What would you have done?

[apologetic]

So, I parked in a McDonald's parking lot earlier. There is a sign posted that claims "1 hour parking for customer's only." I went in and bought some coffee, went to a short interview at another location, and returned 45 minutes later.

When I returned, I found that my car was already hooked up to the back of a tow truck. I told the rather large Mexican truck driver that I had made a purchase, so I was legal in parking there. He claimed that once I left the premises I was no longer a customer, so they could tow my vehicle. Having a receipt for the purchase didn't matter, either.

Let the scamming begin! To my surprise, he said he could release the car if I gave him $60. I had $46 on me, but after some hesitation, he took that as payment and released the car. I also signed a vehicle damage release (after I checked things over) showing that I paid $46 to release my car.

I know I got scammed, but what would you have done? I didn't want to go through the hassle of getting my car towed away. Is it true that if you leave the parking lot property, even if you were a customer, they can tow your vehicle?

 

[krunchykrome]

Towing companies are shady businesses.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Since you're in Cali I will assume the law is like many others there and you have no rights or liberty, so you were wrong, he was right.

 

[FoBoT]

your poll is flawed

i choose "1 hour parking for customer's only."

 

[waggy]

no you did not get scammed. it is for customers at the store. you left for 45 minutes. you shoul dhave had the car towed. you are lucky he took $46


what would i have done? I would not have left the parking lot. I know tow truck operators are scum so no reason to tempt them.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Call the police.

 

[Hyperlite]

something similar to this happened to my friend at his apartment complex...he was actually in a spot he was allowed to be in, and he walked up on a guard putting a boot on his car. the guy asked for $75 to take it off. actually i dont remember whether he paid him or not, but i told him he should have just called the cops.

 

[musha shugyo]

Legal action will net you nothing. The police will simply tell you it's a civil matter and to take it up in civil court. Store manager will do nothing because the tow truck is already there. Your only option is to pay up front or pay them after they have towed you. Towing companies are a racket and their employees are trash. I wouldn't shed a tear if they were all systematically killed.

 

[sixone]

You should have written him a check.

 

[postmortemIA]

you're scammer in this case

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: apologetic
So, I parked in a McDonald's parking lot earlier. There is a sign posted that claims "1 hour parking for customer's only." I went in and bought some coffee, went to a short interview at another location, and returned 45 minutes later.

When I returned, I found that my car was already hooked up to the back of a tow truck. I told the rather large Mexican truck driver that I had made a purchase, so I was legal in parking there. He claimed that once I left the premises I was no longer a customer, so they could tow my vehicle. Having a receipt for the purchase didn't matter, either.

Let the scamming begin! To my surprise, he said he could release the car if I gave him $60. I had $46 on me, but after some hesitation, he took that as payment and released the car. I also signed a vehicle damage release (after I checked things over) showing that I paid $46 to release my car.

I know I got scammed, but what would you have done? I didn't want to go through the hassle of getting my car towed away. Is it true that if you leave the parking lot property, even if you were a customer, they can tow your vehicle?

I think that sums it up. At least he was nice enough to let you have the car back for $46 and not insist on the $60 fee.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: musha shugyo
Towing companies are a racket and their employees are trash. I wouldn't shed a tear if they were all systematically killed.

QFT

 

[NuroMancer]

Up here, they are not allow to tow the car if you are in it.

So, to get around it you simply hop in the car, if the tow truck driver attempts to drive away, you call the cops.

 

[apologetic]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
you're scammer in this case

How? I parked and made a purchase at McDonalds. Doesn't that allow me to park there for one hour? Or is it true that if I leave the property I am no longer allowed to park there?

 

[MrWizzard]

I don?t think you got scammed, you were bending the rules to your desires, not how they were intended to be used.

 

[KK]

I would go back in Mcdonalds and piss all over the place.

 

[shocksyde]

You were a customer for the 5 minutes it took you to get your coffee. After that, you're just a cheap punk looking for free parking.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: apologetic

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
you're scammer in this case

How? I parked and made a purchase at McDonalds. Doesn't that allow me to park there for one hour? Or is it true that if I leave the property I am no longer allowed to park there?

once you leave the property you are no longer a costumer. you are just a cheap idiot looking for free parking. wich they have a right to tow you.

 

[musha shugyo]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: apologetic

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
you're scammer in this case

How? I parked and made a purchase at McDonalds. Doesn't that allow me to park there for one hour? Or is it true that if I leave the property I am no longer allowed to park there?

once you leave the property you are no longer a costumer. you are just a cheap idiot looking for free parking. wich they have a right to tow you.

I doubt he ever was a costumer, nor does that have any relevance to his question.

 

[nakedfrog]

I would have... not parked in the 1 hour parking spot.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: waggy
no you did not get scammed. it is for customers at the store. you left for 45 minutes. you shoul dhave had the car towed. you are lucky he took $46


what would i have done? I would not have left the parking lot. I know tow truck operators are scum so no reason to tempt them.

Agreed, except for the tow truck operator scum part. Sure, sometimes they are, but they don't just lurk parking lots waiting for opportunity - they're *called* by someone at the store - at least they are here.

 

[musha shugyo]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: waggy
no you did not get scammed. it is for customers at the store. you left for 45 minutes. you shoul dhave had the car towed. you are lucky he took $46


what would i have done? I would not have left the parking lot. I know tow truck operators are scum so no reason to tempt them.

Agreed, except for the tow truck operator scum part. Sure, sometimes they are, but they don't just lurk parking lots waiting for opportunity - they're *called* by someone at the store - at least they are here.

They roam my fiancee's apartment complex after 6PM looking for cars who are illegally parked, parked legally but with expired registration, or parked anywhere near fire hydrants (not in front, but within 30ft). They only accept cash, despite a law stating that they must accept at least one other form of payment. They are trash.

 

[shocksyde]

Yeah, most stores have a deal with a towing company and receive kickbacks when they call in tips.

 

[Jeeebus]

Pretty simple.

Pay $46 to the tow truck driver.

On car ride home, spill McDonald's coffee into your lap.

Profit.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: apologetic

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
you're scammer in this case

How? I parked and made a purchase at McDonalds. Doesn't that allow me to park there for one hour? Or is it true that if I leave the property I am no longer allowed to park there?

You left the property. The parking is for CURRENT customers, not PAST customers. They aren't running a pay lot whose cost for parking is a small purchase. They are running a business and have parking available for customers who choose to eat inside.