While no one enjoys getting towed this company deserves a pretty bad review. They had no problem towing my car without warning at 2 am (a mistake on my part for parking incorrectly in a lot covered in snow), but when I had to get to the hospital at 5 AM to take care of patients they had no problem telling me they were closed. When I told them I might be stuck in the OR all day they said too bad, every day in impound is another 50 bucks, no exceptions. And when I did show up in person they required cash, but the ATM charges a 5 dollar withdrawal fee, and then they couldn't even make 5 dollars change for the 495 dollar fee...I said keep the change.
My experience with Javion & Sam’s Towing on November 21–22, 2025 was one of the most predatory and unprofessional interactions I’ve had with any business in Detroit.
My 2020 Chevy Bolt was towed late on 11/21/25. The vehicle entered their lot at 10:10 p.m., and it was released to me at 1:59 p.m. the next day—roughly 16 hours of total custody.
Despite this, I was charged $545:
• Light-duty tow: $295 • Fuel surcharge: $45 • “Michigan Statutory Assessment”: $40 • “Convenience fee”: $65 • Outdoor storage: $100 (charged as 2 full days at $50/day)
The payment requirement was the most concerning part. They demanded cash only—no debit cards, no credit cards, no cashier’s checks, no electronic payments. My receipt is stamped “PD CASH,” which mirrors many other reviews describing the same cash-only policy.
After researching the law, none of these practices lined up with Detroit or Michigan requirements:
• Detroit’s towing ordinance requires acceptance of debit cards and at least three major credit cards. • Michigan law sets maximum fees for light-duty towing and limits extra charges like surcharges. • A “Michigan Statutory Assessment” is typically tied to abandoned-vehicle processing by police, which does not apply to a private-property tow like mine. • Charging two days of storage for a 16-hour stay simply because the car crossed midnight is not consistent with standard per-day interpretations used in Detroit.
When I asked for an explanation, none was provided—my only option was to pay the full amount in cash or I wouldn’t get my vehicle back.
After this experience, I researched the company’s background. What I found was deeply alarming. Public records and numerous reviews describe the same pattern: inflated tow bills, surcharges that don’t match state law, cash-only demands, questionable authorizations, and storage charges that exceed the actual time a vehicle was held.
The concerns go well beyond consumer reviews. In 2018, the Detroit Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a major investigative report examining a towing network tied to Detroit towing magnate Gasper Fiore. The OIG found unethical and deceptive conduct across multiple related tow companies, including shared operations, overlapping personnel, and billing irregularities involving Javion & Sam’s.
Following the OIG’s findings, Detroit City Council formally debarred the following individuals and companies from city contracts:
• Gasper Fiore — 20 years • Jennifer Fiore — 20 years • Joan Fiore (listed owner of Javion & Sam’s) — 15 years • Javion & Sam’s Towing Service, Inc. — 15 years
These actions came after a federal bribery investigation in which Gasper Fiore pleaded guilty in 2018 to paying cash bribes to influence municipal towing contracts in Macomb County. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for this corruption scheme, which involved manipulating towing rotations and contracts—issues that Detroit has been trying to clean up for years.
Even though Javion & Sam’s is barred from city towing contracts, they continue operating in private-property towing in Detroit. Many of the same behaviors described in OIG findings, City Council hearings, and federal court filings still appear in recent consumer complaints—including what I personally experienced.
Based on my interaction and the documented history from the Detroit OIG, City Council proceedings, the Michigan Attorney General, and federal prosecutors, this company’s practices raise serious red flags. The pattern is long-running, well-documented, and consistent across multiple public sources.
I strongly recommend avoiding this company if you have any choice. Property owners should not contract with them. If you believe you’ve been overcharged and victimized report it to:
• Michigan Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division • Detroit Office of Inspector General • Michigan Department of State – Business Compliance Division
My experience reflected the same predatory patterns others have described, and I hope this review helps protect others from similar treatment.
This is a predatory towing company. They charge $495 for towing. Double to triple average rates. We had a family car that was parked alongside 4-5 other cars on a back street. Although we were not in the demarcated lot for towing, they towed all cars.
It’s basically extortion.
And they’ve been disbarred from City of Detroit contracts for unethical behavior and kickbacks. Not surprised. So now, we have to deal with it.
They charge $555.00 for hooking and towing. They make their money off of people's hardships.as a matter of fact, they made the news for there shady business
They towed my car from my parking lot at my apartment 6pm I picked it up the next day at a cost of 605.00 they said it was a 2day storage fee,they are definitely scammers and are taking full advantage of the public by hustling and inflating prices for profit, I'm on a mission to expose them publicly through social media and local news networks,
Great experience with their professional towing personnel. Mike is very nice to customers and explains how everything is done from the legal angle (business towing) to towing services offered (ties, jump starts, tire changes).
My bestie called at 12am after getting a notification that her car that's been missing for over A YEAR (after she let her dusty butt ex borrow it 3hrs away) was found! Jessica was an absolute dream helping us get all the information we needed and she was incredibly pleasant after us bugging her after midnight haha. I've dealt with many a towing company and few are as nice in the wee hours.
Fast and affordable services! Glad I called took them 20 mins to get to me when I had a flat tire, thanks to David I was home and safe in less then a hour
Quick with getting service to you, very professional, great priced. They are willing to go over and beyond to make sure their customers are taking care of.
