Thread: REPO'd in PA stuck with outrageous towing charges

Posted in Expertlaw as well but received nothing but snide remarks from a person who monitors the forum I guess...
I hope there I can get some guidance here please..

Car repo'd two days ago (YES I KNOW that if I don't pay they will come and get it as this is all the other forum could offer regarding my question)...
my question is..
the towing company is charging me outrageous fees for daily storage (30 dollars a day!) on top of a 300 towing fee..
I will not be able to come up with the money until 4 days from now so my total bill with the recovery company will be at least 500.00!!!

Does ANYONE know if this is legal??
And can I take them to a magistrate for being such charges? Is there any regulation with these companies??

If you can sincerely answer this I will be most appreciative..
Thanks kindly and have a great day

All I know is that I've heard of this practice before. I agree it seems ridiculous and exploitive. I wish I knew more to give you something solid on this one... I just don't.

It couldn't hurt to call your locality's consumer protection office (usually one level of government has one - city/county/state/province/whatever) and file a complaint. I'm pretty sure daily storage fees are fairly standard, but they seem excessive to me too.

I was recently involved in an accident an have received the towing bill on the estimate of damages, Although I am covered for towing I could not beleive the cost for a 1/2 mile tow to the garage and a one night in the lot.
total bill $505.55
$350.55 tow to garage
$30 one night in lot
$50 gate fee (what is this?)
$75 towing charge from the dealer I chose to have my car repaired about 2 miles from the original location)
This is crazy also at the scene of the accident I could not contact my dealer to have them tow my car. I was told by the officer that I had to use the one called by them!

I have sent an E-mail of my situation to Charles Dent my PA senator. I am also planning on sending a letter to the morning call (our local paper) addressing this ripoff.

Wow that's crazy. Was it in the middle of the night or on a holiday? They always charge more if they have to get out of bed or leave their family, but that still seems ridiculously high.