My car was towed after being in an empty parking lot for exactly 2 hours at 11 pm on a tuesday. I was charged $335 for the tow, which included a $60 dolly fee, and a $25 parking ticket on top of that which is absolutely ridiculous. The tow company was just 8 minutes down the road. Also said if i didn’t get there by 12 am the price would go up when it was towed only an hour before that. The place reeked of cigarettes and the workers were extremely rude when they are the ones predatorily towing people. Terrible company and should be shut down for their illegal tickets.
I can’t believe that State College police is allowing this company to run such a corrupt business. They are towing cars with parking passes and charging over $300. Who is looking out for our Penn State students? Where is the local government? This is such a scam.
towed my car from where it was parked less than 5 MINUTES AFTER I PARKED (saw it written on my ticket vs. the time i arrived), predatory behavior by this towing company patrolling areas they don't belong in and having absolutely no empathy or mercy to the people they Decide to tow
Disgusting, disgraceful, predatory crooks and scammers who illegally towed my vehicle immediately after issuing me a “parking ticket” (which they do not have the authority to do and especially not from employees driving personal vehicles) and while the ticket was being paid through online platform (which they repeatedly claim they have no access to on the office computers). They also failed to handle my vehicle without changing the condition of it, causing rock damage from their unsafe parking lot and violently kicking dolly wheels causing my vehicle to violently drop to the ground and roll. Their dolly tools also caused an audible clanking sound coming from the undercarriage since retrieving my vehicle. Thanks to Sentry Mode, everything is captured on video, despite bizarre attempts by the tower to shine bright lights into the cameras repeatedly. The police were called, met with, and a report was made. The tow truck drivers also fly along State College roads at high rates of speed, breaking the law repeatedly and putting other people’s lives in danger. It’s horrifying. Walk’s should be expecting chargebacks, PA Attorney General action, and/or a full lawsuit against their grossly improper and damaging acts until they make the victim of their predatory and illegal acts whole.
Don’t try to argue with walks or whatever building management you have. There known for illegal and predatory tows. Collect your receipt and contact your attorney. We reached out to police and additionally they were helpful in telling us they can’t really do much but an attorney can and reach out or the bureau of labor for you. We had a car parked for 30 minutes in a visitor parking lot and were towed. Additionally before you sign a lease review with them if they have a private contract with walks. If so don’t sign it. Usually it means the business also practices predatory and concerning business practices. They also will brag about towing you while ur there. It’s actually wild. But yeah there commission based. Also notice how there’s three towing companies in town and this is the only one with bad reviews. Interesting how centre county hasn’t stepped in and continues to let its own students get screwed.
Horrible company they just came and tried to tow me and a visitor and we ran outside and showed our parking passes and they said we still needed to pay the drop fee of $180 on top of the tickets he wrote. He then proceeded to “unhook” the car and it wasn’t even hooked up yet. Also it was my birthday.
Giving 1 star because it’s impossible to give none. $335 plus a $25 BS fee. Place is horrible. Shop is a little shack in shambles. No wonder they need all this money. Went to try to contest my ticket and the guy didn’t even look up from his computer once. $360 for a college student is absolutely absurd. Whole parking lot was open where I parked but still decided to tow. Once again, they need any penny they can get.
Place is a bunch of crooks, charged my son $335 towed his vehicle two blocks away and had it for a half hour. Even heard the employees bragging how they work on commission so driving around and towing as many cars as possible. I will be reporting to the bureau of labor and possibly contacting an attorney.. look them up multiple lawsuits for unfair business practice and illegal towing and ticketing. Oh and I would give it no stars or negative but google review makes you at least put one star or you can’t leave a review
Zero stars. Unethical predatory “business”. I guess they haven’t learned from the $15,000 in fines they had to pay… threatened to tow my vehicle “next” time….
I was charged $350 to tow my son's vehicle for just one mile. I'm not denying that my son was wrong for parking illegally. I understand that Walks Towing needs to earn a living; however, exploiting and overcharging students and working families is shameful. What goes around comes around!
