Complaints

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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/03/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 incident occurred on November 3, 2023. This tow truck company is predatory, and illegally gains access to cars without the consent of its owners. I legally parked my car in a parking lot in Arlington. I exited my car in order to see the parkmobile sign; entered in the parkmobile number in the app; and started walking away from my car as the payment was processing. The payment took about a minute to process. I then enjoyed dinner at a restaurant and came back to where my car was parked 1.5 hours later. My car was gone and had been towed. After investigating, the tow company admitted to towing my car as soon as it was parked. They timestamped the towing at 6:50 pm, and my parkmobile was activated at 6:51 pm. So in addition to the $15 I paid to park, and then the Uber ride to the tow yard, I had to pay them $150 for the towing. They also illegally access cars they tow with a bar they stick in the window to open the door, and will rummage through your stuff.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/08/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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've paid for parking for 2+ hours even extended the parking hours and my car still got towed by this company. When i went to get my car out the lady behind the window was the nastiest person I've ever met. she called me and my boyfriend scums and low life's. While waiting for my car to get moved i approached this man and asked him has this happened to hime before he showed me that he got towed three times in one day and showed me that he still had time left on his parking. the nasty lady informed us that the parking app we used to park was a third party and she doesn't know who parks in that lot and what was paid. It doesn't add up that you're not keeping in touch with a company using your lot to see what cars have paid for parking or not. I paid $55 in parking PLUS the $185 to get my car out of the lot.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/13/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  The towing company towed my car in violation of several of the rules for trespass towing in Arlington County. They were incredibly rude and refused to provide me with all the necessary documentation. When I asked if they had given me all of it the woman said, "No I only gave you half." I was never provided with photos. They also patrol at night so that they can charge a premium. Article 1, section b. b. each sign shall contain the following language: “towing at owner’s expense” not less than three (3) inches in height; Article 1, section g g. each sign shall provide the non-emergency telephone number of the County Police ?This was not provided Article 1, section h h. each sign shall include the name of the business or businesses on or adjoining the property, the street address of the property, or the name of the property; This was not provided § 14.3-7. Storage Facilities. B. A storage site shall be lighted during the hours of darkness to afford clear visibility to all portions of the storage site. This was not provided D. The vehicle owner shall have the opportunity to inspect the vehicle and any items contained therein prior to payment. No towing and recovery operator shall require a vehicle owner to sign any waiver of the owner’s rights to receive compensation for damage to the owner’s vehicle as a condition of the vehicle’s release. This was not offered

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/11/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  My name is *************************** and I am the owner of a black **** ** that was towed from the ******* condominium parking garage sometime between 7:31-9:19 Friday evening (8th of September). For additional information, I was parked in the middle of three empty parking spaces and had reversed/backed into to it. After driving it home and sleeping in, I woke up to go to lunch with my parents and we noticed immediately that on the drivers door there was a dent and scratch that was brand new. After walking around the car to see if there were any other marks we noticed a few scratches (attached below) on both sides of the car near/close to where the front tires are located. Subsequently, I immediately called the office of the towing company at 12:08 and was informed that I needed to speak with the manager who would be in on Monday between 8-8:30. Now having called at 8:06 I am following up and sending an email with a description of the events and pictures of the dentitions and scratches. I tend to be OCD about my car in which I often have it cleaned/wash it my self regularlytypically every two weeks. I recently had it washed on August 26th and again on the 6th of September (2 days before the towing). Neither of those times having any of these scratches or dents, and very little driving in between those days as I take the metro to go to my Law School at ** during the week, thereby the marks resulting from the towing and being immediately noticed the next day. Considering that my car was picked up late in the evening (being paid at 22:02:48 and as evidenced by the additional after hours charge), it being a black SUV, and it raining (in which I have a video proving that while paying outside on the steps it was raining on us and even lightning in the background), it would have been difficult to have observed those marks unless it being in broad daylight.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/10/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 September 9, 2023 I parked my car in a parking lot next to the restaurant where we were having dinner in Arlington. I used the ********** app to pay for 2 hours of parking at 8:14 pm and the parking was expiring at 10:14 pm. At 10:12 pm we left the restaurant and walked next door to a convenience store and made a quick purchase. We returned to the lot just after the parking expired and the car was already gone. We called the phone number on the towing sign at 10:26 pm and the woman said the car was already at the towing lot. I don’t even know how they are able to track the county’s parking app but clearly this was predatory towing. It seems to me that they actually towed the car earlier than they claim on their paperwork because it is nearly impossible for them to have hooked up and towed the car and got it to their towing lot in the span of 5-8 minutes and we would have seen the car towed past us and we did not see it. The paperwork states the car was towed at 10:22 pm which is nearly impossible. It also states the car was in the lot by 10:27 pm (while we were already on the phone with the towing company). While at the towing lot, we observed a tow truck driver pull in another car at a high rate of speed and drop it in the lot and speed off. This is clearly a business preying on people and charging $215 in extortion to get back the car. In addition, the car was parked almost right up against a fence with a greasy chain hanging off and a giant mud puddle so it was impossible to get into the car to drive it off the lot without rubbing against the greasy chain and my husband’s pants were ruined. I’d like reimbursement for those pants as well ($50)

