ComplaintsforRetriever Towing

Towing Company

Multi Location Business

Current Alerts For This Business

Pattern of Complaint:

On July 13, 2017, BBB recognized a pattern of complaints from consumers regarding service issues. Complaints allege that consumers vehicles were towed by Retriever Towing, however there were no visible signs indicating consumers were parking unlawfully.

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Initial Complaint
09/03/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Unresolved
The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
My truck was towed from my girlfriends apartments on August 19th 2024 at 12 pm. I was parked in a visitor parking spot. There are signs clearly posted stating visitor parking. The *** company refused to provide me with the sign authorization from the property owner requesting the tow. They charged me $519 to return my car. Retriever towing is known for being crooked. The city of ******** has a lawsuit against them.
Business response
09/03/2024
I cannot review the complaint without vehicle information
Customer response
09/04/2024

Complaint: 22230887

I am rejecting this response because: here is the info for the tow. Can you please explain why my truck was towed when it was parked in a marked visitor parking spot? That is predatory towing. Why would I need permission to park in a visitor parking spot? I wasnt even there for more than 4 hours. If its marked visitor then the public would not only assume, but in fact know, because its clearly marked visitor, that they are parked where a non resident should park. The sign says visitor parking. If a non resident needs to obtain some sort of tag to park in a visitor parking space then your sign should clearly state this and not just visitor parking. That sign is misleading and done on purpose in order to tow people who are under the impression that they are parked correctly.

Sincerely,

***** *********
Initial Complaint
07/29/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Unanswered
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
7-29-2024 was notified by guest that my car was being towed from my apartment complex. Ran out and shouted down tow operator explaining I was a tenant. operator stated I was parked in wrong spot but wouldn't show pictures until I cited state law requiring disclosure, driver admitted numbered spaces were significantly worn and could be difficult to read. When guest reminded me of child's car seat in car we requested the operator at least permit removal of the child car seat at which point was told that for $200 he'd drop the vehicle and they didn't care what we did beyond that. When I spoke with landlord was informed that they hadn't signed authorization for any cars to be towed for the day. Some light reading learned this wasn't anything new for retriever towing as the state had filed a lawsuit January of 2023 for non-compliance with ORS ******(2). When company number was called to request proof of authorization in line with ORS ****** was curtly told I'd only recieve that from their management and would need to request it on their website and wait to see if someone gets back to me while they continue to charge me extra for holding the vehicle. This company was cited several times over for predatory tow practices, has been seen illegally patrolling parking lots and does not comply with state laws that protect consumers
Initial Complaint
07/27/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Unanswered
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
They towed my vehicle from my assigned spot trying to say it has been sitting there for days and I use my car every day I called them and they just dismiss me they don't tell me anything about getting my car back or anything I told them I'm disabled and need the car to go to the doctor Monday morning they told me they would call me back and nothing they just leave me not knowing what to do im disabled and have mental problems I dont know what to do i just think this must be illegal just to take someone's car and there is nothing I can do about it this can't be a legal practice no way and with the average person doesn't know what to do in these situations and they are counting on the fact
Initial Complaint
06/10/2024
Complaint Type:
Billing Issues
Status:
Unanswered
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
