Question about HOA's, the boot, and snow covered parking signs...

[Cody]

Maybe I should enlist your legalese to write a letter, complete with my pictures and the owners testimony about moving in that day, to request reimbursment prior to pursuing compensation for my time, lawyer fees, and the original value of the ticket, plus my own "fuel costs"

They itemized the cost as $80 for violation, $24 for Fuel costs.

HELL YES take it to court!
Here is what I'd do:

Call the news. There have been a rash of these stories as of late, and the news media has come down VERY hard on the tow truck companies.

But, before you do that call the apartment manager/HOA president, tell him your plan to sue to tow truck driver AND Call the news, and give him a chance to refund your money and avoid the bad publicity.
It isn't a threat, it is a friendly, courteous thing to do.

If this doesn't fly, file the papers in small claims court and call the newspapers/TV stations.

On your small claim suit, ADD COSTS!!! Figure out the time you spent on the case, and put a $$$ figure next to it.

You know about as much as I do about filing a claim in small claims court, but I'd be happy to argue it for you in court if the schedules work out.

 

[Tacoma]

Put it to 'em as hard as you can. That is pure, unadulterated BS. "Predatory" is a good way to put it.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Anyway you can call a tow truck to tow the tow truck that parked in the no parking zone to tow your vehicle? Just thinking out loud.

Hmmm, we kindve tried that one... while the wrecker was trying to hook my freinds car, he called his repo company and they brought another wrecker to hook his car. The cop was like "what in the gods name is going on here"... to which Chris replied... "I'm too drunk to drive, he's here to get my car"

 

[ID Bronco]

You are hosed. The HOA probably doesn't get any of the money, so they won't "reimburse" you with money they didn't get. The tow company is "doing their job" which stinks, but it is what they did. I used to be a property manager, and you hear this kind of stuff all the time. You are telling the truth and probably deserve a refund, but so many people have lied in the past that they won't be to sympathetic. I understand both sides, I too think you should chalk this up to experience and understand that any condo or the like will have these same policies, so always be careful!

 

[Rusted]

Have some of these made that say "stop having cars towed without a valid warning", and stick them on the front door of every HOA board members home.

http://www.lintonlabels.com/noparkingstickers/parkingviolationlabels.html

 

[Meat_]

Have some of these made that say "stop having cars towed without a valid warning", and stick them on the front door of every HOA board members home.

http://www.lintonlabels.com/noparkingstickers/parkingviolationlabels.html

THESE NO PARKING STICKERS ARE ALSO A WHOPPING 5" X 8" - PLENTY BIG ENOUGH TO BE EASILY NOTICED! THEY ARE BACKED WITH A STRONG PERMANENT ADHESIVE WHICH CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT SCRAPING SO USE WITH CAUTION. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, AS A WARNING, YOU MAY WANT TO SIMPLY PLACE ONE OF THESE STICKERS UNDER THE WIPER BLADE WITHOUT ACTUALLY REMOVING THE BACKING AND STICKING IT TO THE VEHICLE OR YOU COULD USE A REMOVABLE STICKER FOR A FIRST OFFENSE WARNING.

If someone put one of those on my truck I would beat them to death, slowly.

 

[Tacoma]

If you were a car-towing HOA asshat, I'd risk that.

 

[Gravy]

I've "seen" a car 007'd out of a boot.

 

[spencurai]

My thoughts exactly...

"I'll beat you to death over a 100$ car-boot fee..."said with a 1000 yard stare.