 AM

That sounds high to me. I spent about 6 months in that area a few years ago and had to have a couple of trucks towed off the beach. I think we only spent 150- 200 per tow. I think he is pulling the "woman" card. First of all he shouldn't have had any dealings with your insurance company unless the insurance company called him to tow the truck.

**bubba** · 31st August 07, 07:57 AM

Yeah, sounds like a rip off. First, I'd bet he wanted to keep the Jeep himself and fix it up but since that didn't work he'd make some extra on the deal. He's counting on the fact the owner is a tourist and unlikely to stick around to take it to court.

**Archangel** · 31st August 07, 08:17 AM

You're scaring me!!

ACT FAST

Do not allow your son to go there alone, especially with intent to violence.
Nor you later.

The tow operators expect confrontation, have experienced and and ready for it (and no doubt armed, being stateside). Here, in Canada, (without legal guns) tow operators, who are fierce competitors, have a panic code and they all gather.

This is considered a legitimate business practice.

My recommendations: if your daughter asks, the nice Beach Police might accompany you.
Have son find the Jeep repair place and have jeep towed there. ASAP, since most repair places don't charge for storage.
Get all receipts and let your insurance company argue with the tow operator. Or see if the insurance people will pay first and fax you with a paid in full statement specifying you will pay nothing when you pick up the jeep by a specific date/time.

Later on, you might want to discuss with your daughter, or Jeep Corp, how a vehicle designed for off-road, going less than the speed limit on a regular, since it is patrolled, road would sustain that much damage. If, in fact, it was below the speed limit.
But that's for much later.

First, get the jeep safely out of the hands of the tow operators.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 31st August 07, 08:26 AM

"My recommendations: if your daughter asks, the nice Beach Police might accompany you." -Archangel

Here! Here! A great suggestion, Archangel!

**Mike1** · 31st August 07, 08:36 AM

Hmmm, let me see...

A young lady,

driving a vehicle with out-of-state plates,

to a vacation rental property?

Surely someone isn't trying to take advantage of the situation, are they?

At this point, about all you can do is remain focused on how lucky you are nobody was injured.

**Ayin McFye** · 31st August 07, 08:40 AM

I used to work for an impound/towing service company here in Arizona. I think the amount he is trying to charge you is Legal, but a serious rip off. I know that towing amounts not only change from company to company, but more so from city to city ,and state to state.

Here is Arizona whenever we had to go out of town to grab someone's vehicle, it was about 100-120 dollars towing fee to the yard, and then about 50 bucks a day.

Like I said, he's ripping you off, but unfortunately it's legal.

What you can do (at least here in Arizona) is call the police and let them know that he is refusing to release your vehicle. The police will come out and force him to release the vehicle to you, and make him just send you a bill, rather than pay up front. I'm not sure if this tactic will work where you live, but it's worth a shot.

Good luck!