Submitted by TotallyImperfect t3_127kl0q in jerseycity
Parked my car in target parking and walked away outside of Target compund for just a couple of yeards and looked back to check the car and i see target parking enforcement towing my vehicle and i ran towards my car and apologised that i shouldnt have done so however the guy made me to pay $150 via Zelle without even a receipt. Should i report this if yes where do i report this incident? Appreciate all your suggestions!
I did not intend to go target store and the guy apparently saw me going out of target parking area towards staples so i apologised
I believe tow companies let you pay a fee for them to drop the car. Previously it was all cash but i am sure they are using other methods to accept payment since not everyone carries cash. That specific Target has been cracking down on this lately.
Who did you zelle? A tow company or an individual? The zelle is the receipt
Sounds like they pocketed $150 in exchange for not towing your car. Sucks, but better than them towing it. You can report it to the tow company. It will be something they’ll sort out internally, but likely won’t care. Your money is his now.
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Agreed! Thank you
Thanks for posting this. I didn’t know they were towing in that lot.
Staples has a large parking lot. Next time, I would chance getting a fine with on-street parking, except on the LeFrak owned streets.
Report that the guy did you a favor?
Yes, the tow company is required to release a vehicle even if it's hooked or lifted, but not actually removed from private property, upon request of the vehicle’s owner
Not sure of the JC rules, but I was scammed this way in my previous city.
Guy had my car hitched up, made me pay $100 cash. I offered to pay by card, but he refused and waited while I RAN across the street to an ATM. He pocketed the money, dropped my car and took off. No receipt.
I later learned that the city ordinance defined a $50 max ‘drop fee’, and the company would have to honor it, cash or card, and provide a receipt. They implemented the ordinance because of predatory towing practices, but clearly companies were still skirting the rules.
Did you park on the outskirts of the lot? I came back once and he was towing the car next to me. Told me I was next so not to do it again
This is a drop fee. Normal practice if you catch them towing you before you go.
You play the game, you pay. Cheaper than going to impound & paying storage, so be grateful for that.
To be clear, yes, the towing company is required to release the vehicle upon request of the owner in such circumstances, BUT the law allows the towing company to charge a decoupling fee, meaning a fee to unhook your vehicle.
Shocked at the downvotes lol thanks for the info!
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They need to give you a receipt and accept any form of payment they accept at their normal business location. You should call them and demand a refund.
If they refuse, report them to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/what-you-should-know-about-getting-towed.pdf
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Predatory towing. Report it to the state
Jersey City has an ordinance limiting the decoupling fee to $25 (vehicles up to 10,000 lbs). The OP should absolutely report them to the city.
Odd. i’ve parked my car there for hours and never had that problem… Did you park there overnight?
zero_cool_protege t1_jeehzz0 wrote
why were you towed? What did you apologize for? The store was open and you parked in the parking lot?