Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Athens Towing's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Athens Towing

  10963 State Route 550 Athens, OH 45701-9720

• 

  Athens Towing

  PO Box 1146 Athens, OH 45701-1146

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:11/29/2024

  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.

  My truck was towed by this company on August 7th the lugnuts were loosened by someone and I had no cell service on this area of 550. My truck was towed because I was in the hospital and someone had stolen my keys while I was away from my truck in the hospital. I called Athens towing and at this point they had my truck two days and said it would be $1,800. I contacted my insurance company and they were going to get it out but they said because I left my vehicle it was considerably abandoned I called Athens towing and after two months they said I owed them $5,000 and they'd only take $2,500 and payments of $250 a wk. I had roadside assistance they wouldn't take that or AAA. Now I still owe ****** on this truck I called in again and they said they gained ownership. This is so unfair anytime I would call to talk to the owner they would say he wasn't in. They only towed my truck literally 3 miles it was in the side of the road not in the way of anyone. If my keys wouldn't have been stolen I would've got it but by that time they towed it. They made it I'm possible for me to get when it was $1,800 I asked if I could pay $180.00 and make payments and the denied me. This is really unfair I worked hard for this and continue to make my payments can someone please help me resolve this I have no problem paying them but last I checked it was $5000 that's a third of what I owe on it. They were less than professional anytime I would call I only talked to the owner once. It was always the driver and he would say I think he's trying to gain ownership Everytime I called and I was like what I'm trying to get my truck out not give it away. It's like they wanted my truck so they're keeping it. Please help me I've worked hard to get this truck, I had no help I turned my life around after doing 6 yrs in prison by getting good job and changing from the person I used to be. I'm trying so hard and it seems like everything is going wrong. It's more than just a truck to me, it shows I changed.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/10/2024

  In regards to Mr. ******** complaint , I will agree with 2 of his statements being accurate: #1. Athens Towing did tow his vehicle. #2. He did lose ownership of his vehicle. All other statements are inaccurate or falsehoods.

  Mr. ******** vehicle was towed on August 8 2024 at the request of Athens County Sheriff. The details behind the impound request are between Mr. ******* and the Sheriff. Mr. ******* contacted us over a week later and relayed his "story". I (the owner) advised him to come to our office in order to make arrangements, which would include signing documents to enter into a payment plan. I advised him of the bill at the time, I believe it was around $800 towing & storage , and that once he entered into the agreement that storage would stop but failure to do so storage fees would accumulate. He not only failed to appear , nothing more was heard from him until I filed for unclaimed or abandoned vehicle and he was notified by certified mail. I (the owner) spoke with him again shortly thereafter , and again advised him of the increased fees and again he never showed up at our office to enter into agreement. The vehicle remained in our yard until it was forfeited on November 12 2024. He was informed of this and has now continued to contact us to complain and harass. 

  I am not required by law to offer a payment plan and as far as I am aware, Athens Towing is the only towing company around willing to do this. Mr. ******* was offered this option more than once and never attempted to take advantage of it, the outcome based on his decisions are of his own volition. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/25/2023

  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 April 22, 2023, my vehicle was towed in Athens Ohio at 730 pm. It says it was towed because of “signage” of which there was NONE. My vehicle was towed by Athens Towing, Athens, Ohio. Located at 10963 State Route 550 Athens, Ohio. ###-###-#### The next day, April 23, 2023 at 230 pm, I sought to retrieve my vehicle. This was approximately 19 hours later. To retrieve my vehicle, I was charged: 1. Storage $35 a day x 2. They said it was 2 days….employee said “Saturday and Sunday” even though it has been 19 hours. Additionally, they are only allowed to charge $17.00 per day in accordance with the PUCO regulations/Ohio Administrative Rule 4901:2-24-03 (B)(1). I should have been charged for 1 day=$17.00 not for 2 days at $35.00 x 2 days =$70.00. Ridiculous. 2. Towing. Assuming it was properly towed which I dispute, I was charged $165.00 for towing. PUCO regulations/Ohio Administrative Rule 4901:2-24(A)(1) allows only $129.00 per towing, 3. Other Amounts Charged. Was charged a fuel surplus charge of $10.00. Not permitted by regulation/rule. Was charged an after hour charge of $95.00. Do not think it was “after hours” since employee was there working and answering phones. Even applying their ridiculous and unlawful rate of $35.00 per day storage, if I had waited another day until Monday to retrieve the car, it would have been cheaper. Ridiculous. 4. Tax. Charged 7.25 tax which is allowable, but was obviously too much considering the over charges. 5. Towing was questionable. Request copy of “signage” they claim car was towed pursuant to.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/04/2023

  On April 22, 2023  Athens Towing did indeed tow the vehicle in question. It was towed per request of local Law Enforcement , a fact conveniently  left out of the  complainants letter even though a release form was required to recover of the vehicle. As to the reason for the impound, she should contact the Law  Enforcement facility for that information.  The references to the statutes and agency that she refers to is for Private Property impounds, since this was not a Private Property Impound those references do not apply. The charges and fees that she was charged for are Athens Towing Law Enforcement Rates and are documented and accepted and within industry standards for this type of impound towing. We do charge after hours fees for vehicles not retrieved during normal business hours (vehicle was claimed on a Saturday) and our storage rate is calculated per calendar, day not by the hour,  and these policies are also documented and accepted and within industry standards.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/05/2023

  [If you do not say why you are rejecting the company's response, BBB must close your complaint.] 
  
  Complaint: 19979379
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 
  Athens Towing is regulated by Athens City Ordinances when towed from a public street.   I confirmed this with the Athens City Law Director.  
  Athens city ordinance 7-06-17 Charges

  (A) provides maximum allowed for towing is $50.00 (I was charged $165.00)

  (E) provides the maximum amount for after hours charge is $10.00 (I was charged $95.00)

  (F) provides the maximum amount for storage is $6.00 per 24 hour period. (I was charged $35.00 x 2 days = $70.00 for 2 days for the 19 hours my car was there)

  so the maximum I should have been charged was $50.00 + $10.00 + 6.00 = $66.00 plus tax
  Regards,
  
  ******* *****

  Business Response

  Date: 05/12/2023

  To Whom It May Concern,

  The City Ordinance that Ms ***** is referencing in her rejection was amended on 12/05/2022 by Athens City Ordinance 0-138-22, "amending city ordinance to comply with Ohio Revised Code and repealing all ordinances inconsistent therewith" 

  Ms. *****s' vehicle was towed by law enforcement request and was not subject to the various regulations and ordinances that she cites as it pertains to what she was charged.
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/12/2023

  [If you do not say why you are rejecting the company's response, BBB must close your complaint.] 
  
  Complaint: 19979379
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I spoke with the Athens city law director    She indicated that Athens towing is subject to the ordinances I stated.  I am asking for a refund of the overcharges.  It’s ridiculous. If I had waited till Monday…a day later…to retrieve the vehicle, it would have been less money.   And no matter what,19 hours is not 2 days of storage.   A day is defined as 24 hours.  These charges are ridiculous     Thank you. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* *****