Towing Issues: Towing of car from Budget rental location, budget rental car, budget rent a car

Question
Hi,

Recently, I went with my friend at Budget, Allston, MA to return his car. We were returning my friend's budget rental car after hours. I parked my car at the budget rental car location (the car was not directly visible due to budget trucks and vans) and was with my friend while he was performing final checks before returning the car. Duration of this would be around 5-7 minutes. During this period, my car was towed and when I saw that I ran after him. The towing guy said that he did not see anybody at the location (which is a 100% lie as we were at the location returning the car) and that's the reason he towed the car. While arguing with him we even showed him the budget rental car keys then also he insisted us to pay $90 there itself or $114 at the yard. We paid him $90 and he did not give us any receipt also. I feel that I am badly cheated as I am 100% sure that he saw us then also he towed my car just to make money. Now I have lost money, so there's no point in crying over spilled milk. But I would like to know, under this circumstances what could I have done to protect myself? Was am I at fault or was I just bullied by towing guy?

I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

Answer
Some thing does not sound right here to me.

I used to tow from a Budget rent a car location after hours (in Portland Oregon) and it was real hard to say you did not see the person returning the car as they would be at the door of the building which is next to the driveway to enter the property.

Now I am not sure how large that lot is or how it is set up but it in most cases the people returning cars and having a ride with them are parked next to the rental. After all any belongings tend to go in the other car and the return of the key and paperwork are dropped though the return slot.

5 to 7 minutes is real fast for a tow truck to get there if they were not patrolling the lot or sitting there hiding in the dark.  

Now the fee sounds about right for what I understand with the regulated rates in Massachusetts, so that seems right, but no receipt is a red flag to me... Anytime you pay a fee for anything you should be getting a receipt and I am sure that Massachusetts laws regulating tow trucks requires that also.

Small claims court would be hard as it would be you say, the driver says. Not sure what to say there.
Talking to the regulatory agency for tow trucks might be good idea but again it goes to you say, they say.

It sounds to me as if you kind of lost the money and were taken by a slick operator in the tow truck. Sorry.