QuestionQUESTION: I had a couple run-ins with having to pick up a car from being stolen both taken place in Detroit Michigan. first i had a car stolen in august 18 2005 and was not notified until 18 days later while they had to car in custody the day it was taken, they called on a Saturday 18 days later and said we have your car.which i though was great, so they were "closed" Sunday .so monday we go to go and pick it up and they want to charge me $400 dollars being $65.00 for towing which is okay ,but additional $12.00 per day for 18 days.I didn't have a problem with storage but being i was notified 18 days later which i find unacceptable to be charged when i only knew about the 2 or 3 days when they already had it the day it was stolen,obviously if i known the day of i would have picked it up that day instead of buying another car, with money i didn't have?With this id like to know is there a certain law that they cannot charge you for days of storage unless you are aware they have your vehicle?Btw the plates were on it all they'd have to do is run them and find my information.
Another instance is in Detroit was my aunt just had her car stolen (being my old car that i bough)they recovered it but would not let her see it until she paid 160 odd dollars to get it, and prior to she asked what condition it was in and they said oh just the steering column.so she paid and when she received the car back the catalysts converter was cut off, the steering column was through, and all 4 wheels were removed.Bassically it was none drivable.But the fact they wouldnt let her see it, and they lied saying nothing about the wheels being gone is there anything illegal about that?
ANSWER: First of all, this set of questions is way to hard to provide answers for in a realistic manner.
But in the first case, sure the tags provide registered owner information BUT THEY DO NOT PROVIDE PHONE NUMBERS via this method.
It takes time to get the information from the state and the law usually says they have to notify you via "certified mail" so this phone call is very strange to me.
Now as to keeping the vehicle in storage for 18 days and charging you for the "ground rental" I guess that it would be good if the tow company "gave away services for keeping your vehicle on property they have to pay insurance, taxes and either rent or buy"
As to laws, it is hard for me to find information on laws in effect back in 2005 unless they are still in effect.
As to the other question, I "guess" that the tow company was trying to get paid for providing the services they were asked to provide by the police.
Basically this question is one where a lawyer might provide better guidance to you than I would be.. I am just a tow truck driver trying to help people but not a lawyer.
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QUESTION: well as for the phone call it was from the police station because the car was reported stolen the day it was missing and the day they found it happened to be the day it was missing because they found it in a minor wreck.I understand the charges, but don't understand why it took 400 dollars later for them to call and say ohh btw we have your car, thats $400.When i would have gladly picked it up the day i knew about it, instead of leaving it there for 18 days.Although it's already been over and done with,it just seams wrong being charged an 18 day fee when only knowing about it for 2.
As for the second question i agree they probably figured, if she saw it, she wouldnt want to pay the money to get it back, but as far as your experience and random research do you know reguardless of michigan if there are laws where they can prevent or refuse to let you see the condition of your vehicle.(being you have you paperwork i.e. :title)? Thanks
AnswerWell as to the 1st question, the phone call I can only guess here, that since the police department made the call then it "might of been" the typical overworked police department who might of had the problem. The towers are kind of at a legal blockage as to how to notify the vehicle owners of the towing of the vehicle. They usually have to go though DMV and get the information sent to them and then send letters as I said before. But in some states the police do the notifications of towed vehicles. (sorry but I had a computer crash and lost all my links and information for specific state rules)...
Add in days off and such it is hard to keep up on notifications I guess as I do know from reports and such that there is a huge auto theft problem in Detroit.
Now as to the second question, remember that tow companies are private companies and as such can restrict the entry onto their property as they wish (like no shirt no service practices)
I do not think you can really blame them for wanting to get paid and while it may seen unethical they do have the right.
I also know that a lot of tow companies do this on vehicles with insurance as they have adjusters come out, look, total the vehicle and then pay off the insured and then leave the tow company holding the bag on the vehicle... It might of been a company wide policy for this. I can not really tell you more as I was not there and do not know the company.
Sorry it does not help much with information.
