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:12/27/2024

  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 April 26, ********************************* the state of *********. I was assaulted and my car was stolen by criminals. After police report was completed, a week later police in ************** found car and arrested criminals. Car was hen towed by Devine Towing. My wife and I contacted business several times in order to retrieve car a Mustang 2000 --Customized car priced at 0ver 10,000$ or more. Devine towing gave us the run around for weeks, did not answer calls or give out information regarding car. Instead, they illegally attempted to charge me 2,300$ to retrieve car. We believe that Devine towing took advantage of situation, to keep car and profit from it. How can a victim of a crime be charged so much money for a car stolen by criminals.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/16/2025

  On 4/25/2024 at approximately 3:00 a.m., we were contacted by the ******************************** to tow a ******************** which the driver had been arrested for impaired driving.  Our business is a ** Highway Patrol rotation wrecker affiliate and the local departments in *************** utilize us based on that affiliation.  The ***************** approves our price list, and our rotation pricing is based off of that approved list.  We secured and stored the vehicle at the request of APD. The tow charges wer:  $200 Base Tow Fee, $75 Labor for calling out a driver after hours, and a $75 Admin Fee for the filing of DMV paperwork.  The storage rate was $40/Day, which is the approved rate by the ** Highway Patrol.

  A few days after towing the vehicle we were contacted by both APD and a **************** in eastern **********  The vehicle had, according to them, been reported stolen sometime AFTER the arrest of the driver for impaired driving.  They requested that we hold the vehicle.  We were contacted approximately 2 weeks later by *** and advised that we could release it to the owner.  The owner contacted us several times to find out how to get the vehicle back. They were told that they needed to have proof of ownership and payment based on what the total was each time they called.  The owner felt they should not have to pay anything since they were a "victim".  They were advised that we were a private company providing a contract service for the police.  They were advised each time that the vehicle would continue to accumulate storage costs.  We have not heard a word from the owners in 6 or 7 months.  We have had possession now for 239 days which would be $9,560 in storage plus $350 in towing related charges. Attached are the ***260, ***262 and ***264 forms which are required by the **DMV.  The ***260 is the most important which is the notification to DMV that a vehicle has been left abandoned at our business.  DMV then sends a series of notifications to the owner. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/21/2025

   
  I am rejecting this response because: We are rejecting Devine Towing actions of keeping a stolen car illegally, the car was in possession of towing place, which quickly increased towing charges to over $1,000$ within the first few days, gave me and my wife the runaround not answering phone calls when needed. Yes we are victims of a crime, victims written with no quotes as business answers in complaint and car was stolen by criminals."Victims" they write sarcastically as if it never happened. This towing place has no right to keep a stolen car and then charge ridiculous amount of money to owners. This is a vehicle that belongs to a decent family who's children use vehicle to attend school, and college. Why would anyone have to pay so much money to recover a stolen vehicle. A disgrace! Now this company wants $9,000, these are crooked businesses who take from those who are vulnerable and from those who are victims of crimes and other misfortunes.  Where on this planet does anyone have to pay these amounts of money in order to recover a families vehicle that has been stolen?

  We never received any certified letter from the ************************* in **************, no certified letter no nothing, and last quote Devine Towing gave us for car in late May, 2024 already amounted to $2,300. Obviously, business attempts to sell car for profit. 

  ********* and ******** *******
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/24/2025

  We have no further to offer in this case.  Our storage rate is $40/day and this $40/day rate is the approved rate by the *********************** and all of our local law enforcement agencies.  The charges were not escalated beyond the $40/day rate.  The owners of the vehicle, with proof of ownership, could have picked up this vehicle at any time along the way with the charges being anywhere from the initial few hundred dollars to where we are today.  As of today, these people have not one time been to our business and attempted to rectify the towing of the vehicle.  The correspondence from DMV was attached in our last response and these notifications were mailed out from the ***** to the address that the complainant provided you.  The first letter was mailed after the ***** day window required by state statute for notification.  Any attempt at that point by the owner would have resulted in a minimal tow/storage bill, yet no attempt on their part.  In the end, we are a PRIVATE business which provides a service to local law enforcement with approved, reasonable rates.  As a FOR PROFIT private business, we cannot provide towing and storage for free regardless of one's status as a victim of a crime or any other status.  When people are DECENT, we do attempt to work with them to minimize their inconvenience.  When the people are ENTITLED, we simply follow the charge guideline approved by the governmental agencies.