Don't be held to ransom by unauthorised tow-truck drivers

[Creag]

Insurance claims following motor accidents are often held up for months because vehicle owners are held to ransom by "ruthless" tow-truck drivers who refuse to release their vehicles until storage fees are paid, Gari Dombo, the managing director of Alexander Forbes Insurance, says.

And, he says, resorting to the law does not solve the problem, because the delay caused by litigation results in higher storage fees.

Dombo says no matter how promptly tow-truck drivers arrive at the scene of an accident or what they may tell you, you have the right to refuse to let them tow your vehicle. "You also have an obligation to your insurance company - and yourself - to ensure that unauthorised tow-truck drivers don't tow your car," he warns.

Tow-truck drivers often tow cars to their own repair businesses and then charge unreasonable amounts for towing, as well as exceptionally high storage fees, if they are not awarded the job to repair your car, Dombo says. Moreover, they will not release the vehicle to you or your insurer until their towing and storage fees are paid.

If you have an accident, he says, you should phone your insurer and it will appoint a legitimate towing company to take your vehicle directly to a reputable panel-beater.

Dombo says this is especially important to ensure that your insurance company picks up its share of the bill. "Some insurers will not pay for towing and storage if it is not arranged through their own accident helpline."

The Source

 

[Lirk13]

Thanks for the info lol funny name btw Dombo

 

[bex.cpt]

My sister inlaw got ripped R2500 for storage and towing. The funny thing was they dropped her off at home after the accident with the car hooked on the truck and she didnt think of asking the guy to leave the damaged car right there so 2 days later she realized that she is paying for storage. Ai woman I tell you. I belong to AA so when the times come I dail that trusty number and get done what needs to be done.

Bloody vultures

 

[ToxicBunny]

Also seen this happen to a friend... and it made me absolutely livid.

This friend has learnt their lesson though thankfully..... but at a cost of about R1750....

 

[Creag]

Thanks for the info lol funny name btw Dombo

Don't go there!

My sister in-law got ripped R2500 for storage and towing. The funny thing was they dropped her off at home after the accident with the car hooked on the truck and she didn't think of asking the guy to leave the damaged car right there so 2 days later she realized that she is paying for storage. Ai woman I tell you. I belong to AA so when the times come I dial that trusty number and get done what needs to be done.

Bloody vultures

Most insurers that I know of have 24/7 call centres to call in the event of an accident and they will tell you which tow truck operator to use.

Yes, it saves the insurance company on costs but it also saves you and your policy in respect of your claims history. It could be quite important to you and keeping your premiums down as well as not making you uninsurable.

 

[Peder]

i like to call them sharks, and they are bloody pushy sometimes although once my mom got helped by one of them which was quite amazing.

 

[Gaz{M}]

Can't you report your car 'stolen' if they won't give it back to you? The fees you owe them are a separate matter and they have no right to hold you property illegally since they don't own anything on the vehicle.

It would be different if they had made repairs, since now they have parts and labour invested in your car.

 

[tco21]

Can't you report your car 'stolen' if they won't give it back to you? The fees you owe them are a separate matter and they have no right to hold you property illegally since they don't own anything on the vehicle.

It would be different if they had made repairs, since now they have parts and labour invested in your car.

They charge for storage.

 

[Pearson6]

I was also a Victim once eish worst payday of my life dropped the kids of at the bustop drivin down the same road I travel on daily on my way to pick up the wife for work...........anyway..........no signs or anything some kind of road works.......so I hit like a man made pothole climb the paving ake out a new planted pole and nearly gave and old couple a heart attack not because of the loud bang but cause of Tupac playing so loud early on a Friday morning............worst morning of my life.........so now the Ass-voels.....lol... come and say they gonna help me and I'm now in such a shock so I say okay long story short the tow my car past my house which is about 1 km away from the accident scene and I had to fork ou R2500 the next day.........

 

[xrapidx]

I've also had a few words with tow truck drivers - they actually try us aggression to force you into using them... fortunately, that doesn't work with me, it just pisses me off even more.

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Not all of them are bad.

When I had my accident the tow truck driver parked a ways away from the scene. He stood by and bided his time and when I was done with the metro and the other party he walked up and spoke with me. Alarm bells rang because firstly I had never been involved in an accident before and I had heard lots of tow truck driver stories. But the guy asked who I was insured with, he himself phoned the insurance company for me and had them settle the area to tow the car to etc... he handled everything from there and was very polite. I think his name was Johan, was around the Constantia Kloof area in JHB.

