| William Johnson of Granby, the President of the Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts (STA), responded last week to an article in the July 18, 2007 "Boston Herald." He feels that the article written by Donna Goodison with the headline "Tow-tally Outrageous" does not give all the facts and is not balanced. Interviewed for the article and providing the reporter forty pages of documentation to back his comments, he feels the reporter ignored most of the written documentation in writing the article. He stated that the issues discussed in the article are far more complex than an editorial or newspaper article can explain. It may take the courts to resolve the issues the towing industry is facing with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The article began with "the state is cracking down on the rising number of bogus fees that towing companies are charging'. As an owner of a towing company, he defended that he has certain responsibilities when your vehicle is in his care, custody and control. One of the so called "bogus fees" Commerce Insurance is complaining about is covering broken windows. It is the towing companies' responsibility to protect the vehicle from further damage and it is the insurance companies' responsibility to pay reasonable charges for that service. Some other so-called "bogus fees" are the proper disposal of debris and contaminated speedy dry. The lot fee and gate fee mentioned has to do with bringing the damaged vehicles to a public area for pick up by the salvage company hired by the insurance company to auction the vehicle. Also mentioned is "washing dirty cars" this has nothing to do with washing the actual vehicle towed sometimes a damaged vehicle leaks fluids and the bed of the car carrier needs to be cleaned. The DPU bulletin also stated a towing company cannot charge for certified mail fees yet MA General Law Chapter 255 Section 39A specifically allows for that charge. The article stated the last six months has seen a rise in complaints, which is false. In the first six months of 2007 there has been 12 written complaints filed with the DPU. In 2006 there were a total of forty one complaints with 27 of them resulting in a refund totaling $4,378.41. Of the 2006 complaints twenty four were filed the first half of the year and 17 the second half of 2006. Complaints decreased the last half of 2006 and the first half of 2007. The exact number of cars towed by police departments is uncertain, but it is well over 250,000 cars a year in the Commonwealth. To put things in perspective a one percent complaint rate would be 2,500 complaints, Johnson said. Johnson is not defending every tow company's charge saying there is never an impropriety. His point is that the vast majority of tow company owners are honest and hard working. |
