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:02/05/2024

  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.

  On January 12, 2024, icy roads caused a car in front of my husband spin out of control, my husband then also hit ice, and the two vehicles collided. Autobot Tow truck, driver "Tee", happened by and offered to take our vehicle to a car repair shop of our choosing, stating he has a relationship with our insurance, and roadside services would work. However, the tow driver then asked my husband if he could drop our vehicle at their holding lot, with the understanding that he would transport our car to our repair shop later that same day, as he wanted to get back on road to "make money". Since that time, my husband has needed to try to contact the company daily, trying to find our vehicle, as our repair shop was still waiting for it. Our insurance company has also been trying to resolve issue. It was on Jan 31, 2024, that the repair shop informed us that they now have the car, but no key. We believe our insurance paid a fee to get the car released to their tow service, and it was then transported to repair shop. On Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, my husband received a letter from Autobot threatening to put a lien on our vehicle. They have a key, and also know what repair shop we are using. Because it is Saturday, we cannot notify our repair shop of our concerns until Monday. We have concerns that they will try to take our vehicle, plus if insurance did pay them, we believe that fee will end up being our cost, and needs to be refunded. They basically had held our vehicle without cause, and possibly illegally.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/17/2024

  Greetings, 

  We apologize for any miscommunication. Customer satisfaction is always our top priority. Dispatch spoke with Mr. ***** on Wednesday 2/14/2024 letting him know that we have the key and he requested we mail it to him. The key has been mailed since speaking with Mr. *****. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to ask.

  Thank you,

  ********* 

  Office Staff

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/25/2024

  Hi

  Autobot returned our vehicle's key.  We got it yesterday.  We still wish that they would refund our insurance company, as they essentially held our vehicle for ransom, demanding a "storage fee", after they disregarded their agreement to take our vehicle to the car shop on same day as accident.  This delayed the assessment of our car, and created more challenges for us with transportation issues. We regard Autobot to be unethical, and their driver "Tee" to be an instrument of their bad behavior.  I wish there was a way to hold them accountable.

  I understand this may be the last of our attempts to get true resolution.  I realize BBB is limited in what they can do.  At least our experience will be known to you, as you get other complaints about Autobot.  I believe you already have some, and wish you could compile the information, and put enough pressure on them that they improve their behavior.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/26/2023

  Type:Service or Repair 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.

  My car was towed to their tow lot I went to retrieve my items out my car and when my things was brought to me there was a lot of things missing I then told them that’s not everything out of my car and she proceeded to argue with me that it was. I just want the rest of my items out of my car that they STOLE from me. Very unprofessional behavior

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/01/2023

  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.

  Here is a brief summary of the events that occured with Autobot towing. On August 17, 2023 I called 911 to report my car stolen from **** ****** ** but because I didn't30 have the vin # with me I only reported the tag stoIen ,because I have the tag #. I called 911 back the next morning on the 18th to provide the vin #. I received a certified letter on August 28th, that Autobot has my vehicle and picked it up on August 21, 2023 from **** ********, to which I have attached a copy of this 4557 form that was sent to me. When I called they said it would be $1500 to get my car back. I then called KCPD to see what I could do to get my car back and they said because it was towed from public street, according to their 4557 form, and that car can only be towed by kcpd if it was not on private property and if they did tow it because it was on private property i needed to ask for a 4669 form. I called the tow company back and the rep stated that the form.I then called kcpd back who stated they would send a police officer there to get the vehicle released. I got a call back the next day, Tuesday Aug 29th stating they would not release the vehicle they would need to have a detective go out there to have it released. they call back saying they didn't release it to them either and they would now have to contact the highway patrol to get it released. Later that day I got a call from highway patrol stating he got it released and he was going to have to get it towed to kcpd tow lot but when i called Wednesday morning to come get it it was still at Autobot towing. I called the highway patrol back and he now is saying that he only got it released back to them not released to another tow lot. After this officer Barnes in south kc highway he was the officer that went to that location to try to get it released monday so he said he would call to verify what was going on. When he called back he stated that they told him it would be 260 for towing and 30 a day, which when i called back they told me different price of $865 for yesterday $920 to get it today August 31, 2023 and I have attached a copy of this as well. I spoke with someone at the Independence police dept and she gave me the number of ********* ******* who is already looking into the company and his # is ************. If you need to reach me, my number is ************.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/18/2023

