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Business Profile

Marine Towing

Seatow Services of Fort Myers

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Seatow Services of Fort Myers's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 1 complaint in the last 3 years.
    • 0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

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    Submit a Complaint

    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.

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    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/25/2024

      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.
      Called sea tow to give us a slight tug as tide was going down. incompetent captain tired to pull us off from the bow when i asked slight tug from ***** will do. Damaged boat when he tried to swing us around said his engine rpm not working need to call another seatow boat but this time told us its like we dont have coverage will be approx $400/hr from start to boat harbour return plus $600 for my boat totals could have easily been over 2k. He tried to extort additional monies from us when we had an annual service coverage. Next boat did come when i complained to head office. By time he came showed him pics of damage. He said he could try to get us off but i declined and preferred to wait for tide at this point. In to time did the first captain explain there could be damage if so would have decline **** attach email and pics i sent them over two weeks and no response. Asked seatow main for regional manager and two weeks no response Attached pics but dont know how to send email technically chalked but happy to forward to you if you give me an email address

      Business Response

      Date: 04/16/2024

      The vessel owner was informed that he did not have enough water underneath the boat and advised he should wait for high tide. He insisted on us pulling him incorrectly from the *****. The vessel owner also insisted that our captain attempt to pull him off. After the captain could not unground the vessel into deeper water, the vessel owner berated the captain and dispatcher. The vessel owner was informed that if a second Sea Tow vessel were requested, it would not be covered, as per our membership agreement. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 04/17/2024

       
      Complaint: 21477189

      I am rejecting this response because:

      first captain NEVER said water too low.  never berated captain  he told us he does the all the time.  only reason he ccould get us off was his engine not working (not reving high enough) so need to call another boat but this will cost you approx $1600 

       

      pls see my email i sent seatow twice with NO response.  I want them to repair my damaged tow hook.

       

      here is the email i sent:

      2nd request pls respond

      ? Member # *******

      Around 3:30 4pm off of ************** by the lighthouse on the inside the tide was running out and we were running out of water.  I called Sea tow when i realized we could not push ourselves off.  Captain ***** came, nice at first.  We were bow in, I did dig a 5 foot cavity trying to reverse out pushing some sand forward.  Captain ***** said well tie to bow and Ill swing you out.  I said we just need a light tug from the ***** to pull us off slowly. Nope we tie at the bow swing you around.  I wasnt going to challenge the expert.   Tells me he pulled ***** boats off this season this way and even hauled off a 60.  He ties to the bow tells all my passengers (6 of us and two dogs) to get on board and hold tight!  It will feel like you will tip over but you wont.
      He starts to pull breaches us and then proceeds to tell me his rpm on his engines are not running up to capacity.  Ill have to call another boat, but for that boat to come it will be like you dont have coverage $400/hr from ******** they come from and $400/hr to get back and $20/foot.  I told him that is wrong (and honestly felt like he was trying to extort money from me). Because his motor doesnt get to rpm then have to call another boat it will cost us $1500 plus.  I call scam! Shame on you!  I then called main line again and they said sending another boat no charge.  What was Captain ***** trying to dosteal from members???

      Captain **** came, by this time tide was most out.  We were on the hard with no water and breached thx to Captain ***** the Scammer.  It was then I discovered Captain ***** damaged my toe ring.  I sent the pics to Captain ***** I will send you video and pics.  My boat is ****** pounds and Captain ***** in his attempt to float us damaged my boat (bent tow ring which is hard to do) when I specifically asked for a light tug from my aft. Captain **** said he would try to drag us to water as his boat was stronger. I told him no thanks will wait for the tide to come back in. Captain **** was nice and offered to come at 11pm high tide that evening and try to get us off if we still dont float out.  Gave me his cell phone number.  By 9pm we floated out and motored home.  I called Captain **** and told him we were off and thanked him for his offer.  I also mention by depth sounder does work now (likely sand in the transducer sender,hopefully that will self correct).

      As members we rely on experts to know the right things to do when a member is asking for help.  Nothing about potential damage was ever disclosed to us otherwise I would have just waited for Mother Nature to float us out again.

      I have been a member for 10+ years and never called Sea Tow once until Saturday. What an awful experience.  

      Before I post my experience on local social media please advise how you propose to fix my tow ring and anything else you are prepared to offer given your Captain ***** the Scammers  incompetence.

      Regards,
      ***

      Sincerely,

      *****************

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