ComplaintsforHound Dog's Towing & Recovery

• Initial Complaint

  07/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Around 1:00 p.m. July 7th 2022 I stopped at hippie hut smoke shop on gateway off high st. I parked in the parking spot that didn't have any signs about Towing on that exact parking spot there are signs on other parking spots but not where I parked I parked in the back left hand corner and I had a couple purchases to make before I could even get into the store I went and grab my food from Taco Bell when I was going to the store my car was gone I wasn't even in the store 4 to 5 minutes maybe so this tells me that the tow truck driver had to been sitting around in that area trying to find somebody parking lot filled with cars all parked in tow zones, my car wasn't and it was towed. Of course we all know how sheisty these companies are my complaint is about my suspension and issues with the front end of my vehicle once I was able to obtain my vehicle and leave I heard a lot of clinking, and clanking noise underneath it and am still hearing it.. I'm going to have to get some repairs done probably that's going to cost me one to two thousand dollars so you can tell whoever hooked it up, hooked it up carelessly and yanked it out of there as quick as possible to avoid me walking up on them and I can hear it all through my suspension, the reason I know is because I just recently had some work done and it wasn't making any of these noises that it's making now so I know they definitely are responsible for these noises and I don't have the time or the money to fix it so they're going to have to take care of it. I'm also going to need a rental car while my vehicle is being fixed and I'm also going to need compensated for time that I miss from work so if I have to hire an attorney and sue them then I guess that's what I'll have to do but first step is filing a Better Business Bureau complaint. Contacting attorney next.

  Business response

  07/08/2022

  Your vehicle was impounded because you parked illegally on private property.  There are numerous signs on the property warning that you will be towed.  You chose to park there and leave the property anyway.  The parking lot is for customers of Hippie Hut to use while they are in the store.  You cannot leave your vehicle there while you shop at other stores.  When we tow a vehicle the only part of the vehicle that we touch are the tires.  We do not touch any part of the suspension and towing a vehicle isn’t going to affect the suspension in any way.  We will not be paying for any repairs, rental cars, etc.  If your suspension is making noise then it was making noise prior to being towed.  We are not going to pay for any fraudulent damage claims for pre-existing/nonexistent problems.  We have an excellent law firm on retainer and will gladly defend ourselves against any frivolous claims and then counter sue to recoup our attorney fees and and lost time.  Everything we do is very well documented with pictures of every vehicle clearly showing the parking violation and our trucks are equipped with video cameras as well to document every second of every day.  I would think carefully and consult your attorney before you attempt to file a retaliatory and fraudulent lawsuit just because you’re upset that you parked illegally, got caught, and had to pay the consequences when your vehicle was impounded.  We are just doing our job.  Hippie Hut has a very small parking lot that is only available for their customers and they call us immediately when they see a vehicle that doesn’t belong.  Our office is very close so it usually only takes us a couple minutes to get there when they call.  You gambled when you chose to ignore the signs and park illegally and you lost.  Take responsibility for that and admit that you made a mistake instead of trying to retaliate by filing a false damage claim.  That’s another gamble that you will lose.  

  Customer response

  07/12/2022

  I am rejecting this response because Tow Truck company failed to provide me with photographs of my vehicle in a parking spot that didn't have a tow zone sign. As you can see from my photos I took the same day, with my vehicle in the same spot, showing no tow zone sign. Now I want I a full refund, as well as the $100 for the alignment and tie rod adjustment to the driver side.  See the following from Section 4513.601 Part D of the Ohio Revised Code on Tow Away Zones. And always remember God sees everything, and you will definitely be held accountable for all wicked practices and evil doings, even if you think you are getting away with it now, Jesus Wins in the End. You Reap What You Soe!!!!

  
   (D)(1) Prior to towing a vehicle under division (B) of this section, a towing service shall make all reasonable efforts to take as many photographs as necessary to evidence that the vehicle is clearly parked on private property in violation of a private tow-away zone established under division (A) of this section.
  The towing service shall record the time and date of the photographs taken under this section. The towing service shall retain the photographs and the record of the time and date, in electronic or printed form, for at least thirty days after the date on which the vehicle is recovered by the owner or lienholder or at least two years after the date on which the vehicle was towed, whichever is earlier. 

• Initial Complaint

  05/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 5/9/22 I go out to get in my car for around 6:30a.m my car was gone. It was towed once again by the same tow company. This time its for no parking pass which means he/she has to get out of their truck to notice it wasn't in the window. I had to call off work for that day. Because of that has no way of getting there. I had to pay $162.79 to get it outta tow not to mention the money I had to pay to get their. I was towed from my parking lot where I live. But I go get my car an the parking pass is visible layi g there on the floor. Not to mention there was a car across the parking lot from me with no visible parking pass at all either they were backed in so it was visible to see there was no parking pass in their car. I feel I m being targeted this the 3Rd tow I had to get from them since march

  Business response

  05/23/2022

  The vehicle was towed because it didn’t have a parking permit displayed in the window as required by the apartment complex management.  I reviewed the pictures of the vehicle that we took prior to towing it and was unable to see a parking permit anywhere.  The vehicle was also parked in a handicap parking space without a handicap placard or handicap plates.  This was a valid tow and we will not be issuing any refunds.  

  Customer response

  06/21/2022

  My car has been towed again from my resident. My initial complaint same
  thing this is my complaint #17179780. They are constantly towing my car
  from my homes parking lot. Same scenario my car towed and the same car in
  parking lot no parking pass if this isn't a target what is it? I had to be
  late for work, then left because I was feeling some type way. Why are they
  only towing my car? In at home and my car should be safe. Where/what
  should I do? Who else can I go to. Its private property no sign posted for
  towing/no trespassing. I would like some answers. I live here.

• Initial Complaint

  01/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 01/13/2022 my vehicle was towed from an apartment complex where a close relative resides. Per the towing company Hound Dog's Towing it was towed because of expired plates. There was no prior notification placed on the vehicle before action took place. Per the Ohio BMV the car registration was valid. I reached out to the company on 01/21/2022 and advised them that the vehicle was " wrongfully towed'". I was advised that in order to get my vehicle returned to me I must pay $330.03. I disagree with that amount since the care is properly registered as of 01/13/2022. I explained to the person via phone that the tags would not expire till 01/14/2022. The male person I spoke to stated that per their guidelines they can not validate plates they go by a sticker. I advised the person that the sticker is valid.

  Business response

  01/26/2022

  The vehicle was impounded on January 13th, 2022 because the registration sticker displayed on the vehicle expired in January 2021.  Our contract with the property owner has us tow any vehicles parked on the property with expired registration because it is a code enforcement violation.  We do not have the ability to "run plates" because the police are the only ones authorized to do that.  We can only look at the registration sticker that is displayed on the vehicle to determine whether it is expired or not.  It is stated in your lease that any vehicle parked on the property must display valid registration in order to park there.  We are unable to discount any fees because it was a valid tow.  The vehicle is located at our campus facility located at *** ** **** ****** and will continue to accrue storage fees of $17/day + tax until it is picked up.

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