Friday night I was going to a steak place in addison, TX. I was suppose to meet up with a friend who was at the bar next door. I parked my car in the parking lot of the steak place we intended on eating at, and started walking towards the bar to meet my friend. I was only about 15yards from my car when a tow truck was hooked to my car. I couldn't believe it, I was there for less than two minutes. This is not an exaggeration. I ran back to my car to explain my story and was laughed at, and my girlfriend was almost ran over. The steak place has a contract with a towing company to monitor their lot. They pay two women to sit in their truck and videotape people leaving their cars. These women claimed to have me on video going into the bar. This was a bold faced lie! When I asked them to play it back for both me and the manager the changed their story. It changed to having a picture of me going in the wrong direction. The manager didn't care because, "I was obviously a customer of the bar next door", and I am sure he has heard hundreds of excuses. My biggest complaint was I wasn't a customer of anyone, I hadn't stepped foot in any establishment. The tow truck driver also raised the back of the car so high, everytime he went over the littlest bump, the front end scratched the ground. I tried to point this out, and the two ladies thought that was just hilarious. On top of it all they tried to charge me $25 on top of the $150 to disconnect the linking. The driver claimed to have crawled under my car and disconnect the linkage to the rear wheels because it was an automatic. He didn't do this because I watched them tow the car, and because he towed it from the rear there was no need. When I told this to the guy at the impound lot, he took off the $25, but thought it was funny that I had to watch them tow my car. I ended up paying $152.06, but was more mad about the way I was treated than the money. Does anyone have suggestions on what to do? If anyone in the Dallas area wants to know more specifics on the steak place location or the towing company im, or e-mail me. I don't want to slam anyone publicly.


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mfarris@flightmedicmail.com
2001 Blk SS #3069, A4, T-Tops, 12 Disc, 10-spoke, 3.23's
--K&N FIPK, TR55 Iridium's, MSN Super conductors, TTS headers, o2 sims, Corsa w/ Premium's, Zaino, Zaino, Zaino--

 

That sucks. If the steak house is a fanchise, try the area manager. If not, talk to the owner. I'd try the Better Buisness Bureau if that didn't work. Other than that, I don't know what I'd do.

I wouldn't have been able to watch them tow my car. I'm normally pretty calm, but I think I'd end up hitting someone, especially if I was treated the way you were.

My college had a simlilar towing arrangement (paid someone to watch campus and tow at the slightest infraction). The one time my car was towed, we broke into the impound lot. But now that we're all grown up, law-abiding citizens, I guess that's out of the question

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2002 Sebring Silver Z28 M6 - Built Aug. 6, 2002

 

Ya know ... if I'm gonna have to pay some money for a stupid reason, I'd want to make sure I was paying money for the stupid reason of my choosing.

I'd be paying a fine for pulling a gun on the motherf****r who tried to tow my car. Hell, it would be worth the $50 fine for discharging a weapon in public. ($50 in Memphis, prices and participation may vary depending on your location in the USA)

 

The name of the place was Steak and Ale. I didn't post their name because I have written a letter to their corporate office. I wanted to give them the chance to resolve our dispute before I slammed them publicly. However, I guess this could be viewed as more of a warning than a public slam.
I told them in the letter, that if this issue is not resolved asap I would e-mail my story to the 10,000 Dallas area employees, and 30,000 global employees in my company address list. I also told them I will be contacting the better business bureau, and be taking the matter to small claims court.
The $152 hurt, but I am more upset about their morals. They ruined my weekend, as well as the weekend of at least three other people in the hour I was there. The people at Reliable Towing seemed to enjoy doing it. I do not appreciate their lauging in my face, that is just wrong.



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mfarris@flightmedicmail.com
2001 Blk SS #3069, A4, T-Tops, 12 Disc, 10-spoke, 3.23's
--K&N FIPK, TR55 Iridium's, MSN Super conductors, TTS headers, o2 sims, Corsa w/ Premium's, Zaino, Zaino, Zaino--

 

This would have been sort of funny, but if you would have gotten into your car I don't think they are allowed to tow an occupied car. So what would they do then?

 

I always carry a hunting knife in my car, incase someone gets smart, I wouldn't of thretened the towtruck driver but I would have found the two women looking at the lot in what car they were in and slashed their tires nasty style.

 

I would sue their ****ing ***! That is bull****!!!

 

everyone feel free to cut and paste my story and forward it to everyone possible, I'm looking to "kick 'em in the jimmy."

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mfarris@flightmedicmail.com
2001 Blk SS #3069, A4, T-Tops, 12 Disc, 10-spoke, 3.23's
--K&N FIPK, TR55 Iridium's, MSN Super conductors, TTS headers, o2 sims, Corsa w/ Premium's, Zaino, Zaino, Zaino--

 

They woulda had to run my a$$ over before they took my SS. I have never inflicted intentional damage to somebody else's property, but I'd be one tire slashing ****. Manager, lot watchers, as well as every 'Reliable' tow truck I came across for a month. Nobody touches the SS. My family is lucky to ride in it.

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2002 SS Vert:
SOM - Hurst - black leather - 12 disk changer - SLP dual center exhaust & grill insert
--- Mods - K&N, Yokohama AVS Intermediates on 16" Z28 5 spokes (autocrossing tires)

88 Camaro - FOR SALE
License plate - STRKIN (STROKIN was taken of course)
383 stroker
T350 trans (just rebuilt - 4/1/02) - shifts very hard.
373 rear.
Eibach(type) springs
Stiff sway bars Front & Rear
Air shocks in rear
Edelbrock Torker II Manifold
Edelbrock Performer 600CFM carb (w/tune kit)
Mallory 4309 Fuel pressure regulator.
shorty headers into true duals into two big flowmasters under the bumper into your face

When I start my car in the morning, my neighbors DO think the world is coming to an end!

 

Buddy, if some MF tried that Sht with me he would be the proud owner of a new hole in his head. Me and Sam Colt would have a QUICK talk. Then I would make him pay me to NOT shoot him in the cods. But then, I am a real mean MF.

[This message has been edited by tidemandave (edited September 03, 2002).]

 

Thanks to everyone on the comments, and help on getting the word out. The company also owns several other resturants, Bennigan's, Bonanza & Ponderosa.

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mfarris@flightmedicmail.com
2001 Blk SS #3069, A4, T-Tops, 12 Disc, 10-spoke, 3.23's
--K&N FIPK, TR55 Iridium's, MSN Super conductors, TTS headers, o2 sims, Corsa w/ Premium's, Zaino, Zaino, Zaino--

 

The car actually towed was my brothers 98 corvette. He has posted his story on corvetteforum.com. It is getting such a good response, I decided to help him by posting it on this forum as well. For those of you who have e-mailed me and asked for the contact information for Steak and Ale, the phone number for the customer service is (972)588-5000. I encourage everyone that is in the Dallas to call, since it is local. And if anyone is so moved by my story they want to write a letter the address is
Steak and Ale
6500 International Parkway, Ste. 1000
Plano, TX 75093

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read my story. This is a great site!!!!

 

If it were me, I think I would have stood in front of the tow truck and refused to move until they unhooked it. I'd keep complaining until the restaurant re-paid the money for the towing.

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- Steve - 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
LS1 A4, 2.73's, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 245/50/ZR16's, Direct Flow Lid, GMAF, !FRA, Loudmouth, 3" Y-Pipe, AIT Mod, Fan Switch Mod
13.774 @ 103.33, 300.5rwhp & 308.6rwtq, 97+ RPO Codes

[This message has been edited by 96fbirdA4 (edited September 04, 2002).]