My Unfortunate Experience with All American Towing
I had an extremely negative experience with All American Towing that resulted in significant damage to my vehicle's front bumper and a series of deceptive practices that I believe consumers should be aware of. This page documents my story and provides evidence to warn others.
All American Towing damaged my car during what should have been a routine towing service. When confronted with evidence, they denied responsibility, refused to provide insurance information, and attempted to handle the situation “off the books” to avoid accountability.
Timeline of Events
- Initial Contact: I arranged for my car to be towed by All American Towing.
- The Towing Incident: While loading my car onto the truck, the front bumper began scraping against the truck bed as it was being pulled up. I watched as the bumper was being visibly damaged during this process.
- Further Damage: The tow operator was using a wood plank to help angle the car, and this plank spiked through my front bumper, creating a significant hole.
- Suspicious Behavior: Rather than providing proper company contact information, the tow operator gave me his personal phone number, stating “if you contact the company, they're just gonna take money from me anyway.” This immediately raised red flags about their business practices.
- Reporting to All American Towing: Despite the operator's request, I contacted All American Towing directly to report the damage and request their insurance information.
- Their Response: The company claimed “they don't do insurance” and instead wanted to send a manager to inspect the damage and decide what compensation they felt was appropriate. They refused to provide their insurance information, which is legally required.
- Seeking Authority Help: I consulted with a police officer about the situation. The officer advised me to go to the courthouse and speak with the constables about the issue.
- Insurance Claim: I filed a claim with my comprehensive insurance to cover the damage.
- Threats from the Company: All American Towing expressed anger that I wasn't “working with them” directly and threatened to impound my car if I didn't pay their invoice.
Photo Evidence
Below are photographs documenting the damage caused to my vehicle by All American Towing:
Damage from scraping against the truck bed during loading
Puncture damage caused by the wood plank
Communications with All American Towing
I have documented all my interactions with All American Towing regarding this issue:
Initial Report of Damage
When I contacted All American Towing about the damage, they stated they “don't do insurance” - a clear violation of regulations requiring towing companies to carry insurance. Instead, they offered to send a manager to assess the damage and decide what compensation they felt was appropriate.
Request for Insurance Information
I insisted on receiving their insurance information, as is my right, but they continued to decline to provide it. This evasion of responsibility is both unethical and potentially illegal.
Threats Regarding Invoice
After I pursued proper channels for resolution (insurance and legal), the company became hostile, threatening to impound my car if I didn't pay their invoice. This appears to be an intimidation tactic to avoid responsibility for the damage they caused.
Consumer Rights & Towing Company Obligations
It's important for consumers to know their rights when dealing with towing companies:
- Towing companies are legally required to carry insurance and must provide their insurance information when they cause damage
- A towing company cannot legally refuse to provide insurance information when they've caused damage to your vehicle
- Consumers have the right to document the condition of their vehicle before and after towing
- Towing companies must provide clear documentation of their services
- Companies cannot threaten or intimidate customers who are pursuing legitimate damage claims
- Most states have specific regulations regarding towing companies' responsibilities and required insurance coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are towing companies allowed to not disclose their insurance information?
They aren't. Towing companies are legally required to carry commercial liability insurance and must provide this information when they cause damage to a customer's vehicle. Refusing to provide insurance information is usually a tactic to handle claims “off the books” or to minimize payouts. If a towing company refuses to provide insurance information, you should report them to your state's regulatory agency that oversees towing operations, typically the Department of Transportation or Public Utilities Commission.
What should I do if a towing company threatens to impound my car over an invoice dispute?
This is often an intimidation tactic. If you have documentation of damage they caused, they cannot legally impound your vehicle for refusing to pay for services that resulted in damage. If you receive such threats:
- Document all communications
- Contact your local consumer protection agency
- Consider consulting with an attorney
- File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau
- Report the threat to your state's regulatory agency for towing companies
What are the recommended next steps after a towing company damages your vehicle?
Based on my experience, I recommend:
- Document the damage with detailed photos and notes
- Request the towing company's insurance information in writing
- File a claim with your comprehensive insurance as I did
- Follow through with the advice from authorities (in my case, speaking with the constables at the courthouse)
- File a formal complaint with your state's regulatory agency for towing companies
- Consider small claims court if the damage amount is within the limit for your state
Conclusion
My experience with All American Towing has been deeply disappointing. They damaged my front bumper during towing, refused to provide insurance information, and then attempted to intimidate me when I pursued legitimate channels for compensation.
I am sharing my story to warn other consumers about my experience with this company. If you have had a similar experience, I encourage you to share your story and report it to the appropriate consumer protection agencies.
Have You Had a Similar Experience?
If you have also had issues with All American Towing, consider taking these steps:
- File a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency
- Contact the Better Business Bureau
- Share your experience on review sites
- Report the issue to the agency that regulates towing companies in your state
- Consult with a consumer rights attorney if necessary