Driver out $2,000 after being booted and towed at gas station – he was only parked for 5 mins before vehicle was yanked

A TRUCK driver has been towed after taking a mere 5-minute break at a rest stop. He tried to reach the operator but got stuck with a $2,000 fee just to get his vehicle back. WBTVA truck driver stopped at a gas station and found that his vehicle had been towed[/caption]WBTVThe shady towing company demanded he pay $2,000 to get his truck back[/caption]WBTVThe towing company’s manager insisted the tow fee was a fair price[/caption]Tavari Crawford stopped at a 7-Eleven on Stateville Avenue in Charlotte, North Carolina, just to find out that his truck was about to get booted.

“This guy was putting a boot on there saying that you can’t park here, but mind you, I wasn’t there that long,” Crawford told CBS News affiliate WBTV. Although truck drivers can get booted for many reasons, such as safety or traffic violations, Crawford hadn’t done anything wrong. His boss, Stefan Ivanoff with Easy and Quick Transit, said he was shocked after learning how much it would cost to retrieve the vehicle.



“They called us, and they demanded $2,000 on the spot, which is very, very rare,” Ivanoff said. “I mean, the normal fee is anywhere around $500 or $600 is the most I’ve seen them.”The towing company, Premium Express Towing, had not received any public complaints until Crawford’s experience.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department also releases information about any reported vehicle tows in the area, and Premium Express Towing was not mentioned on those records either, according to WBTV. WBTV’s reporting confirmed that there were even more red flags concerning the mysterious towing company.Crawford recalled that the man who took his truck was in a regular car, not an official towing truck.

“He’s not in a tow truck. He’s in a regular car,” Crawford said. “I think it was a Mitsubishi.

”“He said that he was that his, his ‘homeboys’ driving around in a tow truck.”Although there were towing signs posted around the gas station, they didn’t inform drivers where their vehicles were being taken. It was revealed that a possible address associated with the company was a P.

O. Box at a shipping store, but that was never officially approved either. What to do if your car is towedWrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.Steps to take when your car is towed:Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.

Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.

Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.

Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.

Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help.

They are often utilized for towing cases.Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law FirmPremium Express Towing’s supposed manager, Quintarius Gregory, said towed vehicles were taken to a lot addressed to another company called No More Locked Doors. However, the owner of that lot said Premium Express Towing is not authorized to use their space for towing purposes. Gregory affirmed that the $2,000 fee was the standard rate for tractor booting in Charlotte.

“No, it’s not predatory,” he said, plainly. “If the law changes, then the prices change.” Crawford said this experience has cautioned him from driving or stopping in Queen City.

I will never stop in Charlotte again,” Crawford said.No More Locked Doors did not immediately reply to The U.S.

Sun’s request for comment..