How to Combat Questionable Towing Bills

By Denise Johnson | May 14, 2012

  • May 15, 2012 at 4:34 pm
    Ralph says:
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    Antifreeze isnt hazardous? Why do animals die when they accidently drink it? Wouldnt that make it toxic and therefor hazardous?

  • May 16, 2012 at 1:45 pm
    Butch Pope says:
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    In theory the items listed above are fine. The only problem is that the towing company will usually hold the tractor and trailer hostage until their inflated bill is paid for. As heavy equipment appraisers and adjusters we see inflated towing and cleanup bills all the time. There is one company out there that calls our office and requests that we send a man to the actual scene of the accident to monitor the cleanup and tow. This works very well since we document all activities performed by the towing company including the number of trucks, men, and equipment used. When the towing company is aware of the fact that we are on sight they have a tendency to be more realistic in their billing. However, we have been chased from the scene of the accident by the police on more than one occassion.
    This is a problem overall that is difficult to deal with.
    Butch Pope
    A.A.B SERVICES, INC.

  • May 16, 2012 at 11:21 pm
    Edward Cardiello says:
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    Before giving this article too much credibility, let’s look at the creator to recognize his credentials, accomplishments and agenda. It disappoints me to see Mr. Brand’s (spelled incorrectly in the story) analogy of the towing & recovery industry. First off, Mr. Brand specializes in working for insurance companies against companies in the recovery business. Now no doubt he has had some success intimidating towing companies that are either unscrupulous in their actions or unprepared to fight a proper job. But being a participant for nearly 30 years, I have come across numerous “self proclaimed” experts in my profession and his firm is no different. If one was to check his track record, they would find that Brand & Associates have been beaten multiple times in Massachusetts while trying to impose their furry on towing companies that did a good & just job. Similar to this article, his “angle” is to use “shock & awe” tactics to influence companies to litigate invoices that quite honestly are justifiable. In a fairly recent case, their actions towards a disputed amount of $10,000 (to be split between two Ins. Co.) cost the plaintiff the initial amount, plus 12% interest and his attorney bill of over $97,000. Where is the justice there? And who is the unscrupulous professional? The shame is that the insurance company, as well as the service provider, loose in the end. All while the representation team, obviously working with a different agenda, line their own pockets on the backs of the people “getting it done”.

    I find Mr. Brand’s comments regarding the “companies portrayed themselves as public safety icons” and “exaggerating the danger of the recovery” to be quit offensive. I would inquire to know how many attorneys get injured or loose their life doing their job in any given year? I know my profession looses around 70 operators each & every year, not to mention how many other emergency personnel and road crews are inflicted by these dangers. His nonchalant analysis proves that not only does he not have respect for what we do but that he evidently has no clue as to what our work entails. And to imply that the clean up & disposal of environmental pollutants, as well as the remediation of property damage is unnecessary is ludicrous. Companies that follow the procedures mentioned are simply complying with state & federal laws already stipulated. I recommend anyone to search the MSDS requirements for each & every fluid that can leak during a motor vehicle accident. There isn’t any that state that it’s ok to just leave it there. Whether they are deemed hazardous in small quantities or not, they are all pollutants. Insurance companies need to appreciate the fact that if the scene is cleaned professionally, this will minimize their own exposure for future problems.

    It has been made clear that the basis of these discussions is centered on money so let’s understand as to why things are what they are. In recent years, the emphasis sweeping our nation has been placed on “fast lane clearance” procedures. It has been determined, with the cooperation of the insurance industry, that secondary incidents can cause a substantial liability to everyone involved on a crash scene. These methods now require a domination of the casualty in an effort to minimize time. The unfortunate aspect though is that the emergency service provider may be required to own & respond with a huge investment in equipment. To illustrate, an investment that would shadow Mr. Brand’s entire legal education costs at an Ivy League School – on any given incident scene. The other underlining aspect is that this equipment “eats” every day whether it works or not. Magnify this with the realization that the jobs are done quicker, so hence the need to implicate minimum fees. Would any industry make huge capitol investments with the presumption of earning less money then they did with the older, inferior units? I think not. It comes down to basic economics and the need to retain a return on your investment in an amicable time period.

    To sensationalize this article by depicting a few bills that may show an immoral act by a tower would be like condemning the entire legal field and insurance industry due to some that operate with out integrity. What needs to be done to manage emergency incident response situations is to develop an affinity between the insurance providers and the recovery industry. The use of litigation as well as professional claims negotiator firms only inflames an already volatile situation. These firms are parasites devouring money for their own gain and typically have very little success when poised against professionally performed jobs. There needs to be communication and education so all parties involved can recognize each others requirements and in turn resolve the matter before it escalades.

