Towing Issues: towing, tow companies, tdlr

Question
my car stalled at a gas station i left my car there at 12:00am and got towed around 4am i called the same day to the company that towed my car which they are located half a mile where my car was towed and wants to charge me 285 just to take it out..which i think is obsured..where can i make a complain of there charges...nobody isnt giving me any answers...cause it was picked up in a county not city i live in texas

Answer
Well Texas tow companies have had regulation of their operations changed to the TDLR (which is the same agency who regulates , Plumbers, Barbers and such.)

You can check online for prices which the tow company is "REQUIRED TO FILE" with the agency and you can see if they are charging the correct rates.

Now do not forget that you will see rates for lots of services, but you will also have to add up the rates which would apply, and those include

TOWING - HOOK UP
MILEAGE
DOLLIES (the little wheels on the back that lift one end of the vehicle off the ground to help prevent damage to the vehicle)
STORAGE
GATE FEE - AFTER HOURS RELEASE FEE (or some rate like that in wording)


The location to check them online is

http://www.license.state.tx.us/tools_search/

And if you have a complaint, you can check out and file reports at the TDLR website

Good luck and I hope this helps.