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Business Profile

Towing Company

Kauff's Transportation Systems

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Towing Company.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Kauff's Transportation Systems's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Kauff's Transportation Systems has 4 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 3 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/12/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      This company does not care if somebody is poor and on disability they charge you over $200 after an accident for storing your car that's totaled. They charge $35 a day even on the weekends when they're not open. They will not stop charging $35 a day until I pay them half even if I have somebody to purchase the car for $400 to $500 unless it's paid in full as of now it's up to $1,200. I can't even get there because I have no vehicle but when I have it's done me no good cuz they don't tell you all the information up front especially when you only owe $500 they don't tell you all this information. There completely corrupt. I offered them 75% just to have them stop charging me $35 a day and they do not care at all. They do not work with you period. They don't have to because until you pay them off you can't register a car in your name.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/24/2024

      Thank you for allowing us a chance to respond to this allegation. Kauffs takes great pride in its efforts to support the community as well as its constituents and past actions speak more than highly on our behalf.

      The current charges as per FL State Statue are $1,639.21 if the vehicle is to be picked up on 7/24/24.

      In regards of your position Kauffs offers to dispose of the vehicle and negate all fees in lieu of receipt of the title so that we may dispose of the vehicle for salvage value which will be approximately $450.Other than that, Kauffs is unfortunately bound by state statue to follow the lien process on the vehicle for unpaid charges and to properly and legally dispose of such.

      We hope this offer meets your needs and is fair and just.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/05/2024

      I agree with their offer and will agree to pay $450 and sign the title. I will contact ******* to set up a payment plan as I'm on a fixed income and can't afford to pay the entire amount up front. ****'s scrap yard will pay $450 to take it off their hands. I've met them their twice now and ******* would not let me sign the title over unless I paid in full. I offered $800 and they still wouldn't. So, we'll see how this turns out. My contact with the staff have not been friendly. 

      Business Response

      Date: 08/09/2024

      Good afternoon and thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, we dont extend credit to unapproved customers without accounts set up in advance. As noted in our original response and as the registered vehicle owner you are responsible for all charges incurred on the vehicle. Our original offer was through 7/24 and today is now 8/9. However, we will extend our original offer as stated through 8/25. The vehicle will not be released until payment is made in full or as stated the reduced fee and title is surrendered so we can scrap and dispose of the vehicle. Please note that all lien process and the legal disposition and sale of the vehicle will take place as per state statue unless rectified prior by you. No one on our staff is trying to be unfriendly, as shown in your response you simply dont want to rectify the situation as per the proper terms and continue to attempt to set your own terms. 
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:10/30/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I sold a ****** xterra on Dec 28,2022 to ************************* of PSL. We signed and notarized a bill is sale and I signed the title over to ******************. The tag from the ****** was transferred to my new vehicle and the insurance was switched over as well. I went to get my ****** newed when DMV advised me of a lien placed on my tag due to Kauffs being owed money. This vehicle was sold in Dec and the tow company claims the vehicle was left on the side of the road in ************* (an hour away from my residence). The title was never transferred to ****************** and his number has been disconnected. I have text messages and copies of all of the updates from the ****** to my new vehicle along with a NOTARIZED BILL OF SALE. I would like the lien removed ASAP and the balance should be the responsibility of the purchaser ******************.

      Business Response

      Date: 11/23/2023

      ******* towing towed the vehicle in questions at the direction of ******* Highway Patrol in Martin County. The vehicle was picked up on I-95 NB MM 109 and towed to our storage facility on Jan 13th, 2023, due to FHP saying it was abandoned and instructed us to tow the vehicle. Once vehicle was impounded ******* followed Fla. Stat. ****** provides that a person who claims a lien for recovery, towing, or storage services must give notice to the registered owner of the vehicle, the insurance company insuring the vehicle, and to all persons claiming a lien against the vehicle. Fla. Stat. ******(4)(a). The tow company is required to check public records to obtain this information. Id. Fla. Stat. ************ by doing so ******* sent out notice within 7 business days after the date of storage of the vehicle, The notice of lien also included the date on which the vehicle will be sold at auction and stated that a lien would be placed against the registered owner if not picked up. This notice of lien is sent by certified mail. ******* uses a database recommended by DMV to make sure we send these letters to all parties that have interest in the vehicle. 

      Once the vehicle is not recovered by the registered owner, we then follow Fla. Stat. ******, which grants a towing-storage operator (tow company) a lien on a towed vehicle for reasonable towing and storage charges incurred, more information can be located at Fla. Stat. ******(2)(a)(d). at the request of law enforcement, or at the request of the vehicles owner. 

