An employee from Howard tried to illegally tow my permitted car from my lot tonight because he claimed he didn’t see my permit. It was displayed in my console according to my lease and according to the posted signage, but this employee and his girlfriend continued to shake me down for $100 to unhook my car because “they had already done work.” The girlfriend continued to add that “she couldn’t put gas in her car” and had to make money somehow. Even when presented with the permit in the permitted lot, they threatened to tow it anyway and force me to pay the full price at the impound lot. They would not release my car from their vehicle until my payment was processed. I should have called the police right there but felt scared and threatened, outnumbered in my parking lot at 3am.
When I called all the phone numbers for Howard Towing, I received an automated voicemail to a random cell phone.
This company does not do due diligence and seems to condone their employees extorting people to unhook their vehicles. Horrifying.
Terrible Customer Service and Unfair Charges
My car was towed on Saturday night, and when I located it, I tried calling Howard's Towing repeatedly on Sunday, Monday (Memorial Day). Despite multiple attempts, no one answered the phone.
Tuesday I tried them in the morning on that day also they have not answered my calls, then I tried calling 911 and got a different towing company number that is Travis Towing and I called them on tuesday they answered the call and said we don't have your vehicle.
I then drove to their address Howard's
Towing, waited for nearly 40 minutes before an employee finally showed up. He was incredibly rude and unprofessional. He refused to listen to anything I tried to explain about my attempts to contact them and got charged for both Sunday and Monday, even though I couldn't reach them to retrieve my car. His behavior was completely unacceptable – harsh, uncooperative, and clearly lacking any understanding of how to handle customers. This company demonstrates a shocking disregard for their customers and operates with incredibly very poor service.
Avoid if possible.
Howard’s towed my Tesla with electrical problems. They provided excellent service and communication. They needed specialized tools and came prepared. Highly recommended towing company.
They got a scam going on! Had my daughter’s car towed by Travis Towing to their lot illegally! They stole her car when she had a permit in her car in the middle of the night! The maintenance guy said they just came and took it but Travis Towing said the maintenance guy told them to tow it! Soooo someone is a damn liar!!!!
My daughter lived in the God forsaken apartment complex for 3 years now!
Now to get her car back they want $250 cash. You illegally took my daughter’s car, you stole it now you want Cash to get it back!!! The police conveniently did nothing….. Maybe people in the apartment building can’t afford to file charges with a magistrate but I do! You illegally stole a vehicle from a parking lot that my daughter has paid rent in for the past 3 years! It’s licensed & insured! You made a huge mistake!!!!!
My car was towed by them, they answered the phones the night it happened saying I just had to call back the following morning and they open at 9. I called the next day starting around noon and could not get ahold of anybody for 5 hours, after leaving several voicemails I was able to reach them and schedule to get my car the following day. After this I was assured I wouldnt have to pay extra overnight and it would be $300. When arriving the following day everyone was nice again but they tried to charge me $325. Overall Its terrible that after towing someones car you would not clearly have your phone hours listed (9-1) and even during these hours the phones were not answered.
I dont post reviews much, but feel it necessary to express my grattitude after my most recent experience. Been using Howard's throughout the years since 2012 and there were times when I was down bad, or caught up in a bind and Howard or one of his crew members would literally save the day for me. Wouldnt tax me like some other places and provided exceptional services that made outcomes for me much more manageable. Thank you! 1 of 3 businesses I use for all my car needs!
They towed my car from a lot of a lot where there business was closed for the day. They watch the lot and sweep in to two you as soon as your back is turned. I came back 12 minutes later after picking up my take out order and my car was gone. I had to pay $200 cash to get it back that night or pay storage fees if it was there over night. These guys are predatory towers that take advantage of people. Too bad they are still in business.
Towing company does not necessarily need excellent customer service. However after establishing a business decency is the expected. Check for car damages before leaving the property. My brothers car had some parts hanging after they towed his car. I know cause I was working on his car a day before. We asked politely how that happened and we were asked to "get the **** of the property". So we pulled our camera out and they stopped responding to any of our questions.
