‘Stealing our cars & we’re paying them,’ cries driver towed four times in six months – there was no sign by her vehicle | 88I24H8 | 2024-05-12 12:08:01
'Stealing our cars & we're paying them,' cries driver towed four times in six months – there was no sign by her vehicle | 88I24H8 | 2024-05-12 12:08:01
A RENTER saw her car towed away four times within six months even though there wasn't a sign prohibiting parking in sight.
Now her car sits in the lot because she can't afford the retrieval fees.
Shaquanta Dixon, a tenant in the Seigle Point Apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina, told the story about two of her cars being towed away four times within six months.
Her 2002 BMW is currently sitting in the company's lot due to her inability to pay the fees, she told CBS affiliate WBTV.
Three of those tows were by Universal Towing.
The last towing job was by Meck County Towing and Recovery, owned by Rick Barrino – who reported towing nearly 200 times from the apartment complex's parking lot in just two months.
One tow sticks out for her, as she captures a Universal truck towing her BMW away despite no visible signs prohibiting parking.
The company reported that a majority of those tows happen on Green Trail Lane – the same street Dixon's car was towed from – that doesn't have "No Parking" signs.
Two years ago, Barrino was sued by U-Haul in addition to being accused of insurance fraud after he intentionally crashed into another car.
Barrino's record showed counts of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, unsafe driving, and assault.
U-Haul's suit claimed that Barrino filed 13 insurance loss claims.
The company's investigation uncovered he once worked for A1 Towing and Recovery, who fired him for stealing tires from the service center, though the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence.
<!-- End of Brightcove Player --> Dixon was stunned to see his colorful history.
"This is the person that they claim to have a contract with, are you serious?" she said.
"This guy has a horrible background. He has access to my neighborhood, my cars, and all our property, and Seigle Point has to know this."
She called on local politicians to act.
"We have criminals, track record criminals coming in, stealing our cars and we're paying them to get our cars back. Help us!" she said.
Two drivers had bad experiences with two notorious towing companies[/caption]
She wasn't the only driver who fell victim to the "wild west" that's become the towing scene in Charlotte.
Joshua Kim took an extended trip to Korea and had an agreement with a hotel to park his car for the duration of the trip at $100 per month.
When Kim returned, his car was nowhere to be found.
He called the police assuming it was stolen, and discovered the vehicle had been towed by PCR and NC Recovery, owned by Tim Davis.
Kim contacted Davis to inquire about the costs associated with retrieving his car and was told $2,550.
However, two days later, the price rose to $7,500.
<p class="article__content--intro"> Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle. </p> </div> </div> "This is illegal what you're doing, you towed the vehicle illegally," Kim recalled telling Davis over the phone.
"I'm going to get law enforcement involvement and they said, 'We don't care what you do'."
Kim employed the help of his attorney, Ryan Smith, who continued conversations with Davis, and found out that his car was sold due to Kim not paying the $7,500 bill.
He tried to object to the sale, but the sale was finalized with a signature from a deputy clerk.
"I know I won't be the last person that's going through this type of ordeal," he said.
"It's very disheartening to see that a business, a towing business, can get away with what they're getting away with in this case."
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