I would do zero stars if I could. I do not understand how the Borough still employs this predatory company. The fees are absolutely outrageous and even if you are parked in your registered, paid for parking space, if they tow you, you still have to pay $350. Do they care about reviews? No. They are getting paid and fully deputized by the Borough to prey on college students. Way to go, State College.
I wish there is 0 star for me to choose! I had my car towed by Walk’s Towing/Karch Auto on September 3, 2025, even though I had a valid visitor parking pass clearly displayed. To retrieve my car on September 8, I was charged $735, which is nearly double the legal towing limits set by the Borough of State College (tow $225, storage $60/day, plus limited add-ons).
When I questioned the charges, I was told a manager had already spoken with me — which was false, as I never received any call, voicemail, or text. I was forced to pay under protest just to get my vehicle back.
This is a clear example of predatory and overpriced towing practices, targeting students and visitors. The company’s fees are not only unreasonable but also appear to violate Borough towing ordinances.
If you are a student, parent, or visitor in State College, be aware: this company inflates charges far beyond legal limits and operates in a misleading way.
If 0 stars were possible, they would have it, these people are thieves. They have towed my car twice from the spot that I have paid for and they constantly stalk every parking lot in the area for anyone unlucky enough to leave their car alone for an hour. Then they charge you hundreds of dollars to pick it up and pretend you're at fault. The fact that what they do is even legal is mind-boggling.
335$. Disgraceful and disgusting what this company does to college students and visitors. Complete ruins people’s first impressions of this area. I was visiting a dear friend, saw a completely open parking lot, and yet someone still complained or these tow trucks just troll around town looking for parking verification, and ready to just snatch up your car. Then you have to find out where it even is and who took it. Wait forever for a phone call back, because they are so backed up with other calls from people they are scamming. Then pay an absurd fee of like $335 and some bogus $60 “dolly fee.” The college clearly has to get a cut of this. Because this is absolutely embarrassing, I’m not shocked the workers there tremble their hands and stay quiet when people complain inside. They know they are in the wrong stealing that much from another human being… I’ll gladly flip off every truck I see from this company from now on… WATCH WHERE YOU PARK…
I am paying a lot of money monthly to park at my apartment complex and they decided to tow my car? I don’t understand how they could have towed a car that is rightfully there. The door to the building is locked and you have to call to get let in and it took them at least 10 minutes. The guy working there was so rude and lacks customer service skills. I’m getting my money back thankfully but I’m still pissed because I had plans which I had to cancel.
My wife and I were moving our daughter into an apartment in State College and had to park the cars to get some big furniture situated before finding legal parking. There was no parking in the street and all the parking out back was open but private. Students aren’t there yet and lots were empty. We needed to unload and carry up big furniture so we put our cars out back for what we thought would be a few minutes. A lady showed up and began writing a ticket. We saw her and asked her to stop and told her we’d move it immediately and she totally ignored us and continued to write the ticket. We tried to plead our case that there was not legal parking. She just continued to say “I’m doing my job.” The crazy thing is nobody was around, every parking spot was wide open. Students aren’t there yet. There was no reason for this. She was rude and probably the most miserable human I ever met. It’s only $25 but we were parents just trying to accomplish something for a couple minutes. No empathy or patience. If this is what this company is about, they suck.
Beyond angry they towed my daughter’s car, after she told the bryn, her parking sticker was accidentally removed, told her it was ok to park! 2 hours later car was towed and $350 to get the car back! Angry at the Bryn and this stupid towing company. Atleast these jerks didn’t damage the car! Too much for towing cost!
Spent the night at a friends apartment and my car got towed in the early morning. I should have been more careful where I parked but the aggression and predatory behavior of this company is ridiculous. Was 335 dollars but during payment they didn’t mention the 25 dollar ticket that was not included in the towing cost that was conveniently stapled under the receipt and totally blocked. If I didn’t notice I would have had to pay an extra 25 dollars. Paying online also adds 3 dollars to the ticket. Instead of being transparent and telling me there was a ticket at time of payment, they tried to squeeze out as much money as possible like the blood sucking leeches they are.
gave me a ticket that said was delinquent after 48 hours then towed an hour later. absolutely warning saying they’d tow before the end of the 48 hours. the parking lot was also empty and i pay for a spot.
