Crow Tow IA 50317

J

Jenn

My mother was in a car accident. When I arrived the cops had already called crow tow. I was worried about the car getting trapped in thier lot, as I am aware of crow tow's reputation. So, I called them and requested they bring the car to the house to avoid the hassle and all the extra fees. We were told the vehicle was already being moved, so I didn't have the option to use a different company. The only way they would take the car to the house, instead of thier lot, was if I met them and paid in person. They would not accept a phone payment, online payment or let me go to pay at their office. So, I left my mother at the ER and went to the house across town to meet them as that was the only option they would give me was to pay in person to avoid it ending up in their lot. So I waited at my mother's, far past the agreed upon time. After calling them they told me the tow truck broke down and the car was still across town. Finally, after I started getting way upset, then they let me pay over the phone and acted as if they were doing me a favor. So, then I was able to pick up my mother who was done and waiting at the ER.<br><br>I had requested they push the car back in the driveway as far as possible and warned them the driveway was narrow at the back. The driveway is a double with plenty of room to adjust at the front. This is how we found the car left by crow tow. The driver door is completely blocked. The driver didn't care enough to try and straighten out. The driver just left the car crooked and not pushed back in the driveway, there is a whole car length it could go back --- if only they had tried to straighten out. We needed in the driver door to find my mother's glasses that came off in the accident, which was terribly difficult without access to the driver door.<br><br>Also, they couldn't give me a straight price when asked. They just wanted the car at their lot which I was doing everything to avoid. Finally, once they agreed to let me pay by phone, as the car never showed up, they asked for my credit card number. At that point, I had to tell them I needed the price to give them my credit card. It was $145 which seems fairly reasonable. The hassle was not reasonable at all and I will continue to avoid this company when possible.

B

Black Girl Magic

To Whom It May Concern,<br><br>I am writing to formally report an inappropriate and predatory tow attempt involving your contracted tow operator at your apartment property.<br><br>I am a verified Airbnb guest at this location. Upon arrival, I parked and immediately went upstairs to retrieve the required parking pass from the unit. I was inside the building for approximately 10 minutes. During that time, a tow truck driver was already sitting in the parking lot and observed me exit my vehicle and enter the building.<br><br>When I returned, the driver was actively attempting to tow my car. No resident, property management, or authorized party had called in a tow request. The driver had been waiting and monitoring vehicles, which strongly suggests predatory towing behavior rather than enforcement of parking policy.<br><br>When I explained that I had just gone upstairs to retrieve the parking pass, the driver responded rudely and attempted to shift blame rather than acknowledge the circumstances. This interaction was unprofessional and unnecessary.<br><br>I want to be clear:<br>• I was an authorized guest<br>• I was in the process of complying with parking requirements<br>• No tow was requested<br>• The vehicle should never have been targeted<br><br>This behavior reflects poorly on the property and any towing company associated with it. Had my vehicle been removed, I would have pursued formal complaints and legal remedies without hesitation.<br><br>I expect this incident to be documented internally and for corrective action to be taken to prevent guests from being targeted in this manner going forward.<br><br>RESPONSE : A simple apology is in order. Your driver attempted to tow my vehicle while I was lawfully parked as an Airbnb guest of a resident. I was instructed by the host to retrieve the required parking pass from the apartment, and I was inside the building for no more than 10 minutes.<br><br>I did not violate any posted laws or obstruct resident parking. I was actively complying with the property’s parking requirements. Your driver did not allow a reasonable amount of time for compliance before initiating a tow attempt.<br><br>This situation appears unnecessarily predatory and poorly handled. I expect acknowledgment of the mistake and assurance that your drivers will allow reasonable time for guests to obtain required permits before attempting to tow vehicles.

D

Dakota Huey

(EDITED TO RESPOND TO COMPANY REPLY)So to start, we were at an Airbnb on a apartment complex and we had our parking pass in the window or dash. At around 3:00 on a Sunday while my car wasn't leaving there for maybe a half an hour. So they towed my car and they were closed at 4:00. So by the time I found it at 4:30 they were telling me I could no longer pick up my car and I'd have to wait the next day. They didn't care at all when I said I had medications in there that I needed and they didn't care at all helping us and actually put us on hold quite a lot. Told us what they didn't like how we were talking and at one point even hung up on us when we raised concerns about the medication. It was only one woman there she said and she refused to let us talk to anybody else or anybody higher up. Now comes a part where the next day and I walk 35 minutes to the tow place and I tell them all of this and even though their toe charges say things like $50 to $60, I was charged $200 because apparently it's a premium toffee off of a private property. Not to mention we had to ask locals for help. So when we started asking locals for help they even told us that croto is a predatory company. They have pending litigations and they do this kind of stuff all of the time. Then I actually get there. Then I actually attached the video because right away I took video of them taking me to my car. And what do you know? I open the door and what had slid down. Maybe a full inch and a half was the pass but it was in there it was in the corner. Yes you couldn't see it all the way but you could see something was there and then when I brought it to the guy I showed him the video. They still were not willing to give me a refund of any kind even though my pass was there. He said if it wasn't visible to the people then they don't. They still can just tow it and you don't get a refund. So even though I had my pass and even though by some awful miracle it actually slid down because it is a paper pass. What do people expect? They didn't give one that actually hangs up or anything and apparently you will get charged $200 if you don't keep the pass completely visible at all times, even though it's a little piece of paper that can slide on a dash when you're driving around makes sense. You'd think they'd at least offer some kind of decency when I have video proof that yes, my pass was in there. Not to mention the hundreds of dollars. It costed me to go to the hospital to get more medication and an emergency. So yes, this is the absolute worst towing place I've ever been. I'm out of state so they also believe that that's why they took advantage of me but I would never recommend them. I think everyone should start putting them on blast so they get shut down because rightfully so it's a predatory company and it's wrong to do to people especially to take advantage of out of state people.<br><br>EDIT: I COULDN'T RESPOND TO THEIR REPLY SO HERE IT IS ALONF WITH MY RESPONSE: Ms. Huey. Your vehicle was impounded at 230pm. Our office does close at 4 pm. We are open 365 days a year including Christmas from 8-4. So when we close we are done.<br>Your video is very self explanatory as you looked through your car not seeing the pass then found it down inside the dash face down. Looking from the outside no one could see it.<br>The pass has to be displayed for the driver.<br><br>MY RESPONSE: it's completely predatory and you continue to justify it. So you couldn't see it completely or initially, it's TINY and when I showed it to you, I asked for any refund at all and was refused. I had no problem paying the ridiculous $60 storage fee if you would've refunded the horrendous $140 tow charge. I had a pass. And your company making rounds that's late in the evening when you would be closing within two hours is predatory. Your customer service is none existent, apparent after hanging up on my friend who initially called and inquiring. But thank you for your insulting and pathetic reply.