Complaint Review: Oregon Highway Patrol - Les Schwab - Salem Oregon

I was called by my father and informed that my sister was potentially terminally ill and I needed to come to Colorado. I went online to check ticket prices. I then went to the Salem Airport to see what they might offer only to find they were closed. From there I decided to go to Portland. About midway through Salem I got a flat and I did not have a spare at the time. My girlfriend was with me and called her mother to come with a tire. Her spare did not fit so I was going to send them to get a tire and come back. A state trooper came by at that point and asked if we would be able to change it. I advised him we were in the process of getting a tire to get off the road. He said we could not wait on that and I must use a roadside service. I let the officer know that I could not afford a roadside service. The officer said I must use it and he called dispatch who sent out Les Schwab. Les Schwab came out and changed the tire, no estimate was shown before hand. He then handed me a bill for $203. I let him know, as I had with the officer, that I did not have the money. My girlfriend said she had $100 that can go toward it now. He said to follow him to the office so we could discuss it further.

I went to the office and I asked if I could make a payment arrangement, the guy went to the back, came back, said no. I asked what other options we have. The guy went to the back, came back, said I could leave the car there until Mon and pay for it them. Now leaving my car was not an option, I had to get to Colorado to see my sister in case things turned for the worse and she did pass. I told the guy I would give back the tire but I had to get another tire, I would be right back. I went to another tire service, got a tire, went back to find Les Schwab had closed. I left the tire behind the building since I would not be in the state soon so I could not come back to do it when they opened.

I got my ticket to fly to Colorado, flew out the following morning. That night my girlfriend called to let me know that the police had come by looking for me. Apparently I was being charged with "theft". I called Les Schwab Monday, at 503-585-7545 morning to see if they had found the tire. They had. They told me that they are dropping the theft charges but unless I paid a minimum service fee off $40 I would be charged with "theft of service". Now this is a service I did not solicit. This is a service I did not need, a tire would've been on the way had the officer not said that I must use a roadside service. I told the manager that. He told me that they still did it and that charge stands. I asked for a corporate number. I got the number 541-447-4136 and spoke to Jeff. I explained the situation and let him know tht it was not a service I wanted, needed, or authorized. He said he would research it and call back. He called back the next day and told me that, although I did not solicit or authorize the service, the service was still done and I owe or will be charged for theft of service. He then gave me the number 541-926-2226 and told me to talk to Jill to continue the dispute.

I have not called Jill, yet. I am in the process of researching vehicle code in regards to the shoulder. I have spoken to the highway patrol and they referenced ORS 819-100, 819-140, and OR Admin Rule 734-020-0147 as reasons the officer had the authority to do that. I have read them and they reference abandoned vehicles (which mine was not, I was going to stay with it) and also have exceptions for vehicles whose position is temporary. They also said that there are certain sections of highway which have rules that make the removal of vehicles immediate. I am yet to speak to someone who can tell me where these sections are defined.

Next I plan to make a written complain to the Highway Patrol and continue the dispute with Les Schwab. I know that the bulk of the complain is against the ORHP but Les Schwab should not hold me accountable for a service given in this manner. There most certainly should not be criminal charges against me. Hopefully as I climb the coporate ladder in their company I'll find a person with the sense to see this. My right to seek my own service on the free market was taken away from me. Les Schwab can talk to the ORHP for payment as far as I am concerned.

Screwedbylesschwab

Salem, Oregon

U.S.A.

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