      ******* followed all requirements and sold the vehicle at an auction sale on 02/27/2023, At this time ******* turned over all documents to DMV and DMV granted a Lien on the registration and Driver's license of the registered owner.

      ******* legally cannot go after ****************** nor would ******* have known about the sale of the vehicle that is being claimed within the complaint for multiple reasons. The registered owner *************************** did not follow State guidelines when she sold the vehicle in question. According to the document she provided with this complaint she followed the first step by completing a Norice of Sale, but this was not filed nor was the Title transferred at the time of the sale. FLHSMV encourages sellers complete the sales transaction in a motor vehicle service center to properly transfer the vehicle title. This protects both the seller, who knows that title has been transferred out of their name, and the buyer by ensuring the seller has provided them with the proper ownership documents. The seller must complete the Transfer of Title by Seller section on the front of the title certificate including, the name and address of the buyer, the odometer information, selling price and the date sold. The buyer must complete an Application for Certificate of Title with/without Registration form, attach it to the title and submit to a motor vehicle service center to transfer the title into their name.

      ******* law requires sellers to file form HSMV *****. Filing this form with a motor vehicle service center will remove the sellers registration from the vehicle and help the seller avoid any civil liability for the operation of the motor vehicle after the sale. Once filed, it becomes the Buyerss responsibility to apply for the title and registration before he/she can legally operate the motor vehicle. If the buyer fails to do this, and the seller does NOT file form HSMV *****, the seller can be held liable for actions associated with the motor vehicle, even if they no longer own the vehicle.

      As you can tell from the information provided ******* acted in good faith and followed all Guidelines required. *************************** was the legal owner of the vehicle at the time the vehicle was towed and was notified of the Lien process. Had ***** reached out to ******* at any point in time this would have been explained to her also. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/06/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On October 10th I was involved in a motor vehicle accident I was transported to the hospital when my car was transported to kauffs towing I went to the tow yard I did not have my identification on me I had a picture of my ID I took my tags off my car and a few personal belongings out the vehicle and told them that I would be back as I was suffering from a traumatic brain injury a injured hip and two injured knees they told me they sell vehicles in 3 months if I didn't come back to get it they sold my vehicle *************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** money when they have already made money from me by stealing my vehicle they claimed they sent me a letter that they never sent me and I never received this is a very shady business of ripping people off

      Business Response

      Date: 01/10/2023

      Dear Ms. ************************************** October 10th, 2022, the Palm Beach ************************* authorized Kauffs of Palm Beach to tow your **** Black GMC Yukon after it was involved in an accident.

      We have a record that you came into our facility to retrieve items on October 12th, 2022, where you signed an impound release document to your insurance company Geico. On this document, you also signed our Acknowledgement of Charges & Agreement to Pay, which states:

      I, legal owner or his/her legal representative, having been at Kauffs am aware of the Towing & Storage charges again said vehicle and I agree to pay Kauffs for all such accrued charges with 35 days and to remove said vehicle from Kauffs property. 

      Had the vehicle been redeemed or paid for on the second day, October 12th, when you were at our facility, the bill would have been $307.30.

      On October 17th, we sent a certified letter to your address, notifying you that we have your vehicle and the pricing structure. Also, in this letter, we informed you that a lien would be placed on you if your vehicle if the vehicle was not picked up from our facility. **** attempted to deliver the letter on October 20th, 2022. Additionally, we sent a certified letter to your insurance carrier on October 17th, 2022, which was delivered and signed for on November 11th, 2022.

      As mentioned in the certified letter, Kauffs of Palm Beach is required to sell any vehicle that is not retrieved after 35 days if the vehicle is more than 3 years of age. After being impounded for 43 days, the vehicle was sold at public sale on November 21, 2022, at which point a certificate of destruction was issued on the vehicles title. 

      The accrued towing and storage charges at the time of the public sale totaled $1,623.40, and the vehicle sold for $151.00, leaving a balance of $1,472.40. 

      The lien is based on the original towing, milage, administration, and storage fees for 7 days which is dictated by Florida State Statute.

      We are required to follow ******* Statue, Section ******, which dictates guidelines on the public sale and disposal of abandoned vehicles. ******* statute allows for a lien to be filed against a new vehicle registration or drivers license for the next 5 years. The lien allows the service provider to cover some but not all of their costs. You can find this statue at: ***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

      You have a wrecker lien on your license due to your vehicle not being retrieved by yourself or your insurance company, this will stay in effect until this lien is paid in full.

      We wish you the best in your healing process and the future.

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