My car came back in one piece no questions asked and no hassles. The tow truck driver was the biggest help that day

 

[bboy]

yeah, with my old corsa i had an accident.

anyway, when the many different tow truck drivers arrived i just announced to them "MY INSURER IS SATAM, WHICH ONE OF YOU CAN GET ON THE PHONE AND GET AUTHORISED" , bam, all their cellphones out all of them phoning, one gives me his phone i talk to santam and they auth the tow, was great cause I didn't have to sit there dealing with people on the phone after an accident, was about a 15 minute convo too at his expense, and the medics hassling me, and the other driver messing around

 

[xrapidx]

Not all of them are bad.

When I had my accident the tow truck driver parked a ways away from the scene. He stood by and bided his time and when I was done with the metro and the other party he walked up and spoke with me. Alarm bells rang because firstly I had never been involved in an accident before and I had heard lots of tow truck driver stories. But the guy asked who I was insured with, he himself phoned the insurance company for me and had them settle the area to tow the car to etc... he handled everything from there and was very polite. I think his name was Johan, was around the Constantia Kloof area in JHB.

My car came back in one piece no questions asked and no hassles. The tow truck driver was the biggest help that day

Do you know how easy it is for a tow truck driver to screw you by doing that? Phone your own insurance company next time

 

[bboy]

Do you know how easy it is for a tow truck driver to screw you by doing that? Phone your own insurance company next time

Well obviously you need to make sure the insurance company is ok with it and they will have to talk to you to find out if you are their client

 

[xrapidx]

Well obviously you need to make sure the insurance company is ok with it and they will have to talk to you to find out if you are their client

Yeh - but its very easy for a tow truck driver to trick people, e.g.

Tow truck driver pretends to phone insurance company, while pretending to be on the phone, asks you personal details, like insurance policy nr, or if you don't have it, ID number - he can fake the hole call - and take your car.

 

[Creag]

Not all of them are bad ... But the guy asked who I was insured with, he himself phoned the insurance company for me and had them settle the area to tow the car to etc... he handled everything from there and was very polite.

Yeh - but its very easy for a tow truck driver to trick people, e.g.

Tow truck driver pretends to phone insurance company, while pretending to be on the phone, asks you personal details, like insurance policy nr, or if you don't have it, ID number - he can fake the hole call - and take your car.

I agree not all tow truck drivers are bad but unfortunately there is a healthy % of them who are our to make a buck ... no matter what it requires. They will scam you and trick you into believing they are the real deal.

But once they tow the vehicle, and they have scammed or tricked you into letting them tow the vehicle, you will be required to pay 1000's per day for storage and towing fees.

I work in an insurance company and we hear frequently hear these stories.

Even the insurance company will battle to get your vehicle back.

Some basic tips to remember:

• No tow truck can force you to take their services. I don't care if they were first or not. It is your prerogative to choose. Some of them will even go so far as to show you insurance company logos or stuff like that to make you believe they are authentic.
  
• You, not the tow truck driver, call your own insurance company, and you personally establish with them who's approved to move your vehicle. Let them make that decision for you. (All too often the trucker will call their dolly-bird in their office and make you think it is the insurance company. Scam! Scam! Scam!)
  
• Most insurers now days have a 24 hour call centre you can call in the event of an accident. Keep that telephone number on you phone, in your cubby in your car, etc. We want to help you through the accident. It's usually a traumatic time and the guy/girl on the other side will efficiently try to make it easier for you by giving you the right advice.

Your insurance company is concerned about your well being, the safety of your vehicle and wants to minimise your claims costs.

 

[Rosaudio]

Great post McT!

 

[Creag]

Great post McT!

Have worked my insurance company for just under 20 years and I am always more than happy to pass on what I have learned.

 

[Pearson6]

Yeh - but its very easy for a tow truck driver to trick people, e.g.

Tow truck driver pretends to phone insurance company, while pretending to be on the phone, asks you personal details, like insurance policy nr, or if you don't have it, ID number - he can fake the hole call - and take your car.

Well if this happens to anyone then dat person must be a real fool hey.........I mean u still need to talk to the person anyway

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Do you know how easy it is for a tow truck driver to screw you by doing that? Phone your own insurance company next time

He handed me the phone to confirm some details. If I recall correctly they stated my car model and confirmed some other details with me which told me they had me on system. Received smses on my cellphone with ref numbers and everything from my insurance company seconds after the call as well as the correct place to tow it to. From there I wasn't too worried