  This is not accurate information. This vehicle was not parked on a public street it was towed because it was illegally parked on private property. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/21/2023

  Type:Billing 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 5/21/2023 at 1:18pm my car was towed by Autobot towing LLC in Independence, MO. I paid for parking at the River market and was able to provide a receipt and proof of a permit purchased for parking during the time period it was towed. It was in their lot for less than 2 hours and we were charged a storage fee even though they did not meet the MO code for towing companies holding a vehicle for 24 hours before charging a fee. They also charged us a $25.00 fee for after business hours fee even though their hours reflected on their website state that their business hours are 24/7. I asked for the information on the business/private property that issued the tow so that I could take the tow charge up with them and they refused to provide the information even though I provided proof of payment for parking.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/22/2023

  this vehicle was parked on private property with no parking permit as you can see in photos provided it was unauthorized parking and they were towed . charges are standard kansas city rates 265.00 hook up and 30 for storage as soon as it hits our lot. our business hours for towing are 24/7 as for releasing vehicles we are open 9am to 5pm monday through friday and 9 am until noon on saturdays so any time after that for release there is an after hours fee of 25.00 . customer was not happy about this and in turn filed a complaint when they were illegally parked . 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/08/2022

  Type:Billing 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.

  Towed my truck away in an unidentifiable spot in the River Market was parked there for maybe an hour. Contacted the company and they demand I pay in cash at 11pm. My truck was on their tow lot for 12 hours or less when I retrieved my truck at 10:30am the next morning and they charged me for 2 days of a storage fee. Based on other ****** reviews this company has done similar things to other people.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/24/2022

  The customer did not pay for parking therefor we were called to tow this vehicle. We are available 24/7 to release vehicles. The customer chose to wait two days to pick up the vehicle resulting in two days of storage.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/29/2022

  Type:Billing 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.

  The Police Department used Autobot towing as the company to Impound my property the evening of Aug 22nd. I called the following morning to receive the information on what I needed and the total to retrieve my Maddog Motor Scooter off of their tow lot. The female owner is who I spoke to, she first told me she did not have my motor scooter on her lot, after reconfirming it was indeed the Autobot Towing company the police department used with the Chief deputy. Due to there being two different tow companies operating out of the same office on Wilson Rd he doubled checked that it wasn't ******* *** but it was in fact Autobot Towing. I recalled called the office speaking with the female owner for the second time, stating the Police station confirmed it was her towing company that towed my Motor Scooter away, she then would not give me any information on the Motor Scooter even though I am the owner. On the Second day, I recalled called speaking with the female owner, I told her I had the title and Vin number, I would like to know the totals in order to collect my property off her tow lot, she quoted me over $600 dollar for the tow fee and daily hold fee. I Asked how? she stated the Police Department called for two trucks-there is proof she in fact made this statement, and because of the two day hold fee. When a tow company is contracted out by the Police department it is a flat rate fee of $200 and a $60 dollar daily hold fee. This owner was charging me double on the towing fee and the daily hold fee, per the lien document she sent in to MDOR. I tried to call take care of the charges for towing my Scooter before she could even charge me for the holding fee, by Missouri Law and Codes for Towing Companies they can not charge you for a holding fee until a full 24hrs of the property being held on their lot, she is holding to the property to be able to charge the customers the daily fee. When I requested a receipt showing the cost of fees, she hangs up then blocks my calls.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/29/2022

  The police officers put that it was an mac90 so when she said Mad Dog scooter, we couldn't find it. None of our paperwork said Mad Dog.  It took us two weeks to figure out. 

  They didn't have to pay any storage. We helped them load it up and they were happy. This is resolved.