Towing Issues: damage, tow truck drivers, tow truck company

Question
My husband works for a tow truck company in Barstow California. A few weeks ago he did a lock out and a tiny (1/4inch) scratch was found on the frame after he was done. The customer made a complaint and was sent to a body shop which quoted $650.00 for repair. Is it normal for the tow truck company to charge this bill from the tow truck drivers check? Also do you happen to know if there is maybe a place online that might have a standard lock out waiver or something like it that could be used as a defense for customers getting angry when there is very minor damage from asking them to break into your car for you.

Answer
Well, first of all sorry to hear that your husbands employer is going to try and make him pay for the damages.

Lock out service on vehicles is one which a lot of towing companies are getting away from for this reason. A lot of people try the coat hanger trick to get in and when it does not work (and leaves lots of scratches and marks) they call the tow truck...

Now not saying that your husband is not a good tow truck driver, but I was taught along time ago in lockout classes that I was to inspect the vehicle for prior signs of entry attempts, and then document it on the invoice..
Then I was trained to use the passenger side door for entry attempts as it is usually out of traffic, it does not have the Billizon wires in it like drivers doors do, and if something was to go wrong like unhooking the linkage rods the person could still use the drivers door..

Now as to waivers, yes there are a few out there (AW DIRECT has some for sale) but one word to the wise is that a waiver is usually not worth the paper it is written on according to the courts.. Remember we are the professionals and not supposed to do damage to vehicles..

I know it's frustrating to have the person claim damage on a job that even according to all the manufacturers of vehicles and lock out tools say can happen during attempts to break into locked vehicles..

I have to add also, that there are now some tools and supplies which can help lower the risks of damages during entry attempts. When I first started towing we only had slim jims and wing window tools, now lockout kits have 20 to 40 different tools to do the job.  There is also the big push of using air wedges and long reach tools to go thought the door jams for entry...
But like any response here, any time you attempt to enter a vehicle you risk the chance of doing damage.

PS   I am not sure if you and your husband know but there are sites out there which deal with towing issues and some of them are discussion groups on how to do things.


Follow up

you might show him   www.tow411.net   or www.towtalk.com as just 2 sites for information..