Towing Issues: Damage by towing, tow company, dfw area

Question
Hello Richard...

I have a 2002 Audi TT...my car broke down on the freeway in the DFW area...called the tow company and a driver came out...it was very cold...so I jumped into the cab of the truck and signed a receipt stating that I gave permission to tow the car and to deliver it to designated service center...my son came and took me home...the driver assured me that he would take good care of my car...so I left before started the towing procedure...

Found out that it was my timing belt and it took over a week to fix and a nearly $5k repair bill...I picked up the car and went to work...I am a Nurse and work deep nights...the next morning when I was returning to my car in the hospital parking lot I noticed that my front grill was damaged...the strange thing is that there are two identical holes in my from bumper/grill...I was so upset...took the Audi TT straight to the dealer/repair shop...they immediately told me that my car was damaged by the towing company...

I took the car to the tow company...and the manager did agree that it looked like it was damaged in the towing process...he asked to see my receipt and I didn't have it with me...he pull the receipt and he pointed out that the driver and written on the receipt that there was damage on the front grill...which is a total lie...he told me if I could produce my copy of the receipt he would have my car fixed and fire the driver on the spot...the problem is I can't find my receipt...I was looking through my owners manual on towing and noticed that that the place where you screw in the towing hooks in are behind the grill....and that you remove the grill and replace it later...the two identical holes in my grill is the same identical place where the towing hooks screw in...

This drive did not do a walk over on the car...it was never pointed out nor discussed...I know what happen...it was cold and he was trying to expedite things and he tore my grill trying to get the towing hooks in place...and when he realized he had damaged my car he wrote on his receipt that it was already damaged...

Can you please advise me on what I should do to have my car fixed by the towing company...thank you

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

Answer
Well it sounds as if the tow company manager is doing the right thing..

Proof of damage be it "prior" or damage caused during towing is always a hard issue to deal with...
Now I really hope you have your receipt as it sounds like the driver tried a "CYA" thing...

I do have a bit of a rant here so bear with me... The people who design the vehicles now a days have made it so hard for tow companies to do anything to the vehicles... Part of this is having to "INSTALL SPECIAL TOWING EYES" for tow companies to hook on to..
Also the use of straps to secure vehicles by the wheels now on flatbed tow trucks is increasing do to parts not being able to stand being hooked onto...

Want to see what is recommended to towers for your car, check out

www.towspec.com


look up your car and see what they say about it..

Now look for your receipt and you will most likely get this resolved quickly... Good luck