    Edward Cardiello
    Ed’s Towing & Recovery

    • February 11, 2016 at 9:32 am
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      I find it laughable that you criticize someone for their spelling while you can’t even spell “lose”. It’s “LOSE” not “loose”. Let me give you an example with a rhyme so you might remember it: The noose is loose. “Lose”, as in “All people that have any association with any towing company are losers.” There! Does that help? You are writing a response to try and explain and gain sympathy for towing companies?? That is laughable. 99.9% of anyone that reads this article knows that most, if not all towing companies are complete crooks. It’s almost completely unregulated, as far as fees and charges. I have had three instances where I’ve been forced to deal with a towing company and all three times, I have been cheated and forced to pay exorbitant and outrageous fees. I hope you get sued every time you tow a car. Also, I hope you have a massive hospital bill that you have to fight and are forced to over pay by a few million dollars. Then, and only then, you’ll have some empathy for what it’s like dealing with a towing company. You are all complete scam artists. You are all involved in legalized extortion. Go ahead. Try and defend your actions. The only fans with sympathy you’ll get is from other mentally challenged people that work for towing companies. Everyone else knows the scam you guys are pulling.

      • October 24, 2017 at 8:57 pm
        Lee says:
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        Reading your comment, it appears you have sympathy for the insurers; well how much do you pay for insurance per month and how often have you filed a claim? Do you have any idea how much insurers charge for light duty tow trucks, probably not; let me tell you that it is more than you pay for your auto insurance, life insurance and probably home insurance for six months. Tow trucks cost, heavy wreckers cost, personnel cost, INSURANCE cost; all factored into the cost of providing the service. Its sad to hear that you feel cheated by tow companies, but when your vehicle breaks down on the side of the hwy, who will you call to assist you? Your insurance company and if so, who will they call? Would you like to sit on the side of the hwy for several hours because tow companies are scam artist.

  • May 17, 2012 at 2:04 pm
    Jeff says:
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    While this article is very interesting and does hold some good points to argue it does not explore the other side of the equation. For starters a heavy recovery vehicle which cost about $100,000.00 in 1990 now costs as much as $650,000.00. Even a baseline rotator which is now required equipment on many police rotation lists costs a minimum of $460,000.00. If that isn’t a hard enough pill to swallow for a towing company keep in mind you typically need at least two of those trucks to work a heavy truck wreck. these trucks are essentially cranes. It has been an industry standard for as long as anyone can remember that a crane has a four hour minimum as well as a set up fee each time it comes out. Nobody gripes about that but God forbid a wrecker service follows the same practice. Think of it this way; that old mechanical wrecker from 1985 which cost about $85,000.00 was slow and took about eight hours to work the same truck wreck the modern hydraulic rotator which cost $500,000.00 today could do in about two hours. Why would the towing company buy a truck that cost over five times as much, do a faster, more professional job, clear the roadway quicker for the motoring public who paid for full use of their roadway and then only charge one quarter as much because they did it better, faster and safer??? Who has more rights? The trucking company wanting a cheap recovery bill or the hundreds of people stuck in the traffic who can’t get their kids to school, can’t get to work, can’t get to their doctor’s appointment? As for the environmental cleanup goes if it is done it needs to be done correctly and the person responsible needs to pay. If it wasn’t done but it was billed than that is fraud. Each act of fraud is unique to that individual who committed it NOT the entire towing industry. Either way the property owner, typically the DOT but in many cases a private individual has every right under most state’s property damage laws to have their property fully restored to pre-accident condition. If that involves laying down absorbants, removing damaged trees, disposal of motor fluids etc. than the responsible parties must pay. After all, isn’t that why we are all forced to be ripped off by our insurance companies each year?

    • January 11, 2017 at 1:57 pm
      Leander Richmond says:
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      I hear you and I still ask, “A to bill for OVER $200,000???? Really???

    • November 30, 2017 at 2:18 pm
      Ben says:
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      Sounds like Jeff owns a towing company…

  • January 5, 2017 at 10:51 pm
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    Hutch’s in WV charged A.D. Transport $185,000 for a single wreck in 2015. They have now been recommended for license revocation by the WV PSC. YEH!!!! J.E Herring in PA charged over $200,000 for a single vehicle wreck on the turnpike where they have an exclusive contract on a 31 mile stretch. Can you say state assisted price gouging?????? Crooks.



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