After riding my Harley all day I broke down 45 Miles from Home and I had AAA Plus RV and after 5 Hrs. They could not find anyone to haul my bike. I Called Howard''s Towing and they came 50 Miles to help me out at 10:00 PM. I would "HIGHLY" recommend these guys. Very Friendly and willing to help. I called AAA back and they are going to reimburse me in full.
Thanks Jess!!!
So I had a huge tire blowout, in the middle of a busy afternoon, with tons of things to do! I called Howard’s and they sent someone promptly, and I was in contact with the driver immediately! The drivers name was JEFFRY, he was fast, professional, fair and accommodating! He towed me to the tire shop, and waited with me while I confirmed my plans. He did everything he could to get me going, so I could still make it to pick my kids up from school on time! I WILL call again, and I WILL recommend!
Thanks again JEFFRY, your my Special J!
For some reason I always come home to find someone parked in my assigned parking spot that I pay monthly for and there are few things more annoying to me than that. Luckily, Howard's is great and professional. The truck showed up in 10 minutes and I was able to park in my spot within 15 minutes. In one situation, the person who's car was being towed was very aggressive and hostile and the tow truck driver basically looked out for me and handled the situation.
Got into an accident on Valentine's Day, downtown, during rush hour. Every tow company I called told me they either could not help me or only could only get a truck to me after 3-4 hours. Howard's was able to schedule a driver to be down there within 30 minutes. The whole experience was as hassle free as possible.
So friendly! Everyone from the guy who answered my initial phonecall to the driver himself -- the friendly customer service really made for a great experience in an otherwise unfortunate event. My car died on me in Shadyside and I needed a tow to my family's mechanic across town in North Versailles. Howard's Towing was very friendly, helpful and professional right from the start. Picked up the car in a timely manner and towed it for a very reasonable cost.
I had a really good experience with these guys. Dan showed up to my apartment within about 15 minutes of me calling. My car would not start at all, and was parked in the tiny lot behind my apartment in the east end. Dan managed to get his truck into the lot, got my car up, and managed to get it out to the street without ripping the bumper off, which I honestly thought was going to be inevitable because of the terrible set up of the lot and the ridiculous brick streets where I live. Got me to my mechanic about 30 minutes after I called Howard's, and I still made it to work on time. I recommend them.
I had to get my car towed because my back left wheel lost two lugnuts and Fred tried to help me fix it before we even got on the road. I then explained to him that I just moved to Pittsburgh recently and didn't really know where to take my car to get fixed so he called 3 different friends he knew who are Auto-Mechanics to help me. He was so helpful and friendly and joked with us the whole way which made it a lot of fun. I never thought having my car towed would be such a good experience. He found a garage close to my house too which was a plus. If I ever need a tow again, I am definitely calling Howard's and I hope I get Fred. Thank you for helping this new city girl out!
Howard's towed my car from Shadyside for parking in a no parking zone. When I went to pick my car up from the impound lot an hour after they towed it I seen that they damaged the vehicle in four different areas. I was very polite about it but he was not willing to pay for the damage even though his driver admitted to it. He charged me FULL price for the tow which was over $200. DO NOT USE this company. I've seen several other complaints online of this same issue.
I got my U-Haul truck stuck in my yard tonight. Fred, Jesse, Mike and the mascot Doug were an awesome crew. They were here in less than an hour and had the truck out in less than 15 minutes. Their rates were extremely fair. They were very knowledgeable and made a very difficult job look very easy. I would highly recommend them. They were quick, professional, and knowledgeable.
We work with Howard's frequently and it's always good. My company does business back and forth with them on a regular basis.. I think the best job ever was when Ben towed a fully loaded plow truck with its plow in the middle of a blizzard for a price that I think is too low to even write on here. I was even updated on the status of the truck's arrival so I could have someone waiting on it since it was after 1 in the morning. They have also transported non-running construction and film industry equipment for us in the past, which shows that they are extremely versatile and willing to go the extra mile to do things other companies won't do. Howard's is great to do business with, whether we are providing them service or they are providing us service.
