The Ideas Some People Come Up With

[bankworking]

People need to realize that the tow companies don't make the rules. If they think the towing rules in their apartments' lots are unfair, or cause too many problems (such as the assigned parking space discussion), then talk to the apartment manager. Might not do anything, but then at least you're barking up the right tree. Complaining to the tow guy is just stupid.

[EricKei]

People need to realize that the tow companies don't make the rules......Complaining to the tow guy is just stupid.

The same could be said of pretty much anywhere people work, especially retail. The worst customers, in particular, love to scream at the wageslaves as if they're the ones who made the rules not allowing them to return an obviously-used item they bought five years ago, for cash, without a receipt...

[blas]

I wish we had it like the system Arga talks about.

Our lease makes it appear like it's a zero tolerance thing, not a renter here = no parking, but once you've lived here a bit, you realize all the grey area. And once or twice, someone's in your spot and you call to complain to the landlord (IF he even answers, such as on a weekend), they tell you "Ohh, too bad, just park on the street, write down the info on the vehicle, see if it's still there later". Yeah, we aren't allowed to be "vengeful" and call a tow truck on people in our spots. Supposedly, only the propery management is allowed to handle that, yet, call and complain that someone's guest is in your spot, and you get an "oh well" response.

[Sapphire Silk]

The sound of a diesel engine towing your dumb neighbor's car away gets the message across much better to the rest of the people.

Yes, it does I remember with amusement a guy getting towed from the parking lot of my apartment complex. All the neighbors were on their patios/balconies watching the show and laughing at the irate fellow who was arguing with the tow truck driver. After a cop came and went very quickly, said fellow paid up very quickly (I think it was actually a repo, since our lot didn't require tags or have reserved spaces) and the tow driver unhooked the car.

Well, there's two types of lots we do, there are lots with assigned spaces, and lots without.

If it's a lot WITH assigned spaces, you are given a specific numbered space to park in and told in no uncertain terms that you MUST use that UND ONLY ZAT space. It's tied to your lease agreement, so that nobody else but YOU should ever be using it. If you come home and find another car in your space, you call us, show us your lease and we tow the offender away. Sadly, there have been numerous cases where someone comes home, finds someone in their space, doesn't want to be the 'bad guy' and tow them, so they just use another open space,

The apartment I lived in when I was in California was like this. Covered parking was all reserved; each apartment had one spot. Uncovered parking was open to anyone and was intended for visitors, though some families had more than one car. Residents could call the tow company on their own for covered parking violations.

One of my neighbors had a friend who decided he liked parking in my covered spot. I left him a couple of notes saying he could not park there, that was my spot. I didn't call the tow company because there was plenty of uncovered parking. On the third occasion, though, I left a note stating that on the next occasion he would not get a friendly warning, I would simply call the tow company and that would be that.

He never parked in my spot again.

Service calls (flats, breakdowns) are unregulated, we can charge whatever we want for those, unless you have a motor club, then you pay our contracted rate through them, whatever it is. I strongly recommend everyone get motorclub coverage of somekind, even the cheapest tiers of service are better than paying pure cash rates, if you break down more than 10 miles from your destination/home, it can get expensive since the major cost of a service is the mileage. $2.50 a mile doesn't sound like much, but, it adds up quickly.

I second this. My car broke down some years ago, and I had to get it towed about 40 miles. I could not have afforded it if I had not had the motor club.

[Talon]

[B]
-WON-HUNDRED AN FEEF-TEEEEN DOLLARS???? Are you serious!?

"No sir, I'm Argabarga."

...but I can’t say I’d ever been threatened with a political campaign. I must be getting important in the world at last.

That's awesome
Argabarga for President!

[Krandor]

People need to realize that the tow companies don't make the rules. If they think the towing rules in their apartments' lots are unfair, or cause too many problems (such as the assigned parking space discussion), then talk to the apartment manager. Might not do anything, but then at least you're barking up the right tree. Complaining to the tow guy is just stupid.

Agreed. I often see people complain "the whole lot was empty and the business was closed so I figured nobody would mind if I parked there but the mean tow truck guy came and towed me away." Well, it is the business that had a contract with them to tow people away.. now the tow truck drivers fault. Chances are people that parked there after hours made a mess of the parking lot and/or for liability reasons they just don't want people parking there when they are closed. It is their parking lot and their choice.

[Geek King]

Chances are people that parked there after hours made a mess of the parking lot and/or for liability reasons they just don't want people parking there when they are closed.

Actually, one of the places I used to work who were strict about permit parking even when closed were that way because non-worker parkers didn't leave in the mornings, leaving no room for the employees who were there for work. They finally got tired of half the workforce having to park on the street, when the lot was there for the workers.

[Argabarga]

Without fratching about it, the way I see it is, it's someone else's property, if they don't want you parked there, you can't park there, and whatever rationalization you come up with doesn't matter, because you aren't the owner.

Some are strict, some don't care, but, in the end, if it ain't YOUR lot, you COULD be towed away... like speeding tickets, they can't catch everyone, but if they catch you, don't make things worse by being difficult.

My little catch phrase for such situations is, and always has been

"When you own the lot, then you can make the rules"