Learned that member of military, won tow hearing for illegal towing and damages.
Why Frank Denton and Moses want to cater to the towing industry with reduced fines for ripping motorists off.
I commend TDLR staff for their hard work, but to be embarrassed at the monthly meeting with compromising with licensees, instead of staff's recommendation.
Rick Perry needs to issue an executive order to TDLR to stop issuing Occupation Licenses to Registered Sex Offenders and convicted felons on parole.
The nonsense of doing nothing places the public risk, armed robberies are on the increase, in the Austin area alone.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Plano based Signature Towing, Inc Fined Over Expired Sticker Scam - Hundreds Due Damages
Why towing company owners think they can burn vehicle owners over the expired inspection or registration sticker, is a sign of their desperation. The state law hasn't changed since it's creation that regulates this issue. ( Occupations Code 2308.253 (d)(1)(2) ).
I am pleased the Administrative Judges whom hear cases brought by TDLR against towing companies, tow truck operators, are sticking to law and regulations as written, instead of being swayed by attorneys representing them.
The latest company to be caught, Signature Towing, Inc of Plano, instead of obeying law, a criminal offense, they chose to pay legal representation and fines, of which $1850.00 was paid today, just before 2pm.
Sadly the hundreds of Signature's victims whom paid for the release of their vehicle don't know the tow was illegal. I wonder if Signature is going mail a refund check for every vehicle they towed for an expired inspection or registration sticker since 2004. If Signature was truly a legit company, they wouldn't have 2nd guess violating the Law, but they did, and got caught.
But, it's not to late for victims of the "sticker scam" to have their case appealed, there is no appeal bond, just a filing fee and a bulldog lawyer, such as Mr. Warren Norred, of Arlington. Since Signature Towing, Inc was found guilty by TDLR for violating the law numerous times, victims could be entitled to $1000 plus triple their vehicle storage facility and/or towing receipt.
It's not to late for anyone towed by or a drop fee to Signature Towing Inc for expired stickers, to file criminal charges against them and have your fees returned ordered by a criminal court judge during sentencing.
This sticker scam is occurring daily across the state, as dishonest towing companies know 99% of vehicle owners or operators do not know the state law all towing companies and parking facilities MUST follow to have vehicles towed.
The only way a vehicle maybe towed for an expired inspection or registration sticker, from a parking facility is: a certified letter giving 10 days notice, or hand delivered with a witness present, a written warning, from the parking facility, NOT the towing company. The manpower to walk, sticker, write down all the vehicle information takes time, but Signature like many others offer this to property managers everyday, knowing darn well it's against the Law.
Dishonest towing companies send their employees, many convicted felons and registered sex offenders, walking parking lots during the day and night placing orange stickers on vehicle windows threatening the removal of vehicle. ALWAYS question who placed the sticker on the vehicle. These orange stickers cost money and the parking facility is prohibited from accepting anything of value from the towing company in exchange for towing vehicles.
Visit Texas Towing Compliance regularly, as this site provides valuable information.
It's important to remember, unless you file a complaint with TDLR regarding a towing company, tow truck driver, vehicle storage facility or employee of their conduct, they grin on the way to the bank, knowing they just got another sucker!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
El Paso Consumers Get Burned by Unlicensed VSF Employees
From a recent towing victim email;
Dear Pat,
It was a pleasure speaking to you this past Saturday. Thank you for taking my call.
As I mentioned, I paid at a parking lot, but I was towed anyway. It was late at night.
The company is Extreme Towing. They charged me $145.00 to get my vehicle back. The date was 1/28/12 at 1:45 am. The invoice says that their carrier certificate is 0645221VSF and 0577283VSF. The towing license it states is 005452138C.
I have attached the audio file. It starts off poor but improves. Around minute 10:00 he states that he does not have the employee license card. He wrote down a number and claims to be someone named Omar but he is later called Jason by another employee (the one that threatened me when I called the police). Minute 11:00 another tow victim explains that he had damage done to his bumper. At around 13:30, the person called Jason who doesn't have his license tells me that his supervisor told him that I either get my cash back and leave without my truck or that I must take my truck immediately. At 17:30, when I call the police, the officer on the other line tells me that if I'm dealing with Extreme Towing that it is not unlikely that I would be having problems.
I am also attaching a picture of their sign. They do not answer their phone 24 hrs. They have two different signs with two different numbers. A security company answers the number on the big sign. Extreme answers the number on their sign. The top of the sign reaches about 4'10". The bottom of the sign is at about 4 feet.
I filed an incident report with the police and I have two witnesses that the tow company employee was getting aggressive.
I have a question. Do I go to the JP in the jurisdiction where I was towed for a hearing?
Thank you for your help so far. I appreciate any further information you may provide.
Respectfully,
Rene Nevarez
1730 Bassett Ste F
El Paso, TX 79901
Consumers are URGED to record all audio and video between yourself, the vehicle storage facility employee and the tow truck operator, so TDLR will not take the word of their licensees, who tend not to tell the truth.
Listen to recorded conversation between victim and employee at Extreme Towing.
It's extremely important to file complaints (enforcement@license.state.tx.us) with TDLR if you feel you were taken advantage of by anyone in the towing and vehicle storage facility industry!
Dear Pat,
It was a pleasure speaking to you this past Saturday. Thank you for taking my call.
As I mentioned, I paid at a parking lot, but I was towed anyway. It was late at night.
The company is Extreme Towing. They charged me $145.00 to get my vehicle back. The date was 1/28/12 at 1:45 am. The invoice says that their carrier certificate is 0645221VSF and 0577283VSF. The towing license it states is 005452138C.
I have attached the audio file. It starts off poor but improves. Around minute 10:00 he states that he does not have the employee license card. He wrote down a number and claims to be someone named Omar but he is later called Jason by another employee (the one that threatened me when I called the police). Minute 11:00 another tow victim explains that he had damage done to his bumper. At around 13:30, the person called Jason who doesn't have his license tells me that his supervisor told him that I either get my cash back and leave without my truck or that I must take my truck immediately. At 17:30, when I call the police, the officer on the other line tells me that if I'm dealing with Extreme Towing that it is not unlikely that I would be having problems.
I am also attaching a picture of their sign. They do not answer their phone 24 hrs. They have two different signs with two different numbers. A security company answers the number on the big sign. Extreme answers the number on their sign. The top of the sign reaches about 4'10". The bottom of the sign is at about 4 feet.
I filed an incident report with the police and I have two witnesses that the tow company employee was getting aggressive.
I have a question. Do I go to the JP in the jurisdiction where I was towed for a hearing?
Thank you for your help so far. I appreciate any further information you may provide.
Respectfully,
Rene Nevarez
1730 Bassett Ste F
El Paso, TX 79901
Consumers are URGED to record all audio and video between yourself, the vehicle storage facility employee and the tow truck operator, so TDLR will not take the word of their licensees, who tend not to tell the truth.
Listen to recorded conversation between victim and employee at Extreme Towing.
It's extremely important to file complaints (enforcement@license.state.tx.us) with TDLR if you feel you were taken advantage of by anyone in the towing and vehicle storage facility industry!