Lew Blum Towing

Review: Tow Company is charging a fee of $205 for a towed vehicle with less than 24 hours in storage.Legislation for Philadelphia under services business 9-600 section 9-605 towing states that no tow company can charge more than $150 tow charge and $25 storage fee per day. This total is = to $175 which is the maximum. A complaint was filed with the Philadelphia Police District 16. Below is a link that references the requirements and includes charges allowed by towing companies.[redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of the $30 unlawfully charged to me for the towing of my vehicle and this company to recieve finds so they do not do this again to other people.

Business

Response:

The towing charge is correct as 1/14/2013 under [redacted] bill # [redacted] was amended by city council. Storage starts the moment the vehicle is brought into the storage area, the storage fee is a flat rateThe towing rate is 175.00 for the tow and 25.00 for storage plus 5.00 20% on all storage payable to the city of phila. No refund will be giving.Lew Blum

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Review: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because: the sub section D of the attached doccument states that a vehicle can not be towed unless the tow company has notified the police department that the vehicle is to be towed recieved confirmation from the police department. see below:

(d) No vehicle shall be hooked, towed, or handled in any manner

under this subsection [unless the vehicle has been ticketed for a violation at the location

where the vehicle is to be towed, except as provided in § 9-605(11)(d)(i),] until the

towing company has notified the Police Department that the vehicle is to be towed, and

has received confirmation from the Police Department as to the vehicle’s status, except

that in a licensed parking lot, a vehicle may be moved to another location in the parking

lot prior to [ticketing] being towed. [Before issuing such a ticket,] Upon such notice, the

Police Department shall determine whether or not the vehicle has been reported stolen. If

the vehicle has been reported stolen, and except in the case of an immediate threat to

public safety as determined by the Police, or a case where a vehicle is blocking access to

a public or private driveway, no such vehicle shall be towed unless the Police have either

notified, or attempted to notify, the owner of the vehicle of its recovery by calling the

contact number provided to the Police at the time it was reported stolen and, unless the

Police are unable to contact the owner or leave a message for the owner, or the owner

elects to have the Police tow the vehicle, the owner has been given 24 hours from the

time of such notification or attempted notification to recover the vehicle in lieu of the

tow. The towing company shall not tow the vehicle until the Police confirm to it that

contact with the owner has been made, or attempted and concluded, and any further

instructions are conveyed. If the vehicle is towed, the towing company must comply with

all of the requirements of § 9-605(15). Within one hour following the towing of the

vehicle the towing company must, in writing, or in such other manner as the Enforcement

With the Police department being at the location when it was recieved and no communicaation with the police occured prior to towing my vehicle this is still an illegal tow.Regards,[redacted]

Review: A standard tow situation: car towed at 4:45pm on 10/21/13, I pick up the car from the lot at 10:33pm that same evening. All their signs indicate that the charge is $175 plus $25 per day for storage fees. They charged me $235 for the tow. $10 was added for taxes they said, but they cannot explain why there is an additional $25 added to the bill. I called and the person who answered tried to explain, but the answer was very convoluted, and it did not make any sense as to why, when it seems like their billing is very straightforward, he could not make me understand that extra $25 charge. If the charge is legitimate, it should be marked so on their signs.Desired Settlement: Any reasonable explanation of why my bill looks like this:

$175 - service at scene

$25 - storage charge for 1 day

$10 - taxes

$25 - ??

Business

Response:

11/25/13

Hello [redacted]

In response to complaint ID [redacted] we read the complaint

Have [redacted] fax us his receipt if he was over charge we will

Refund.

Review: On January 24, 2014 at 11:00 pm I arrived at Lew Blum Towing Co. on [redacted] to retrieve my vehicle that was lawfully towed. The establishment was dank and unlit. I was greeted by someone who stood behind metal bars. Upon arriving, I was informed that it was a cash only establishment and I needed to pay $205 to have my vehicle returned. The advertised price was $175. I was also informed that I needed to to provide my license and car keys with the $205 payment. I inquired as to why my license was needed and where was it being taken. The Lew Blum rep offered no response. With hesitation, I gave the rep $210, my license and my car keys. I was then told that there was no change on the premises and I needed to go to somewhere to find change. I informed the rep that I was not familiar with the area and was not going to roam the streets of a dark area looking for change. The rep then responded by yelling obscenities, throwing my money and licence to the ground and slamming a door in my face. He did not return my car keys. I called and loudly banged on the door for him to respond. No response. I then called the police to have them intervene. The police arrived to the business approximately at 12:00 am. The Lew Blum rep continued to be rude and unprofessional even in front of the officers. The police facilitated the transaction and I did recieve my vehicle after an hour long ordeal.Desired Settlement: want my money back