Knight in Shining Armor or Highway Robbery? Seasonal changes bring all sorts of foul weather and the so-called-good Samaritan tow truck come out of the woodwork. Not all are out to scam stranded motorists, but there are those who will take advantage of those in need. How do you avoid such scams that can result in a $1,600 fee for a tow and storage…Oh, I’m not kidding, this really happens and it happens more than your think.
The insurer Allstate recently issued a warning about the rise of such scams. It said its insurance adjusters frequently encounter these cases, which it calls “Bandit Tow” scams, and offered tips to help consumers avoid falling victim to them.
Still, we thought Allstate’s warning and tips were worth sharing. Here are some of them below.
1. Try to use a towing operator who has been screened by your motor club or roadside assistance program.
2. Never give a tow truck operator permission to take your car if you or law-enforcement personnel did not call the operator.
3. Do not provide your insurance information to a tow truck operator.
4. Make sure all the signs on the truck and the documentation provided are identical and consistent.
5. Whenever possible, have your car towed either to your home or a repair shop of your choice to avoid storage fees or additional fees. According to Allstate, scam artists may actually take the car to an impound lot, and not a repair shop, resulting in high storage fees.
6. Make sure you receive a printed price list that includes daily storage fees and miscellaneous charges as well as printed documentation of where the vehicle will be towed. And make sure you sign below the dollar amount quoted, not necessarily the bottom of the document.
Why? According to Allstate, some tow truck drivers may encourage the driver to sign the bottom of an agreement without a finalized towing price and “back fill” the invoice with miscellaneous fees and charges. That’s just not right, so be wary and know what you are signing.
Share your experiences with such tow scams below and any advice you have for your fellow drivers will be really helpful.
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