Towing Issues: Towing Fee, physical office space, storage yards

Question
I parked my car at my boyfriend's building, at a Guest Parking space, and they told my car saying that I always stay there overnight and that they do not allow that. I parked the car at about 3am, and they towed it at around 9am. They charged me $280? Isn't that a little bit too much? The towing place did not even have an office, it was pouring outside and I had to stand in the rain while I was paying for it? Could it be a illegal place?

Answer
Well,  hard to say if the towing charges are out of line as differant companies have rates which vary. There are also things figured into the total price like storage, and possible afterhours vehicle release fees..

While it may seem that $ 280 is high to you, down here where I am in Lower Alabama that would be real high for us, but in the Los Angeles area that would be close to normal for what I see here in questions.

As to standing in the rain and the towing office not having an office.  many storage yards have an office even if its a small portable building or something. But many times the driver is releasing the vehicle from the actual storage yard which might be around the corner from the actual office or down the street.. This is due to many reasons. That or they are sharing an yard with a repair shop or body shop and have no access to the physical office space.

Is it an illegal place, it actually depends on the city regulations for towing companies where you were towed.  

As to the guest parking, I would say that the apartment complex manager has seen the vehicle in the guest spaces one to many times and that is why they had it towed..

Hope this helps..