Howard and Jesse were in a word; amazing! They were professional, friendly, conversational, and really made the whole situation feel under control. The cab smelled of coffee in the best, homiest way; and the guys were very respectful, asking permission to smoke before lighting up. Their work was quick and efficient with no additional damage to our truck. They were there to pick us up when they said they would be and dropped the truck off exactly where we needed. Overall, one of the scariest nights of my life was definitely made a little better by these guys.
5024 - I parked in an area I shouldn't have and Howard Towing made the experience much better than it usually would be. (no one likes finding their car missing) They were really friendly and understanding about everything and the man I talked to on the phone actually apologized for the inconvenience to me. The way they interact with their customers is top notch and the process of retrieving my car was fast and relatively cheap. If I ever get towed again, I hope it's Howard's.
Nine times out of ten when you hear the word "towing" it is not for a good reason, but I will say if I had to be towed by anyone I'm glad it was Howard's. Everyone we came in contact with was super friendly and professional. We enjoy making the best out of any situation, even if it occurs because of our own stupidity and Howard's awesome staff was able to make the best out of it with us. Thank you for being so helpful and nice. :)
-Katherine Scahill
Ref# 4893
This review is mainly about my sister's terrible experience with Howard' Towing and as a result of her experience, I, too had to deal with their unprofessional attitude and business style.
My sister was parked in a "No Parking - violators will be towed" zone. She noticed other vehicles parked in this lot and was told by someone that it would be OK to park their temporarily. After about a half hour, she went outside to her vehicle and found two guys lifting her rear wheels off of the ground (she was pulled into the parking spot, facing a block building). She explained her mistake and what she had been told and offered to move her car right away. The two cigarette smoking men told her that they HAD to tow her car because it had been "entered into their system" already and they would get fired if they didn't. BUT she could pay $180 and her car would be released. She agreed to pay the fee and they began to lower her vehicle back down as she went back inside to the ATM. Apparently, they do not have the means to process credit cards and accept CASH ONLY (how convenient for them!). When she went inside she told another guy in there that they were towing vehicles so he went outside. My sister went outside also and they were lifting her vehicle back up! She paid the fee and asked why that man was allowed to move his vehicle but she still had to pay the fee. They told her "Well it sucks to be you because you have a nice car and he doesn't". HOW PROFESSIONAL. They took her $180 and gave her a receipt and she asked why they aren't towing others. They said they would be back for an SUV there (which they never did, makes you wonder if it was a decoy vehicle to ease people's feelings about parking there). Makes me wonder if these guys didn't just pocket the money for themselves.
I called Howard's the next day, explained the situation and asked to speak to Howard. They gave me another phone number. I called that number. The lady told me "Howard is under a truck right now. He isn't much of an office guy so your best bet is to e-mail him or fax him and you may not get a reply until 2 AM." Again, very professional. I agreed and sent an email to the address I was given and then waited 3 days. The only responses I got were bounce-back emails saying that the address didn't exist. I called again and demanded to speak to Howard and left a message for him to call me. No phone call. My sister even left a message saying her car had been damaged (it hadn't, we just wanted to see if they would return the call) and to call her ASAP. NO RESPONSE. I then called the next day, and demanded to speak to Howard. I told them Howard had an hour to call me back or else I was headed to post my review. I got a phone call in 59 minutes but not from Howard. It was from the guy I spoke before saying Howard was at a funeral (understandable, if that was case) and he was going to try getting a hold of him. I told him I expect a phone call in the evening or the next morning. NO PHONE CALL.
Howard, I gave you plenty of opportunities to avoid this review. You refused them all by not returning my phone calls. I had a complaint with the remark that was made to my sister and how she was treated. Apparently, that does not matter to you. Yes, my sister and I both know she was in the wrong by parking where she did, but the comments made to her by your employees were out of line.