I know they dont care about the rating things. But I still needs to say： Got my car toweled in my paid parking spot and charged me $435. This price dont not make any sense. just a bunch of cash grabber.
An utterly disreputable and predatory towing company. While helping my significant other with moving into their apartment, I received a fraudulently issued parking citation. Disguised to resemble an official government ticket—at approximately 0315. By 0400, less than an hour later, my vehicle had been towed without any prior notice or warning, a clear violation of standard protocol which typically requires at least 24 hours’ notice.
No attempt was made to inform me of the tow, no contact details were left, and I was subsequently extorted for $350 to recover my vehicle. The entire operation appears to function more like a scam than a legitimate business, preying on unsuspecting individuals under the guise of legality. Especially young college students.
To compound matters, I reported this company to the Department of Commerce, only to find that they refuse to honor the complaint process, despite the obvious illegality of their actions. Their conduct is not just unethical—it borders on criminal. Avoid this company at all costs.
Walk's Towing is a predatory operation affiliated with Karch Auto (same owner). They prey on unaware Penn State families that are new, especially on moving days.
If you are moving IN/OUT go to the State College parking authority website and find out the dates the off street parking rules are suspended, otherwise guard your car like a hawk.
If they give you a ticket, rip it up and DO NOT PAY. These types of business models are in COHOOTs with the rental property your kid is paying for. If you are lucky contact the rental management and get a DAY PASS for parking.
Above all, do not leave your vehicle unattended if you are dropping off. Even if your kid lives there, they will tow you and it will be $300+ to get it back. This is how these people make their living. Don't give them your money !!!
I’m a resident at the Metropolitan in State College. I came back from dinner later one night and parked my car in one of the guest spots to run upstairs and grab something real quick with my hazards on. Arrived back at my car at 10:05 pm and find a ticket issued at 10:01 pm on my vehicle. Emailed the company to contest the ticket and ask for some grace given the situation, and didn’t get a response for two days (which is also conveniently the deadline that you must pay the ticket before incurring additional fees). Ended up paying the ticket and then got a response afterwards that just stated “The ticket will stand as issued.” Well no duh man, I already paid it. Either way, awful customer service and predatory practices, basically in line with what most of the other reviews say.
This place is disgusting. My son parked his car in his apartment to PACK IT to come home for spring break and got towed in less than an hour. Travis was beyond RUDE. Didn't care at alll when I explained the circumstances. $335 to get the car back. GROSS. Shame on you for bullying college kids this way. -1 star, but that wasn't an option.
The young man with a name I couldn't remember (Jaylen) was absolutely the most polite and respectful young man. This company picked up my car that had been sitting 2 days waiting for someone to grab it. They picked it up and delivered with wonderful service. Even though it was a 3 1/2 hour drive in the middle of the night, this kid delivered. 100% Satisfied
These people absolutely suck. First of all, they prey on poor college students by hawking every possible chance they can get to seize a car. I took 15 minutes to park in a public lot with my hazards on, just so I could simply unload my groceries to my apartment before I go park my car. Within 10 minutes, there’s a $25 parking ticket slapped on my windshield. Additionally, they don’t answer their phone and cannot stick to time estimates to save their lives. A horrible company ran by filthy people
Walk's Towing has extremely poor service and is only responsive when it is beneficial to their company. I have called them multiple times to assist me when a car has been in the parking spot that I pay for monthly, and they have never shown up. However, when my car was parked in a friends parking lot, with at least 50 other open spots, they towed my car after being parked for 30 minutes late into the night. I do not recommend giving their company any type of service.
The Pennsylvania State University, Salvage Warehouse, 653 Services Rd, State College, PA
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