Tow companies NOT to use

Michael Ludwig

Michael Ludwig

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2009
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Well, we nearly knackered one west bound on the I-80 near Newton, IA this morning. Blizzard conditions, slippy roads, speed commiserate with the conditions, but as always happens, some genius at the front of a very loose pack of trucks, forgot his winter driving skills, folded it up, got T-boned in the trailer by another, and it all went to hell-in-a-hand-basket after that. My guy running about 8 trucks back decides to take the median. It's nice and flat, and frozen, but snow and ice covered, and he makes it in there, upright, zero damage, no cargo damage, and most importantly, no injury. All tolled about 20 trucks and some odd PPVs get snarled up in this mess ... but we're okay !!!
Iowa State Police arrive on the scene, get traffic un-messed as best the can, and call for recovery services. We get a tow operator from MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc. He has to winch us straight backwards about 50 feet. The job takes 30 minutes, we're back on the road, and headed for the truck stop just up the road.
Now comes the time to pay the piper. MAD J Repair and Towing charges us $3,847.38 USD for that. Yes, that's right ... obviously a predatory tow operator. I paid the bill.
But, I wasn't done. I left a brutal review on Google calling them out for their BS. I left the same review on Truckdown.com. I had them listed on our insurance captive's (ARU) Do Not Use List. Then I filed a consumer Complaint Form, complete with attachments, with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa.
Now, I really don't know if any of that will make a difference, but it definitely made me feel better.
So, just a head's up. If you need a tow in Iowa, and have the freedom of circumstance to make your own choice, don't hire these thieves.
MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc.
5185 NE 22nd St.
Des Moines, IA 50313

Just for context I'll attach a picture of our truck's predicament, and a copy of the invoice.
 

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Michael Ludwig said:
Well, we nearly knackered one west bound on the I-80 near Newton, IA this morning. Blizzard conditions, slippy roads, speed commiserate with the conditions, but as always happens, some genius at the front of a very loose pack of trucks, forgot his winter driving skills, folded it up, got T-boned in the trailer by another, and it all went to hell-in-a-hand-basket after that. My guy running about 8 trucks back decides to take the median. It's nice and flat, and frozen, but snow and ice covered, and he makes it in there, upright, zero damage, no cargo damage, and most importantly, no injury. All tolled about 20 trucks and some odd PPVs get snarled up in this mess ... but we're okay !!!
Iowa State Police arrive on the scene, get traffic un-messed as best the can, and call for recovery services. We get a tow operator from MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc. He has to winch us straight backwards about 50 feet. The job takes 30 minutes, we're back on the road, and headed for the truck stop just up the road.
Now comes the time to pay the piper. MAD J Repair and Towing charges us $3,847.38 USD for that. Yes, that's right ... obviously a predatory tow operator. I paid the bill.
But, I wasn't done. I left a brutal review on Google calling them out for their BS. I left the same review on Truckdown.com. I had them listed on our insurance captive's (ARU) Do Not Use List. Then I filed a consumer Complaint Form, complete with attachments, with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa.
Now, I really don't know if any of that will make a difference, but it definitely made me feel better.
So, just a head's up. If you need a tow in Iowa, and have the freedom of circumstance to make your own choice, don't hire these thieves.
MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc.
5185 NE 22nd St.
Des Moines, IA 50313

Just for context I'll attach a picture of our truck's predicament, and a copy of the invoice.
Click to expand...
Glad driver and equipment made out fine, Tow bill sucks and they have hit a pile of DNU lists.
 
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Michael Ludwig said:
Well, we nearly knackered one west bound on the I-80 near Newton, IA this morning. Blizzard conditions, slippy roads, speed commiserate with the conditions, but as always happens, some genius at the front of a very loose pack of trucks, forgot his winter driving skills, folded it up, got T-boned in the trailer by another, and it all went to hell-in-a-hand-basket after that. My guy running about 8 trucks back decides to take the median. It's nice and flat, and frozen, but snow and ice covered, and he makes it in there, upright, zero damage, no cargo damage, and most importantly, no injury. All tolled about 20 trucks and some odd PPVs get snarled up in this mess ... but we're okay !!!
Iowa State Police arrive on the scene, get traffic un-messed as best the can, and call for recovery services. We get a tow operator from MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc. He has to winch us straight backwards about 50 feet. The job takes 30 minutes, we're back on the road, and headed for the truck stop just up the road.
Now comes the time to pay the piper. MAD J Repair and Towing charges us $3,847.38 USD for that. Yes, that's right ... obviously a predatory tow operator. I paid the bill.
But, I wasn't done. I left a brutal review on Google calling them out for their BS. I left the same review on Truckdown.com. I had them listed on our insurance captive's (ARU) Do Not Use List. Then I filed a consumer Complaint Form, complete with attachments, with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa.
Now, I really don't know if any of that will make a difference, but it definitely made me feel better.
So, just a head's up. If you need a tow in Iowa, and have the freedom of circumstance to make your own choice, don't hire these thieves.
MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc.
5185 NE 22nd St.
Des Moines, IA 50313

Just for context I'll attach a picture of our truck's predicament, and a copy of the invoice.
Click to expand...
glad your driver and equipment are safe - we had a truck out there just BEFORE the pile up ... so thankful
 