If you read other Google reviews, you will see Howard responding saying "Give me a call and I will make this right". Sure, Howard. What you really meant to say was, "Give me plenty of calls and I will ignore them all."
Be cautious if you decide to solicit Howard's services.
For as long as I have been dealing with the good people at Howard's, I have received nothing but the best quality service. They have always been there in my time of need. Their timing has always been efficient, all of their services are reasonably priced, and Howard, as well as the rest of his employees and crew are professional with all that they do, and to top it all off, they are the coolest set of individuals you will ever meet! They have always given me the impression that they love what they do and do what they love. Howard's isn't just a business. They're family. So, anytime your car needs serviced or a tow, Howard's is definitely the place to go.
I can't speak highly enough of Howard's Towing. We had an accident where I damaged one of my front tires in very icy conditions. Found out we were going to have a 5 hour wait for towing when I called it in through my insurance company. Called Howard's and he was there with in 20 minutes. Nicest man ever! He's personable and will tell you like it is. It's refreshing knowing that he runs an honest business and will definitely be using him for future needs. Be sure to call Howard's if you want quality service!
Howards Towing was amazing, my mother and I were in desperate need of getting a car removed from our garage and the vehicle only had one wheel and tire mounted to the car. Howard and his helper was truly GOD sent!!!! He was able to step in and make sure that the car would be removed quickly and in a safe manner. His skills and knowledge were unmatched and I truly appreciated all their efforts and kindness. I will definitely use them again these guys are the best, truly the tough and diligent Pittsburgh Workers that we all need. Thank you Guys -I knew you guys were the men for the job.
My husband had our car towed for parking in a no parking zone. The guys were so nice about the entire thing. They told him that if he ever needed anything they would take good care of him. They did! He backed into a poll and knocked out the tail light in our trailblazer. He took it to Howard and Howard found him the cheapest replacement and replaced it for us for no cost. Excellent customer service, and great compassion and experienced well in their line of work. Definitely recommend for any auto care you need! If they can not do it they will refer you to the best people that can!
FAST, COURTEOUS, PROFESSIONAL!!!
After waiting in the rain for 2 hours another tow company to arrive to pick up our dump truck after it broke down on a job, we called Howard's and they were there in no time! Their price was very reasonable and the driver was very professional. They did not try to scam us or charge us an outrageous fee, even though they very well could have with the circumstances (fully loaded dump truck after a tree job, the size of our truck, time of day). They gave us a fair price with no hassles. We would definitely use their service again and would recommend them to anyone!
NEVER USE THEIR SERVICE. It is a true story! I went to the Marathon gas station in Forbes street and bought gas from them. Then I parked my car to go and check their car wash and also one other store in the street. It did NOT take more than 15 minutes. Can you guess what happened then? Howard's towing came and towed my car! I started arguing with them over the phone but our discussion didn't go anywhere. I went to the towing company (far from the gas station). They said that as soon as I buy gas, then I'm not anymore their customer and I can't park there any more (even not for 1 more minute!). I called 911, but they said that they can not help me and I should go to the court. Then I still refused to pay them money but they said that they will keep the car and won't give it me back. They were very rude and were almost going to get my smart phone to make sure that they will get their money back! Can you believe it?! To be honest, the way that they are treating their customers is really really bad. PLEASE PLEASE never use their service or buy anything from them.
I got my car towed from CARSON ST a month ago and they said it would be 75$ to hook it up and $4 a mile after that. The people were very nice, we got it towed 7 miles away to a garage nearby, the total amounted to $103.00. We used a credit card. When we checked our bank statement it said they had taken $185.00 out of my account!!!!!!!!!! When we called Howard's a man answered and said ohhh okay hold on and he never came back!!!!
We called the credit card company and told them about the scam, so they took automatically took the 82$ off. I have the receipt for 103$ and everything from the driver!!
This place is a scam just looking for people who are DESPERATE for help!! Do NOT GO HERE!!!
Dec 04, 2012
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