Today I was informed via mail of a vehicle I had given to someone, but failed to notify the *** of, being towed and fines collecting. It is fair that I failed to notify the *** some years ago, but what is not fair, is that this was the first notice, it was in the amount of 846$, and it increases 50$ a day. I called initially at 2:42PM and someone answered to confirm this and how it worked, they emailed me the wrong form to fill out at 2:52PM, I replied asking if it was the correct form at 3:20PM because it didn't make sense, they confirmed it was the wrong form and re-sent the correct one at 3:39PM, which I signed and attached a photo of my drivers license and requested to make payment at ******, but have been unable to get through to make a payment nor have they called **** called 3 additional times leaving messages the first two times at 3:35PM, 4:24PM, and 4:50PM attempting to pay so that I would avoid the 50$ penalties.These charges are high and unfair, and I have no choice with this business. I feel the service they provide (towing abandoned vehicles?) is necessary, but these charges are criminal. In some states they would be limited to the value of the vehicle towed for their compensation, but in ******, there is theoretically no limit. There should be laws to protect people from charges like this, in addition, they should be limited in how much they may require collecting at once (ie, 500$ total charges, 100$ month payment plan without interest). This would protect citizens from unforseen financial hazard.
Initial Complaint
06/03/2024
Complaint Type:
Sales and Advertising Issues
Status:
Unanswered
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
My 2018 ****** got repossessed on May 21st of 2024. Im not making a complaint towards the fact that it was something that I had to deal with. I am however making this because of everything in between. I had taken care of the financial mess with my lender, and had also paid my invoice with the mother company, United Recovery and Remarketing on Tuesday, May 28th. I received an address for Apollo then, but I wasnt able to get the phone number until after I talked with UR&R. I finally was able to contact Apollo on Wednesday the 29th. I scheduled an appointment for 10am, and then had to reschedule for the next day, the 30th of May for 4pm. My car had already been there for 9 nights and the lady over the phone said my price would stay at $160 when I would go to pick up my car. I ended up going with a family member to my appointment for 4pm on 05/30/2024, and when we got there, there were no signs whatsoever pointing us to where Apollo was supposed to be. The street address was wrong, there were no signs, and when we finally decided to walk up to a different towing lot to ask where Apollo was supposed to be, thats when we were told by an employee with Retriever Recovery that the pod was shared and the lady that worked with Apollo left early. I had to leave and went back the next day (5/31) without an appointment and tried to catch the employee before she went home so I would be able to get my car back before it was auctioned off over the weekend. Got to the window. No one from Apollo was there. The same man from ********* was there and informed me that the lady had left before 12 for the day. He then had to handle business matters for Apollo with me instead of the genuine Apollo employee, and was the one that released my car to me. I was charged $220 instead of the $160 I was promised to stay at. It was also impossible to get a hold of ANYONE on the phone. Very unprofessional, and feels like one big scam.
Business response
07/09/2024
We are not Apollo Recovery at all
Business response
07/26/2024
We are not Apollo recovery
Initial Complaint
05/01/2024
Complaint Type:
Product Issues
Status:
Resolved
The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
Hi there,Hope youre week is going well!I am a current renter at ************************, that is managed by tandem property. My trailer was incorrectly towed at some point in March. We do not have the exact dates because we were not given notice of the towing and we didnt check on our trailer frequently as I have an email from management that states we are allowed to park our trailer in a specific area for free and will not get it towed. That specific area they asked us to park our trailer is far away from our apartment.My husband and I tried to get our trailer back from Retriever Towing, only to be told that we are not allowed to take it without an Oregon title. The state of ****** does not require a title for cargo trailers under 1800 lbs. Additionally there is an average three week waiting period for scheduling a titling appointment with the **** I have proof of purchase and ownership which is all you need for a light cargo trailer in the state of ******. The company is not following Oregon DMV rules and regulations and its charging us $80 a day to keep our trailer until we can get a receipt that we started the titling process. As of April 30th they are wanting to charge us $1582.00, which is incredibly expensive and overwhelming as an intern/grad student.We contacted retriever towing on April 30, message receipt number R213983. What I am hoping for is my property management company to pay retriever towing or refund me the tow cost but I know that is a separate issue.What I want from retriever towing is to get the trailer back by using the current proof of ownership that we have, that is required by Oregon DMV, and wave the daily fees from the 30th of April onwards as that is the date we tried to collect the trailer and were rejected. Thank you so much for any help you can give! All the best,****
Business response
05/01/2024
Hello what are you asking me to help with
Customer response
05/03/2024