Michael Ludwig said:
Well, we nearly knackered one west bound on the I-80 near Newton, IA this morning. Blizzard conditions, slippy roads, speed commiserate with the conditions, but as always happens, some genius at the front of a very loose pack of trucks, forgot his winter driving skills, folded it up, got T-boned in the trailer by another, and it all went to hell-in-a-hand-basket after that. My guy running about 8 trucks back decides to take the median. It's nice and flat, and frozen, but snow and ice covered, and he makes it in there, upright, zero damage, no cargo damage, and most importantly, no injury. All tolled about 20 trucks and some odd PPVs get snarled up in this mess ... but we're okay !!!
Iowa State Police arrive on the scene, get traffic un-messed as best the can, and call for recovery services. We get a tow operator from MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc. He has to winch us straight backwards about 50 feet. The job takes 30 minutes, we're back on the road, and headed for the truck stop just up the road.
Now comes the time to pay the piper. MAD J Repair and Towing charges us $3,847.38 USD for that. Yes, that's right ... obviously a predatory tow operator. I paid the bill.
But, I wasn't done. I left a brutal review on Google calling them out for their BS. I left the same review on Truckdown.com. I had them listed on our insurance captive's (ARU) Do Not Use List. Then I filed a consumer Complaint Form, complete with attachments, with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa.
Now, I really don't know if any of that will make a difference, but it definitely made me feel better.
So, just a head's up. If you need a tow in Iowa, and have the freedom of circumstance to make your own choice, don't hire these thieves.
MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc.
5185 NE 22nd St.
Des Moines, IA 50313

Just for context I'll attach a picture of our truck's predicament, and a copy of the invoice.
Click to expand...

$1600 Fee to take the call, thats insane.
 
Michael Ludwig said:
Well, we nearly knackered one west bound on the I-80 near Newton, IA this morning. Blizzard conditions, slippy roads, speed commiserate with the conditions, but as always happens, some genius at the front of a very loose pack of trucks, forgot his winter driving skills, folded it up, got T-boned in the trailer by another, and it all went to hell-in-a-hand-basket after that. My guy running about 8 trucks back decides to take the median. It's nice and flat, and frozen, but snow and ice covered, and he makes it in there, upright, zero damage, no cargo damage, and most importantly, no injury. All tolled about 20 trucks and some odd PPVs get snarled up in this mess ... but we're okay !!!
Iowa State Police arrive on the scene, get traffic un-messed as best the can, and call for recovery services. We get a tow operator from MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc. He has to winch us straight backwards about 50 feet. The job takes 30 minutes, we're back on the road, and headed for the truck stop just up the road.
Now comes the time to pay the piper. MAD J Repair and Towing charges us $3,847.38 USD for that. Yes, that's right ... obviously a predatory tow operator. I paid the bill.
But, I wasn't done. I left a brutal review on Google calling them out for their BS. I left the same review on Truckdown.com. I had them listed on our insurance captive's (ARU) Do Not Use List. Then I filed a consumer Complaint Form, complete with attachments, with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa.
Now, I really don't know if any of that will make a difference, but it definitely made me feel better.
So, just a head's up. If you need a tow in Iowa, and have the freedom of circumstance to make your own choice, don't hire these thieves.
MAD J Repair & Towing, Inc.
5185 NE 22nd St.
Des Moines, IA 50313

Just for context I'll attach a picture of our truck's predicament, and a copy of the invoice.
Click to expand...
glad he and the equipment were good. Tow Op saw the Canada plates, no doubt...
 
I read your review on google and his response. He did not mention the cost, which was insane. Glad your driver made home safe.
 
UPDATE:
So, as I mentioned, I filed a Consumer Complaint Form with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa that afternoon. Yesterday at 12:02 PM an attorney with the Office of Attorney General of Iowa sent me an email telling me they have taken up the case. The tow company is now required to provide the attorney with a written response to the allegation. The state's attorney also indicated we should consider reaching out to a private attorney and pursuing compensation that way as well. The state's attorney also made a point of telling me if we sue the guy, and win, the tow company has to pay our attorney's fees.

@everyone ... Thanks for the thoughts for our driver. It's not like this guy is a rookie either. Lots and lots of foul weather driving under his belt.

@Igor Galanter ... What do you mean someone else's invoice? The invoice was mine to pay.

@markhamboy ... I know. He didn't address the cost at all. Well, hopefully those that read it will be able to understand that while buddy has a nice wrecker, he's a total thief when it comes to billing.
 
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Igor Galanter said:
@Michael Ludwig ...I'm not sure if this is helping you or not, but invoice is maid not to your company, unless you changed it and I didn't know..
You know I only mean good for you and yours.
Click to expand...
LOL ... I see what you mean. They simply would have changed to reflect the corrected name and address. Had the tow operator not been standing beside my driver when this had to be paid, we certainly could have ignored the invoice and made them wait for a ridiculous amount of time ... LOL
Unfortunately, in this situation, there was no getting away with semantics.
 
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Just saw your review as well and their response, completely deflecting the issue, only a company that knows they are predatory will respond like that.

we had a similar situation in Wyoming a few weeks back and were only charged $900 winch-out.
 
For those of you who have to deal with a horrible situation in Illinois involving a tow. The state of Illinois requires tow operators to submit their rates for all services that involves a call out by the ISP to the interstate. If you feel that a tow bill is excessive, ask the ISP investigating your issue to check the posted rates. They will call the tow company and tell them to set the bill right. We had a truck towed to a yard and was detained by ISP until an investigation can be completed. The tow company charged storage fees for the 4 days it took to have it investigated. I called ISP to say that it wasn't right that I get charged because they were too busy to get to it on top of the fact that ISP chose the tow company. The officer asked me to forward the bill to him. 20 minutes later the tow company sent me a revised bill that floored me - I had to look at it twice. I quickly paid the bill that was cut in half for the original tow and on top of that all storage fees were removed. Then I called another tow company which I was able to negotiate something to tow it out of there before storage fees started again. This saved a pile of money.


@Michael Ludwig - glad to hear that everything turned out ok for you except the bill.
 
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