A DRIVER has been hit with an $8,000 bill to repair the damage reportedly inflicted on her car when it was towed – and she says it shouldn’t have been towed in the first place.
Leticia Graciano went through a whirlwind of issues since her Chevy Trax was towed from her apartment complex in San Antonio, Texas, back in March.
Leticia Graciano telling CBS affiliate KENS about her car troubles[/caption]
Star Collision Repair in San Antonio, Texas, where Graciano’s car stayed for four months[/caption]
When the Texas resident got her car back, she discovered that her car was damaged in the towing process.
“I got wrongfully towed,” Graciano told local CBS affiliate KENS.
“And they didn’t do a proper job when they towed the vehicle.”
She found the car’s transmission and front differential assembly were damaged.
The repairs cost more than $8,000. A receipt shown by KENS revealed a total charge of $8,122.99.
Graciano reported the tow company to the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulation. The name of the tow company remains unclear.
The driver then moved her car to Star Collision Repair to be fixed.
The car shop fixed the transmission immediately – but ran into a problem when it came into the front differential assembly.
The shop owner told KENS they couldn’t find a new part for the Chevy Trax anywhere.
Her car was then stuck at the shop for the next four months.
“It wasn’t their fault that my car wasn’t ready, it was just that specific part that was taking forever,” Graciano explained.
An online search reveals the part can cost anywhere from $400 to over $2,000 apiece.
Graciano became frustrated as she was unable to drive her car for four months, but still had to pay for it.
“Oh my gosh I’m so upset!” Graciano said.
“I’m paying for my car and I’m not even driving it. It’s been parked for more time at the car shop than me driving it.”
What to do if your car is towed
Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.
Steps to take when your car is towed:
- Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted “No Parking” sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.
If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:
- Be prompt – many states have a small window of time where it’s acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
- Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
- Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm
Graciano then contacted KENS, who reached out to the Chevrolet corporate office for help locating the rare part.
Three weeks later, a Chevy spokesperson told the outlet that Star Collision Repair had received all of the necessary parts.
The shop fixed Graciano’s car just days later.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Star Collision Repair for comment.
“Y’all got involved and the miracle happened and I got my car back!” Graciano told KENS.
“I got my vehicle back. I’m rolling again!”
Graciano’s Chevy Trax, which was towed in March[/caption]
