Raleigh Tow company warning

raleighjeepguy

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2007
Location
Raleigh,nc
Watch out for the lot next to the flying saucer and anything to do with Mclaughlin (sp) towing. Got a boot thrown on my girls toy last night paying to park. Evidently they are running this scam pretty hard and according to the doorman and a few other local employees we were like the 4th+ person to get nailed with a $50 buck hit after paying to park. Just a warning guys. Guess the economy is getting back to good when you get scammed trying to have a few cold ones :beer:
 
Theres a lot in Raleigh right by the saucer. Basically you shove 3 dollars in a box with your parking space number on it. Here comes the scam. They come clear out the boxes numerous times a night (obviously). Well they took out the money and then booted the highlander later in the night. I pretty much tried to just get the boot off but she wouldn't just let me change out the tires and deal with it later. She proceeded to call the cops about it. Talked to one of the door guys and a manager of a bar right by it. They pretty much said they had 4+ complaints that week that others had the same happen. G/f called the cops (grrrrrr) and of course there was no help on that end. In fact I got threatened to be arrested for d/d after having 3 beers over a 5 hour period for just "hanging out in public". Overall its just a huge scam and you are asking for shit just parking there (no proof of payment) but haven't had probs in the past.


That's what it sounds like to me. I'd have the torches en route on that one.
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I was actually pretty calm about it. I mean 50 bucks isn't life/death. It just pissed me off that its a blatent scam and even more that the cops were just complete dicks to us. O yea and gotta love them saying "its 50 exact. No cc, no debit card, no check.......must be 50 exact no change given".
 
I know the lot that your talking about, its a stupid system that they have there.. There is no proof that you did or didnt pay..


I wonder if they changed to a time limit on each spot?
 
I know the lot that your talking about, its a stupid system that they have there.. There is no proof that you did or didnt pay..
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yea its terrible but have never had a prob before this. Not sure about the ems station. Its right there by the clarion and the flying saucer. Its just bobo that someone would make a living off of being just a flat out bullshitter like that. Sounds like they got their business ethics from my ex wife!
 
ive got nothing to do tomorrow night, so i think im gonna park my jeep there, and see if someone trys to empty the box, and what else goes on. well see how it goes.
 
Yeah I always drive around to try to find a spot, that lot is SHADY and the cops always hang out there too. Being a plate-owning veteran of the Saucer you learn a few places to park that have nothing to do with that lot. Of course I usually avoid going on the hot nights (Friday and Saturday) and that avoids most of the issues.
 
oh ok.. I know the lots..

the lots in that area have always been "shady"

I used to work the door at Jillian's Sports bar(long time ago) and we always had customers getting cars towed, etc..

we even had a Jillians parking lot once just for employees and the tow company tried to tow one of our cars. well I saw it happening so I hoped in my Jeep and blocked his ass in until the cops got there.. Luckily the cop that showed up had worked the front door with me many times so he made the guy drop the car.

But usually the cops would not do much to help the situation. So I agree best to find a spot on the street that is legal to park in. really just another reason to stay away from downtown Raleigh(which is funny cause the city council is trying to drove folks to downtown, yet people like myself just stay away so they do not have to deal with tow company crap)

The reason I asked was, cause if you had paid a person then the car got booted you would have a leg to fight it.. but those boxes you put money in.. nope no way to prove crap.. which sucks
 
I know the lot too. The company has been disbanded and recreated at least three times that I'm aware of for predatory towing. This has nothing to do with the economy, and more to do with their belief that they can do what they want.

J
 
This has nothing to do with the economy, and more to do with their belief that they can do what they want.
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Problem is.........they are getting away with it. I already sent a few emails to local stations.
I would have told the towwing company you are going to call the bbe and the news .
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That really didn't seem to bother them lol. Must have been the comfort of all the good hard stolen money padding their asses.
Being a plate-owning veteran of the Saucer you learn a few places to park that have nothing to do with that lot. Of course I usually avoid going on the hot nights (Friday and Saturday) and that avoids most of the issues.
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Any suggestions? I've never seen much of places to park down there unless you get their dirt early and park by the patio.
 
You can park anywhere on Hillsborough, West, or Harrington. The deck on West is also free 90% of the time.
 
I'd go write one of these folks running for city council. Put your email and responses here. There are Raleigh City voters here even if you aren't. (I'm in the county myself).

http://www.markturner.net/2009/07/17/raleigh-city-council-candidates/

Mark is a former co-worker who has turned citizen-activist. I'm of the opinion that he'll be interested in this kind of story. He's hoping to see Raleigh downtown revived and this sort of activity will hurt that dream. You might want to email him.

-- Wondering if Mark will see a trackback in his logs and send me an IM
J
 
how about this:
Film yourself with a your cellphone video camera putting the correct amount of money in the slot, showing your watch to show what time it is, showing your parking number and then if they do put a boot on ya, go to court and sue the shit out of them.
 
I know I am a long way from Raleigh, but this is interesting to me.

Is there a way to set a trap/sting to bust these folks?

Like maybe use a video recorder and capture everything. Video yourself parking,paying the box, them emptying the box, and then them towing or booting the car?

Or is it so random, that it would be hard or near impossible to catch them in the act?

edit...Lorenzo posted his idea before me..lol
 
Lorenzo816 said:
how about this:
Film yourself with a your cellphone video camera putting the correct amount of money in the slot, showing your watch to show what time it is, showing your parking number and then if they do put a boot on ya, go to court and sue the shit out of them.
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That makes perfect since to me
 
how about this:
Film yourself with a your cellphone video camera putting the correct amount of money in the slot, showing your watch to show what time it is, showing your parking number and then if they do put a boot on ya, go to court and sue the shit out of them.
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nextel FML!


If I didn't have my kids most nights I would be all over stalking the hell out of them though!
 
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