My son wrecked his car. Tate's showed up to tow his car off - I'm guessing they have a contract with the City of Oak Ridge for such accidents. I get it. A wreck happens, and it has to get cleaned up.
When we visited Tate's the next day to remove items from the car, one particular fellow at the desk was weirdly combative about the situation. I told him I would pay the towing fees, and that my son just needed to get his belongings. He eventually agreed, and sent an extremely helpful coworker to help my son.
When I returned to settle the bill, he punched some numbers into a calculator and it was over $600 for towing, cleanup, etc from the wreck. Cleanup and towing took maybe an hour? At most an hour and a half? $600?!
The car was "totaled" but still had (has) a good engine and transmission (only 120,000 miles on a Toyota), as well as other needed parts. Desk guy offered me $300 for the car, and cautioned it would be $40 a day to hold it on his lot. SO - I could either bow to this offer and eat the $300 difference, or have it towed off the lot at additional towing expense for a better quote. Tate's had me over a barrel and he knew it. Yeah, I signed the car over to them. That's on me. If I hadn't, I would have incurred additional storage fees, towing fees, etc, etc, etc. Again, over a barrel.
I recognize all businesses need to make a profit to exist, but this was wrong.
Shame on you, Tate's, and shame on the City of Oak Ridge for using a predatory towing service.
*The only reason I give two stars, instead on one, is because of the awesome guy who guided my son to the car to get his belongings.
**Edit 11/3/23: I have seen Tate's response, and I also now have a copy of the police report. The crash occurred at 5:11 and was cleared at 5:42. Tate's was on scene for cleanup for most of that, but clearly less than my estimate. Under a half hour.
So, what is the contracted cleanup rate between Oak Ridge City and Tate's? $600 seemed steep originally and even more so now. SMH. Tate's never once stated they were just going by contracted rates.
I never asked Tate's to do anything for free, and insurance had zero to do with it, lol!
Maybe I just ask for honest and up-front interactions. Is that so difficult? Not just Tate's, but the City of Oak Ridge as well.