Complaint: 21652299

I am rejecting this response because:
It was a clarifying question not a helpful response.
I said in my initial complaint what Im asking for, which is that you give us our trailer back based on the requirements needed for the Oregon DMV department such that a trailer like ours which is under 1800 lbs does not require a title. So I am asking you to give our trailer back with the receipt of ownership that we have purchased the trailer and that it is in my name per that purchase receipt.
Additionally you have informed my property management company that you are giving me the trailer back for $1100. I have been trying to get my trailer back since the 30th of April to no avail.
I am also requesting that you either waive the daily storage and other fees which total to approximately $80 a day, or you give that to ****** and Tandem Property as this is there a mistake and not ours.
We are only willing to pay the $1100 and that is it. Any other fees should be directed to ****** and Tandem Property AND you should release our trailer to us as soon as we pay the $1100 - any additional fees should be directed to ****** and Tandem Property and should not get in the way/delay us in getting our trailer back.

Sincerely,

************************************
Customer response
05/06/2024
An update that they gave us our trailer back for $1100 and didnt require the title because our property management told them the trailer was ours.
We can close the case as a successful resolution.
Thank you and the BBB for all the incredible work you guys do!! Every time I get the BBB involved (which has only been twice in ten years) I have always gotten a successful resolution, you guys do fantastic work and so help the underdog!! ????
****
Initial Complaint
04/16/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
Unanswered
The business failed to respond to the dispute.
My car was towed last month from in front of my house. Here's the story; ********* versa was parked in front of my house at was about 3:03am, I was coming back from Winco put my groceries inside the house, closed the trunk as usual, I go inside with the last bags, put my groceries away when I hear this strong engine outside and it was retriever towing moving my car about 20 feet further down so I wouldn't hear?/see him?, he moved it even though it is a manual car. And had the e break. I go outside and the he freaks out turns around and starts grabbing the belt to lock it, when I wS already present there, the oregon law says if your present you can ask the towing guy to release your car, if they havent not locked it in, and you won't be charge. And I was there and it was not. He took my car anyways. And when I went to go get it, I was charged 525. I called the only phone number they have, and I asked if they record when towing a car and the lady told me yes. I asked her I'd like to request the video because my car was towed wrongly and should of been released because I was there. And the car was completely free. End of story, she changed her story she said she wasn't sure of the recording, and asked her for her name and she said she don't give out her name. No phone numbers of supervisors and no names. To go online and email them. I did. And they replied saying" with your nasty gram what do you want" so rude. My car breaks started making sounds like of I had no breaks, my car had a dent o. The passenger side door, and one of my tires exploded while I was in the freeway. my car was forsure towed wrongly and that why all that happen. Also they bussisnes license expired last year. There is not a bussisnes license number to be found from them. Their previews bussisnes insurance was from **********, when their oregon based, and one of their insurance polices was NO coverage out of state. Their in ******, but digitally in ********** for business insurance reasons. ??
Initial Complaint
03/24/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
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.
December 9, 2023 my vehicle was towed from an apartment complex in *********. I was delivering groceries to a blind, disabled man like I do every week. When I pulled into the complex driveway I noticed a Retriever Towing truck sitting at the entrance. I took 3 loads of groceries into the apartment. The last load of groceries I was in the apartment a total of 2 mins and came out and my car was gone. By law signs are suppose to be posted in a clear and visible place. There was no sign visible where I parked. The sign could only be seen if you walked out of the apartment towards the parking lot. The employees are very rude at Retriever Towing. There's never management to talk to. They direct you to a website for any complaints. Their prices fluxuate and change to fit their needs. It cost me $1700 to get my car. That's fricken ridiculous. I had to not pay rent or utilities for 2 months in order to pay back the person that paid for my car to get out. I lost wages and was not able to go to my dying dad's to care for him. My mother passed away right before my car got towed. They practice Predatory practices. They troll for vehicles. This is outrageous. I just interviewed for a story in the Oregonian about the criminal ways Retriever Towing does business. It was published 2 days ago. I am going to file small claims against this company. They really need to be shut down.
Business response
04/19/2024
Not sure what you are asking for
Initial Complaint
02/24/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
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.
On December 12, 2023 I had paid the total for my vehicle being tow d and storage fees. Then even signed and released my title to them! They said hands were clean! 3 months later they said I owe 2000 for storage fees and auction fees!!!! I had already washed my name clean from this totaled vehicle and they are trying to charge me AGAIN and send me to collections! All of these employees are sketch in person and lie to your face, for example saying there is no management to talk to, and "oh that guy doesn't work for us anymore" and etc. it's a horrible scam this tow tard likes to play..
Business response
02/24/2024
We did call you back today to advise you of the error. You actually paid $711.00 on camera and again we did apologies for the error and advised you that you are no longer responsible for this invoice

thank you
Initial Complaint
01/17/2024
Complaint Type:
Service or Repair Issues
Status:
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.
On 1/13 I was driving home in the evening as snow started to fall. I parked at ****************** in front of metro ********* I was careful not to park in the lot next door that had tow signs. I came out the next morning with chains and a shovel to move my car and my vehicle was gone. I called the company and explained the situation and was told to call back on Monday when a manager we available to see if they could discount or waive the fee. I called back Monday and was met with an unprofessional employee yelling at me. She said if I picked up my vehicle before 5 pm it would be $458, after it would be $758. I drove out at 1:30 pm and all the sudden the price was $658 for no apparent reason. I asked the employee to see the signature of the property owner that authorized the tow and the photo of my vehicle proving it was prohibiting a sign. They declined and directed me to a website. The employee called me rude and walked away refusing to help me. I waited outside, calling the dispatch number and was met with more employees screaming at me calling me rude for asking for the opportunity to pay and leave when one of their employees refused to allow me to pay and retrieve my vehicle. Finally a manager called me from a private number and explained she would send me the proof and she would tell her employee to allow me to retrieve my vehicle. I waited for 1 hour outside in 20 weather just for the opportunity to pay and leave with my vehicle. The employee came out with a different attitude, let us pay and leave. I submit my request online for proof of compliance with ****** law and have not received any documentation yet. The pictures I submit are snowy, the white and red no parking sign is in a bus zone in the street, not in the parking lot.
Business response
01/29/2024
The tow was valid. Unfortunately there will not be a refund
Customer response
01/29/2024

Complaint: 21158202

I am rejecting this response because:
I have asked for proof of signature by the property owner and proof of my vehicle being parking in a prohibited manner. Both are required at no additional fee per Oregon state law, I have been asking for this documentation for more than 2 weeks and have not received any proof that the tow was valid beyond this typed sentence. I have provided photos of where I was parked where there is not a sign. I would like the proof provided, or I would like a refund.

Sincerely,

*************************
Business response
03/08/2024
This was a valid tow as stated before

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