Toronto's Car Pound Scam

Published by Toronto Mike on January 30, 2008 @ 20:48 in Miscellaneous

moneyI had a 3pm appointment at King and York, and it was colder than a witch's tit out there today, so I was pretty pleased to find a parking meter right on King by the Roy Thompson Hall. I was also pretty pleased that I could buy an hour of time for $3.50. After all, I wouldn't need more than that.

The appointment went longer than expected and I lost track of time and completely forgot that I could only park on King until 4pm. I got to my parking spot at 4:09pm. Note that I got to my parking spot and not my car. My car was nowhere to be seen. When the clock strikes 4, the parking authority tags and the tow truck drivers strike. It was freezing cold, windier than Chicago and I had just been ordered to rest my leg for six weeks. And now I was staring at the spot where my car used to be coming to the realization it had been towed at some point during the previous 9 minutes.

I was lucky enough to spot another tow truck driver doing his thing, and I asked the guy if I could bum a ride to the pound. He was cool with that so I didn't have to go about figuring out where the hell the pound was and paying a cabbie to get me there.

This car pound scam is a killer. They essentially hold your car hostage unless you fork over $105. $105 for getting to my parking spot nine minutes late. And that's not all, there's also a $60 ticket, although I'll go to court to fight that sucker.

I spent $105 to park my car for a little more than one hour but I got home to find an unexpected cheque in the mail from Google. Google's cheque was for exactly $105.

Click an ad on your way out, will ya.

Permalink Entry Permalink Comments 11 comments

11 Responses to "Toronto's Car Pound Scam"

felix
January 30, 2008 / 21:27

Free Toronto Mike's car!

And okay, I think I'll click on this ad:

Abandoned Car Towing
Hassle Free Removal Nationwide. Schedule a Free Removal Today!
JunkMyCar.com

Alison
January 30, 2008 / 22:35

I'm bored on business in Montreal, the reruns are killing me!!! I'll click on all the ads in my small effort to offset your little parking fee!

Mad Mal
January 31, 2008 / 08:33

Dude, you have no one to blame but yourself. I know its alot of money and it hurts. But from reading your blog on a regular basis I know you are from this fine city of our, and you have to know the rush hour parking laws. You only need it to happen once for it to never happen again. Sorry about your luck, but you should of known better. Just sign me, been there, won't be there again.

Toronto Mike
January 31, 2008 / 08:49

I know it's my fault, that's why I forked over the $105. Like I said, I just lost track of time and the whole towing thing slipped my mind.

This is why I used to always take the TTC downtown.

Andrew
January 31, 2008 / 11:02

I think you got off pretty easy. I have heard (an take any story with a grain of salt) of tow companies and the big fees and huge rip offs. These guys seemed decent. $105 is about right and you got a free ride (did you tip him?).

Toronto Mike
January 31, 2008 / 11:25

I didn't tip him... I never even thought of it. I guess I was feeling pretty sorry for myself at the time.

Stephanie
January 31, 2008 / 12:25

And I think yesterday on Seinfeld wasn't it the episode where Elaine threw the $20 out the window and then Jerry found $20 in his pocket?

I tell you... everything in life goes back to a Seinfeld episode.

Glass half-full... that's the only way your day could be seen as good. Hope today is better.

slipknotmaggot666batu
November 29, 2008 / 02:26

UH yeah
your all extremely idiotic for mike was only 9 minutes late, 9 f#&$^ng minutes. Are you kidding me. I mean they spend tons of cash buying the cars, paying for the drivers, buying the facilities to do what, leave people in the cold for hours trying to find out what the f&^% happened to their car. I left my homework for a very big university exam I had the next day in my car and i had to study the next morning early as hell right after I got my car. THEY HAVE NO SOULS, they dont give 2 shits about anyone, but themselves. Free country my ass.

rob campbell
February 7, 2009 / 09:24

A friend of mine that works for City TV told me once that you are not obligated to pay at the yard - they can and will send the bill to your home address, but they don't like doing that. You see the car is your property and they cannot hold it - but the big guy in the wire cage won't release it until you pretend to get on your phone and call the police / lawyer or whatever authority you can muster. I despise tow truck drivers, and that guy in the wire cage is a real piece of work.

andy
April 27, 2010 / 17:11

I am not sure whether you can get away with not paying at the gate to pick-up but what you got is a city-tow, meaning you pay a set fee for such service.

The actual scams happen when you get into an accident or your car breaks down in busy traffic. The officer will require you to take the first available tow and unless you have CAA or equivalent coverage be prepared for some raping. If you car is not picked up same day, overnight storage at $50+/day is also applied.

debt settlement scam
March 10, 2011 / 20:25

Toronto may be pretty stringent but LA is the worse; I got my car towed for being illegally parked and the loopholes they had me jump through was ridiculous.

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