This company is a scam. My son parked his car at whole foods grocery store near Woodward and went to near restaurant. He came back his car was towed. Usually they give first warning but no warning was given. And he was told towing company is closed and go next day. He paid $475 to towing company to get his car back. This is too much money for a student to pay. He requested for discount but told he won’t get his car back. Sadly he had to pay.
Just speaking on the phone with them the person was very rude. Tried to charge $135 to go half a mile away & when asked why I was told “you find someone in the neighborhood to tow the car then.”
Recently had my car towed by this company at my cousin's apartment when I went to drop off something. My car was honestly towed 13 minutes after I left my car (I checked the timeline on my dashcam). I watched them drive off with my car when I went outside. I called them immediately only to be put on hold for 30 minutes that I decided to get a ride there to talk to them in person. There were multiple people in the front office, but it seems like only one lady seemed to be working.
They claimed the apartment complex called on my car since it's been there for over 10 minutes (which time wise doesn't make sense since the towing company is 10 minutes away and my car was towed in 13 minutes. By their logic it would take 20 minutes then). The apartment complex said they never called and instead the towing company was driving around and asked them if they could tow my car.
It cost $440 in cash to get my car back same day and they had a broken ATM in the building so I had to leave to go to the bank. I heard according to Detroit laws, they should be accepting an alternative method to cash in order to pay as well however posted on the wall where you go to pay explicitly states 'CASH ONLY, NO REFUNDS', along with a sign saying cameras and videos are prohibited. I also had to wait because the tow truck wasn't back yet with my car for some reason? It took the truck a hour to get back even though it's 10 minutes away from the apartment and only my car was on the lift.
On the positive side, the lady I talked to inside was nice but this company seems shady and is driving around looking for cars without being called by the property manager first.
They are the worse human I have ever seen in my life. They charged me 500 USD for less than 24 hours. They towed my car and charged me 500$ for almost 16 hours. They towed my car around WSU. They are just SCAM and charged me $50 for the convenience fee!! In the end, the driver asked for my PHONE NUMBER!!!!!
Had a hard time getting my belongings out of a semi truck that belonged to my employer. Three clerks sitting at the window and they basically took 15 minutes to even say anything to me or assist me.
I briefly worked with Christina on a matter involving a rental property and had a seamless interaction. She answered all of my questions promptly and fluidly all while making it apparent that this company has their systems in place. I love working with businesses that have it together!
Just a little FYI to Wayne Staters and other fellow midtown-downtown travelers: last year my car was ILLEGALLY towed by Javion and Sam Towing off of Warren right in front of old main! (SO CITY OF DETROIT PROPERTY) When I got out of class and saw my car was missing I immediately knew that the city will give you up to 10 tickets before booting your car...not tow... so I flag down an officer and we find my car at this location. So me and my dad go to get my vehicle and they STRAIGHT UP LIE and tell us they took my car that was parked on Cass, out front of Byblos...again, a lie. My car was on the corner of Warren and Cass parked on Warren. They then INSIST we pay them $400 or they will refuse to give my car back...out of options we do so. But, we make sure to let them know they will be added to the news lists of all these shady towing companies and we were not staying quite. On my way home I get a call from someone working there saying that she overheard us while in the back and that I was right, they were in the wrong and we can get our cash back! So cool( and thank you to the one amazing human who go me my money back there)!! We do, others were still rude giving it back but, amazing! Bless you...no...sike. 1 year later I go to renew my tags and my car is now registered as ABANDON on account of the tow! They literally towed my company and registered it as abandon when I was in class for 2 hours!!! So now we have to go down to the Detroit Police Station to prove I didn’t abandon it! I really wish I was making this stuff up but, I am not. I am super frustrated....all I did was go to class like I do everyday and I’ve been dealing with this. So I suggest all you street Parker’s then your wheels as far in towards the curb as possible, because they will take anyone’s cars out here.
my dad had to pay 350 dollars just to get his car back this place really sucks i would give it 0 stars if i could This place just wants the money by annoying ppl and scamming. I think towing should be illegal unless its the police I think they only give u tickets anyway. It was latterly so bad that I labeled it "Everyone hates this place"
Towed my car and sold it at auction illegally after only 30 days or so... Thieves. Swindlers. They pay people to report cars that aren't even abandoned.
After being promised a 1/2 hour wait in 2 degree weather, I was put on hold twice for 10 minutes when I started calling them 40 minutes later. When I finally got a response their unprofessional staff told me that they were unable to pick up the car due to its location on the highway. The next company I called had no issues with the location.
PS: They are also listed on Google as Boulevard & Trumbull Towing. The same people were working the phones when I called that listing.
Not only did they charge me $300 CASH to get my car back, the angry old woman at the front desk was extrememly unprofessional. She was rude, clearly pissed off at the world, and at one point got off her cell phone long enough to ask someone to "take him to his car and get him out of my face". Such a terrible experience made even worse by this cranky old woman... worst customer service ever.
These people are liars and scammers. They unlawfully towed my car claiming that it was parked illegally, and stole the parking pass from it. Couldn't prove it, and had to pay their fines. They also broke my car while towing. Never do business with them.
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