Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/28/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Sunday, November 27th 3:00pm, I was towed from a handicap space (I had our handicap sticker displayed) in front of closed post office on ***************, **. We noticed our vehicle was missing. Talked to local business, they told ** who to call. When I called they were extremely rude, and requested only a cash payment of $215.00 to get out of storage. Had to retrieve cash from local atm. Had to rent a uber to retrieve our vehicle. When we arrived they were extremely rude. I took pictures of vehicle on their grounds before I entered it and retrieved registration and insurance. Noticed that there was damage to the front under neath and there is an oil leak now. I called the *********************************, they told me to make a claim here, and start a Small Claims Court Case also. They have had many complaints against this company. I asked the if they were insured and bonded and they refused to answer.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/20/2022

  This verbal response was taken by BBB.

  The *********** has 3 spots reserved for PO Box holders to park. Whether the *********** is open or closed there is No Parking. The signage is clear.

  We are in complete compliance with Florida Statutes and Code Enforcement. 

  We use a flatbed to tow cars. There is no way damage was done by us and there is a damage waiver on the receipt that the consumer signs when picking up there car.

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/31/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Last week, I was in a parking lot in *********. Before parking the car, I asked the bartender, located outside of the building, if the parking was allowed here and she said yes as long as my car is not on the sidewalk, so that I don't get a ticket. I parked the car legally. My car was not on the sidewalk. My friend who was with me is a 70 year old lady and needed a drink to take her medicine but the bartender ignored us for over 10 minutes even tho there was not too many customers. We left to get water in a different place and returned in about 15 minutes. To my surprise, a huge tow truck from "Manatee towing" blocked my car, parked legally and threatened to tow the car. The driver was standing there, in the dark parking lot, asking for cash. Across the parking the same person who told me to park there, screamed loudly at me that she told me " not to park here"... She was now screaming the exact opposite of what she had said 20 minutes prior. I paid the 60$ cash in order to get the truck unblock my car and I asked for a receipt. The tow truck gave me an empty receipt and asked me to fill out MY address, as if I am the owner of the property asking that MY car be towed... I still have the paper with me. I was under so much stress that I did not realize the scam at that moment, too anxious about my car and my friend feeling weak. I am now reviewing this company on ****** and there are 7 similar descriptions of the scam for cash over the last 6 MONTHS. Two men came to talk to us in the car when we were leaving. One of the man game me his phone number and said he knows the owner of the restaurant/ bar and will let him know. The other man was also very upset at what happened to us. Both men witnessed all this and wanted to help us. Here are the other documented victims of the scam in the review link I am enclosing. Please make sure no other people become victims these companies. Thank you! https://www.yelp.com/biz/manatee-towing-*********

  Business Response

  Date: 11/02/2022

  all properties have tow away signs posted as per ******* law the reason this **** was asked to pay ***** was because the driver had already hooked up to the vehicle and the law states we can charge half of ****** as a drop fee nothing was done to violate the law on our behalf

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/02/2022

   
  Complaint: 18338238
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  the driver did not hook up the vehicle.  3 Witnesses can confirm this information.  There was a 70 year old woman in the passenger seat.  By law, he could not hook up the vehicle anyway.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/08/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Formal Complaint: There is a ******** located at ***********************************************************************************. The property has Tow Away Zone for Unauthorized vehicles signs (see photos provided) located on their building as well as at the front entrance of the building. To the side of the Circle K there is a parking lot off of 1st street that does not have a Tow Zone sign posted at the entrance. There is a misleading Public Parking sign as you turn down 1st street with an arrow (see pictures). The way that the signs are displayed it is meant to trick tourist and locals into parking in the parking lot. The parking lot to the side is not well lit at night and no signs are placed to where they can be seen clearly at night. The parking lot in front of Circle K and on their building has signs that are posted that state that unauthorized vehicles will be towed. It does not specify which vehicles are authorized. I would assume that it usually means people who are not patrons of the business. Manatee Towing, ******************************************************, and Circle K watch and wait for someone to leave their car parked even if they visit the store. As soon as the person leaves the vehicle, they tow it requiring $300 CASH only. My teenage daughter drove around for 20 minutes looking for legal parking. She was excited to see a car pulling out of a what seemed to be legal public parking spot. She pulled in and left the vehicle for about 30 minutes. She verified around her parking spot that there were no signs posted. There were not and the one that they had was hidden by a **** in a dark lot with a public parking sign by the side entrance that she entered. They towed her grandfathers vehicle and left a teenage girl stranded somewhere that she was unfamiliar with and charged her $300 (that she didnt have) cash get to her grandfathers car back. There are several poor reviews of how these businesses are working together to scam people. The businesses split the cash.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/22/2022

  Nobody likes to have their car impounded. But the fact of the matter is we do as our contracts with these owners of the properties . As a towing company are in full compliance of all code enforcement regulations and all ******* laws. the business owners do not get any funds and for someone to make such accusations is slander. We will continue to do business and follow all state regulations.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/24/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This afternoon: My car was parked at the *************** ******************* gift store where my granddaughter and her friends had been shopping and purchased several items. It was towed within a few minutes of leaving the shop. We were charged $300 to claim the car and when we got it directly back to our driveway, it was noticed that it was clearly damaged! There is a significant dent incorporating the bumper, fender, wheel well and possibly the muffler/exhaust system (photo's attached). I called the towing company and they first hung up on me; when I called back I was told to send pictures. They say the damage wasn't caused by the tow truck. However, it was noticed immediately upon getting the car in the driveway at our home (*******, **). It is not damage caused by driving or parking, and was definitely caused by careless handling of my car in their trash-filled lot.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/20/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On Sunday, July 17, 2022, my family and I were at the Bradenton Beach area in Florida. We stopped to get drinks at the Circle K (****************************************** to grab drinks. First we went next door to the Gift Shop (*******************). We were in this store for less than 20 minutes and Manatee Towing took my vehicle (200 Jeep Grand Cherokee). Signs in the area stated "Unauthorized Vehicles will be towed" but does not define "Unauthorized". I also took photos of other vehicles that were obviously beach goers also parked in lot. In the end the place where I had to pick up my vehicle, $300.00 cash only, was very sketchy and we were treated by these people like criminals. Pictures of signs, the business location and one person hold vicious dog were taken during this ordeal. This situation amounts to auto thief and extortion by this company. I will also be filing a police report about this situation. I'm not the first to complain. This ordeal ruined a great day with my family and needs to stop. Reviews of this company stated similar problems with this company.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/23/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 7, 2022/08/08) */ This is a verbal reply taken by BBB: Everyone likes to park at the Circle K and then leave to go to one of the shops or the beach within walking distance. Nearby is beach access, across the street is the gift shop and ice cream parlor, behind Circle K is a bar and grill. Circle K has it's own property, you cannot park on the Circle K property and walk off to go to another business or you will get towed. The property manager on duty hired us to come through every hour to check if the people parked at the spots are actually customers. There are 13 spots and it's a busy store, we put up 6 signs to warn parking is for customers only even though the police department said we only need 2. People keep saying they dont see the signs with our information but then happen to see them after the fact when they realize they've been towed. We were hired by the property manager for towing services and we are only doing our jobs.