QuestionQUESTION: I recently had a icy road slide-off and roll-over down an embankment in the median of an interstate in Montana. The SUV was drivable despite two popped tires, but I was too much in shock & w/ a wind chill below zero to think about driving it to the shoulder of the highway, and out of the median.
When I came back to the SUV w/ my spouse about an hour later it has been towed to a town about 7 miles south, and the charge was $1,200. The owner of the wrecker service contended that it was a dangerous recovery due to ice, but there was no ice on the opposite highway lane from which I slid off (and it was at the same level with the road, no embankment). Is $1,200 an excessive charge? What should I do about it if it is? I have already paid half, but on a nurse's salary this has been a big deal.
ANSWER: There are still too many unknowns about the recovery and what the tower actually had to do. For a rollover, winching, special equipment, additional trucks or man power, scene clearance, tow to storage, gate fee/release and storage doesn't seem excessive if it was fairly involved. There is NO way I could intelligently answer the question since I don't know what was actually done or the difficulty involved. Please don't think I'm taking the towers side because I'm not but there is a elevated risk and hazards associated with accidents such as yours. Most people don't understand these risks and very easily become judgmental and assume they were overcharged. With that said this is my suggestion. Do you have any insurance coverage on the vehicle that could pay for the service? I'm assuming you don't since you paid part of the service but if a insurance adjuster asked for charges I would have to explain the service other than bad weather. Ask for a detailed or itemized account for all the charges. Most annual tow contracts must present to the police department a price list of all charges which seem reasonable. The reason behind this is for any misunderstanding or possible overcharging from towing situations. Compare your itemized bill to the police departments contracted price list. All police departments have a resource officer that handle consumer concerns regarding police authorized towing and can help explain the charges and services. Also, for your safety and others, ANY vehicle that has been involved in a accident should NEVER been driven until to has been properly inspected and repaired by a certified technician.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: If someone does not carry comprehensive insurance, what wants to have towing coverage that also covers recovery towing, what are some options apart from AAA? I heard that Verizon or other cell phone carriers had coverage for a couple of bucks a month.
AnswerIn many cases motorclubs will not cover a claim as severe as yours as there is a price limit on the amount of service. Cell phone providers out source the road and towing services to a motorclub provider and usually have a max. pay limit of $50-$100 depending on the level of service. Some motorclub providers are AAA, Cross Country, Geico, Allstate, GE, USAC, Road America/Nation Safe and there are plenty more. Some motorclubs provide questionable service for the consumer depending how many vendors/towers are located, contracted and available with the disablement. Let me explain, many police authorized towers must be on scene in under 15 minutes and the scene cleared under 30 minutes which most motorclubs can not guaranty. The police don't care if you have insurance, motorclub or whatever, they want the road cleared and NOW. The reasoning is accidents cause accidents. How many times have you seen motorist staring at a accident scene longer than the road in front of them.
Motorclubs do have there place and do have a strong hold on the towing industry. Usually motorclubs work great in non emergency situations. The service may take 45 minutes to an hour waiting for a provider and usually longer during inclement weather, afterhours or rush hours. As long as you don't mine waiting motorclubs work. There is a limit on the amount on road service provided annually and distance of the tow, usually a few miles before you are responsible for over mileage.
There are many reasons why some tow companies provide service for a motorclub company and why others don't. In many cases it comes down to contracted rate and availability. Most motorclub towing providers have low contracted rate for the service provided. Their model is based on volume towing, fill in work and usually have less than experienced operators. Sort of like fast food, you know what to expect. Same goes for damages, which are more likely with volume towing companies. As the saying goes "you get what you pay for".