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/05/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  My car broke down on a holiday weekend and no garages were open. Our only option was to tow the car to a nearby garage and leave a note saying we would be back in the morning, so that’s what we did. When we got there, our car (which was in the garage’s private parking lot) had been towed by Advanced Towing Co. I went to the impound lot and was told I would need to pay an impound fee of $185 to remove my car. They then told me that the only way to remove my car from the lot (it was broken down and would not start) was through their towing service. I asked them to take my car to a preferred garage located five miles away, and they said it was too far. They then told me the only option was a garage two minutes away, and that their minimum towing fee was $150. I had no other option to remove my car from the lot and therefore had to pay $150 to have my car towed 2 minutes away. Advanced Towing Co towed my car from a private lot and then forced me to pay $150 to tow it to a new garage. I am now out $335 when my car should have stayed at the original garage in the first place.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/09/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Advanced Towing rightfully towed my vehicle reportedly at 5am on 8/9. When paying the bill, I asked for an explanation on the $20 fuel for a tow that was .5mile from the place or origin to the tow lot. They abruptly told me that it was the law, and that I dont understand that if they dont charge everyone the same rate then it is considered predatory towing. I disagreed with that response as the fuel charge should be rated at the distance/mileage/consumption of fuel. The law states a $20 rate of fuel, maximum, but it does not anywhere mandate a flat rate. A flat rate for a .5 mile tow at the maximum legal limit indeed sounds like predatory towing, which is the opposite of their claim. Per my receipt and research on the law, they are also operating under the maximum charge for administrative and after-hour tows. Meaning, they are charging the maximum legal rate for all items on the invoice instead of fairly and reasonably rating each incident. The company was not at all willing to discuss this confusion or work with me on it. I tried to communicate with them about it twice.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/29/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  Last night, a towing truck showed up and towed both my car and my friend's car. Luckily, we managed to catch them red-handed while they were towing my friend's car after already taking mine to their parking lot. Just as my friend paid the guy cash to get her car back, the cops arrived and questioned the tow truck driver about his license, insurance, and permit for towing cars. As it turned out, he didn't have any of those. He had even towed my car previously without a permit, which meant I had to go to the parking lot, which was 10 minutes away, and pay $185 to retrieve my car. All of this happened within a span of two hours. The police issued tickets to the tow truck driver and he'll have to appear in court. It's frustrating to have spent all that money, and I really hope to get a refund. This happened on the 28th of July My invoice number is ****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/29/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 was parked in a parking lot & my app alerted me that the meter expired. As I was walking to my car to add money to the meter, I found my car already towed. The tow truck driver said I can pay $195 in cash or go to the lot & pay; so I went to get money from the atm. As I’m taking money out to hand it to him, the cops came & he snatched the money from me told me I can get a receipt by calling his company & started walking away, without even wanting to give me my change. The cops stopped him & asked for his paperwork. He didn’t have the following: his license, towing license/permit, insurance paperwork. He was literally towing private property without paperwork. He & his company were essentially stealing peoples property & scamming them $195 to get it back. The cops informed me that the drop fee is $10 not $195, but they cannot make him give me the money. He also said he would have broken into my car in order to tie the steering wheel. When the cops came, all the sudden the drop fee became $185, the tower was constantly changing his story. This company is a scam. They rob people and allow the workers to work without proper documentation & without providing receipts. He was commuting illegal work knowingly, because as the cops showed up he tried to run off. My car is damaged, the alarm system, train/axle system & wheels & alignment.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/16/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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 is using predatory practices to illegally tow cars from a lot located at **** * ******** ****** in Arlington, Va. I parked a few minutes after 1:30, got out of my vehicle and walked up to the ********** sign to get the parking info and as I walked to the restaurant I processed my transaction/payment for the parking space. My parking was paid for at 1:35 and they towed me at 1:39 claiming they didn’t see a payment in the system when they checked at 1:34 (right as the transaction was processing). I believe the tow truck was sitting and waiting for me to get out and tow right as I left the lot - yet they still made me pay $185 to get my car back. Not to mention half of my Sunday was hijacked by this incident costing me to miss another class which now costs me another $35. They are predatory and they know it. Multiple articles have been written about it