So, my apartment complex towed my car. Perils of renting. Why do I stay you ask? It's close to work. Work controls my life! The tow cost me $300; that's my food budget for 1.5 months. And I missed a Holiday at work because I didn't work the full 8 hours. I tried to get my money back and here's what happened.
On 04/04/2018 you submitted the following feedback:
Me: My car was towed from a handicapped space in front of VACANT retail spaces attached to my apartment building. These retail spaces are and have been VACANT for the 2.5 years I have lived here since the building was erected. I was the third person to move-in. This space is not accessible to anything in the building other than the VACANT retail spaces as the elevator is on the other side of the building, and the side were my car was parked is flanked by stairs. This is private property so the towing was commissioned and sanctioned by The Property; a little more notice or sufficient warning would have been appreciated. It cost me a total of $300 to have my car returned to and I suffered some ramifications at work as I was 1.25 hours late. When I signed up to live in a luxury community this is not what I expected. As such, I am requesting a $300 credit be applied to my account. Thank you.
Them: Good Afternoon, I contacted the towing company to get the information about your car and the specifics on why it was towed. After seeing the pictures, your car was towed, not due to being parked by retail, but due to parking in a handicap parking space without having a valid handicap sticker showing. That is not only against our parking rules, but it is a violation of NC statute § 20-37.6. On Thursday of last week, management also sent out an email reminding residents of the parking rules and procedures and to let everyone know that we were towing for any infractions. I double checked to ensure that your email was correct and that the message was delivered, which it was. Given all of the information above, we will not be able to credit back to you the $300. In the future, please ensure that you are parked in a non-handicap space or that you are properly showing the handicap tag.
Sincerely,
Ashley Valenzuela
On April 6, 2018, I wrote them this:
Me: Thank you for your prompt response. It does not appear to me that the concerns I raised were completely understood. Towing my car from the VACANT retail lot where the posted signs, handicapped or otherwise, still remain widely unenforced is altogether a malicious, arbitrary, and capricious act. If the impact on community members and the people who call The Property home has no bearing on its decisions that's certainly The Property's prerogative. Similarly, it is my prerogative to not suffer lightly those who take my money and affect my ability to earn income. I have come to expect less from this property over the years, and it has delivered. Thank you. Have a nice day.
Conclusion: I'm still out $300. I'm still renting. I'm still working to mitigate the loss. Sometimes I wonder why I try. :/
Tally:
My Early Retirement Journey: 0
The Man: all the points
[originally published Apr 12, 2018]
ReplyDeleteSteveark
Apr 12, 2018steveark.com
There are some battles you can’t win. I certainly wouldn’t have expected to be towed from a handicapped spot that was in a meaningless location but whomever wrote the email back is obviously living their dream of having control. At least think how happy you made that person, they are in heaven right now getting to not only stick you with $300 but getting to reject your appeal as well, they hit the control freak jackpot! I am sorry, and by the way, I got towed a couple of years ago, pure dumbness in my case, but it only cost $80. $300 sounds like highway robbery.