‘They’re like bugs’: Trucker charged $46K for tow, until WGN got involved

OAK LAWN, Ill. — When a giant rig got wedged underneath a Chicago viaduct in early April, a tow truck arrived in minutes. Then the difficulty started.

Tim Smith mentioned the towing agency quoted his firm, DPW Trucking, a number of thousand {dollars} over the cellphone and he agreed. But when he went to choose up the trailer, the value had emerged to $46,000. “It was like: ‘You should be kidding me! How do you provide you with $46,000!’ Smith recalled pondering.

“They don’t want to talk to you on the phone,” DPW Trucking proprietor Kristin Crawford mentioned. “They literally hang up on you. And then they, it says on their email, they will not negotiate the rate.”

Crawford mentioned she did a fast web search for the identify of firm that they felt was holding their truck hostage, Official Towing. She discovered a 2024 WGN Investigates story that included a differing trucking agency that had faced a similar scenario involving Official Towing.

“I actually called that company and talked to them and asked them how they got through this and they said the only way that they got through was when you guys showed up,” Crawford mentioned.

WGN ARRIVES ON SCENE

WGN Investigates arrived at Official Towing’s yard, positioned within the 9200 block of South Kilpatrick in Oak Lawn, and located Smith and his colleague outdoors making an attempt to get the rig again.

An worker of Official Towing got here outdoors and advised Smith the proprietor needed to speak to him. The name ended abruptly when the proprietor didn’t need to speak on speakerphone, however shortly after one other message was delivered.

Instead of $46,000, DPW might get their truck again for $5,000.

While Smith was inside making an attempt to get it again, Crawford known as Oak Lawn police and several other officers responded to the scene.

They finally got their trailer again for the $5,000 and drove again to Wisconsin.

TOWING COMPANY’S RESPONSE

“Conflict with customers, and with other towing companies, is also bad for business. Official Towing values ​​its ability to serve the public in Chicago above its right to collect every penny it is owed on every tow,” Official Towing mentioned in an electronic mail to WGN Investigates.

While Official Towing is licensed by the State of Illinois, Chicago’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection workplace says the corporate shouldn’t be at present licensed to tow automobiles inside city limits.

The firm’s president is listed in state information as Ahmed Shalabi. He declined repeated requests for an interview and his story modified.

First he claimed to be licensed to function within the City of Chicago after which mentioned the regulation was unclear about whether or not he wanted a separate license. He then adopted up and acknowledged that the Chicago’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection workplace is “notorious for how difficult, time-consuming and expensive it is even to obtain a basic city license.”

Official Towing has confronted complaints for inflated payments and failing to present clients a report detailing the price of the tow earlier than a car is attached.

‘THEY’RE LIKE BUGS‘

“They’re like bugs,” Crawford mentioned. “They scurry when the police or the news come.”

The Illinois Commerce Commissionwhich regulates towing in 5 counties outdoors of Chicago says strengthened legal guidelines, elevated fines and a crackdown on “bad actors” has led to a lower in complaints in recent times.

State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Twelfth District) has handed laws to crack down on predatory towing practices, however some operators change names or seem to not worry fines.

“People are not aware of the consumer protection portion of things or that there’s even agencies that are doing that type of work in terms of regulation,” Villaneuva mentioned. “…I think that we’re constantly looking on the books to see what else we could be doing to hold these people accountable. That shouldn’t be happening. Like, that’s highway robbery and that’s wrong.”

Crawford for grateful after getting their truck again.

“We wouldn’t have our truck if it wasn’t for you,” Crawford mentioned. “We would not have it back. It would still be sitting there and we would still be fighting with them and losing sleep.”