Complaint Review: Retriever Towing - Portland Oregon

Ok, to the author of this complaint...

If you saw other people jumping off the dock into the water, would you do the same just because other people do it too? Old argument for an old question.

YOU, and YOU alone are responsible for your own parking actions, including not reading ANY sign that states you might might be towed. If the owner or manager of the property hasn't given you specific permission to park...regardless of whether others do it all the time or that you have in the past, then you can't park, period.

However, on another note, the comments that you have about the outrageous charges and the lack of communication between the employees at Retriever is altogether different. It doesn't seem right or legal that they would give you a "no money" charge for $40. IF the tow was in the City of Portland, then that practice would be illegal and you should file a complaint with Marion Gaylord, the City towing coordinator. Yes, people need to pay for their parking mistakes, but within the confines of what the law allows, and believe me, Portland has very strict rules on CHARGES as well. You can request a copy of the City allowed charges from Marion Gaylord, review them and compare to your invoice. IF there are higher charges than the City allows, then file a complaint and demand your money from Marion Gaylord's office. She will conduct an investigation with the towing company, look at your invoice compared to the City allowed charges, and you might get some money back.

The issue with a driver not being there when you are "told" they will be there is sometimes out of their hands. IF they have a police impound to run, then you will wait. If they are on another call and it takes longer, you will wait. It's just the way it is, even with me. 

I don't blindly support every towing company or driver out there, but I do lend my experience and education of the tow laws when I think it can help. My two cents that offer to those who have been towed are not always negative, but educational and sometimes even helpful. Good luck.

Well, that sure seemed to spark a fire under someone's behind!
If you are not one of the "undesirable" towers, then, why would you defend them in your blanket statements? IT IS the tow companies who set this scenario up, I agree. Everyone needs to have a job, but as I stated, the company that employs must take responsibility for their employee's errors, or just plain lack of knowledge, which can be remedied by having clearcut policies and training in place (two things I highly doubt this company does).........that was my main complaint. The lack of professionalism, respect or just the basic human nature of giving a crap about others was what mostly offended and upset me. They just didn't CARE.....what I was guilty of was believing what had always been true; I had no reason not to...I did not commit a crime, I was not immoral in my actions and I did no harm to another human being. THAT did not warrant over $300.!! to ANYONE.
These companies need to pay their employees a decent wage that they can live off of, instead of forcing them to become just what we have been discussing....predatory. I don't care what you say, this particular company (and I can't speak for yours, maybe yours is different) is PREDATORY. More than just me believes that, and you should not even associate yourself with them if your practices are so different. That's all I can say, and I think I've wasted enough of my time on this....as I said, I will put my efforts towards getting the laws changed here, as they were in California.
Have a nice day.

After reading some of the responses to my story, I felt the need to make one more comment regarding this incident and the lowlife business practices of Retriever Towing.
While researching this subject, (which I had no interest before this ordeal; because, (contrary to some opinions stated here), I am NOT in the habit of parking illegally or on private property and have never been towed before! I fume when I see someone taking up a handicapped spot or blocking someone ELSE's driveway, right of way, etc.
This is a deserted spot, where people other than ourselves have parked and fished for years!!! There is no obvious signage stating that this had recently changed (I was informed it had only changed over the last couple of months....how often do YOU go fishing?) and my anger and frustration with the entire situation was how so easily they were able to quote a price and then within an hour, have it change to $80. more, being late arriving for their so-called "appointments", of which there were three others during the hour and a half we waited, forcing people to let their "rides" leave for other engagements, only to be told that now you are stranded because you took the word of an employee of theirs over the phone!! Wherever I have worked before, when one of the employees made an error, we were obligated to honor the price given, or arrangement made; it is the employer's responsibility to absorb this cost, not the consumer!! But, since none of us are willing "customers" of Retriever Towing, they have a blank checkbook on your life to charge whatever strikes their fancy at the moment!! Upon arrival home on that Monday, I set about reading the charges on my receipt; unbelievably, there was a handwritten charge on my receipt titled "no money" charge: $40.00. So, on top of everything else, they felt it their right to charge me for not having the dollar amount of the moment, even though I had gone to great lengths to have the exact amount that was stated to me over the phone!! These people ARE predatory....they sit and lurk and wait for their opportunities to strike! I think that "grimtower" ought to look into the bills that were passed a couple of years ago, (which are only being upheld by one Oregon city, which is Fairview) and take a look at what laws have been passed in California, which, in a nutshell, states that a vehicle can only be towed IF the owner of the property has made a request and is THERE IN PERSON to sign that request!! That is the way it should be done, and I am not finished advocating for the same law to be brought to vote in this state. So, that's what I have to say about your "holier than thou" attitude and your condescending rebuttal titled "Lesson Learned"......really?
Thank you, to the couple of people who commented on my 29 yrs of marriage. Unnecessary, but very appreciated, nonetheless.
And, yes, maybe I will take up writing for a living.........

Yes, I do have things to say when it comes to people parking illegally or improperly and then having the cowardice to complain about and blame shift it to the towing company all the time. There are those here that DO seem to understand rules and laws, to them I say Kudos and more than likely they won't have to pay any large impound bills, eh?

I've been doing this for over 10 years, and yes, someone has to do it. I am however, fair in my work and those who know me or have almost been towed by me, or even those who have been towed by me, know this. I discount if there's a good attitude and or they made a bad choice and can own up to it without blame shifting. I also am known to discount drop fees if you have a good attitude with me as well. Not all towers are alike.

Granted, there are those in this industry who do things that are stupid and don't make sense that brings about a bad name for all of us. Yes, Retriever drivers have done stupid things before like the domestic violence case, etc. The way that these towing companies work often times makes us try and get any and every bit of drop fee or tow fee that we can as we work on commission. If we don't tow cars or get drop fees, we don't make any money to support our families. That's just the way it is. The tow company owners have a good set up...we go out and find the tows and they take about 75% of the revenue and give us about 25% on average. They don't pay us unless we get the tows with our hunting. That part of it kinda sucks, believe me.

So, I'm glad that there are some of you that take responsibility for your improper or illegal parking, again, Kudos. To those that don't get it, I'm out here to educate you, one way or the other. 

If they don't tow, then no one will have to seek revenge!

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Everyone here is missing the obvious, simple solution. If you do not park illegally, you will not get towed.

WOW! That was hard.

Every time someone post a story about predatory towing our resident towards 'the grim tower' chimes in with his/her self righteous BS. Retriever towing has hundreds of complaints posted online about their predatory actions. They even towed a victim of domestic abuse while the police were at the scene! They are notorious for overcharging people for their 'services.' Retriever also uses spotters which is a sure sign of a predatory towing company. Pay no attention to the resident towtard and take them to small claims court or better yet get an attorney and sue them for thousands! Gary coe is scum!

The story as it was told was more than likely meant to generate sympathy for the writer. Just a guess, though that's what I got out of it. ;)

Congrats on your anniversary!  You give marriage a good name!

I'm not sure what the anniversary, fishing story, new job,  and recovering and peeing dog had to do with that sorry tale but maybe you're a writer?

Congratulations on your 29th anniversary though, that's awesome.

It appears that you learned your lesson about parking on private property that isn't owned by you. That being said, if this was in the City of Portland, then the charge of $322 would be excessive. Even if it wasn't in the City of Portland, that seems a tad bit high, even with an after hours gate fee. If it was in Portland, you can file a complaint with Marion Gaylord, the City of Portland Towing Coordinator. 

Good luck, and read signs before you park.