ComplaintsforPreferred Emergency Towing & Recovery

• Initial Complaint

  04/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On April 24, 2024 around 7:00p.m., I (a semi truck driver) broke down at the Speedway fuel stop near my company terminal in ***********. I contacted my company, RoadRunner Freight LLC, who in turn contacted the Travel Centers of ******* to dispatch a tow truck. Travel Centers of ******* then subcontracted the tow to a third party vendor (Preferred Emergency Towing & Recovery, d/b/a and/or a/k/a ********* Heavy Duty *********************************************** located in ********, **, about 40 miles from my location). ********* website (see link below) guarantees a one-hour arrival time, and no hidden fees. The tow truck was dispatched by TCA to ******* HDT at 10:16 p.m. The driver arrived at 11:29 p.m., and towed me and my semi to my yard located in *******, ** (approx. 40 miles away). Upon arrival, the driver informed me that my bill was $3,367.85. I told him that was egregious and that I did not those funds. He indicated that he would not release my semi until it was paid, or he would tow it back to *********** and that I would incur an additional tow. I ended up having to contact my employer RoadRunner and have them advance the monies to release the tow. The driver never disclosed the amount I would have to pay. ******* HDT charged me $495/hour for 4 hours (even it was only 2 hours total from the time he hooked the tow until we arrived at my yard to unhook. ******** standard towing fees for ******** for heavy duty trucks is $175-$200 an hour, or a $375-$400 "flat fee tow". Additionally, ******* HDT charged me additional fees totaling $1,009.15 (administrative/customer service/fuel surcharge/fairing/air supply delivery/snatch block fees), and $377.85 in taxes. I have been a truck driver for over 40 years, and just 6 mths ago I had to be towed from *******, ******* (with a trailer) to my same truck yard (approx ***** miles, same distance) and I only paid $675.00 (copy attached). I have filed a dispute with TCA and my company.*********************************************************************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/14/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I paid this business $266 on 12/27/24 for a tow. In the process the driver damaged my ****'s hood while pulling it out of the garage. He scraped the roof of the garage against my Jeep's hood causing over $1,500 in damages. They initially said they would pay for the repairs but now they are avoiding my calls and refusing to pay. The owner refuses to talk to me and he hides behind a woman named ***** who is the dispatcher. She has only been giving me the "run around" and is full of excuses when asked about them reimbursing me.

• Initial Complaint

  09/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I called for a tow and was quoted $125 plus 8 dollars a mile for 5 miles. I was expecting a bill for about $165 so I agree to the tow. Once we got to the house they sent me a link for a $301 bill. They had added on an extra 17 miles at five dollars an hour. Plus $44 fuel surcharge. When I called them to discuss, they hung up on me when I called back the guy was smog and said well, we have to pay for a fuel somehow and the tow driver, as he drove away, said we deal with this all the time its a civil matter. Its a scam. They quote you one price and then double it, and you have no choice but to pay the ******. Their ******** page and their website are full of negative reviews. They have an F reading with the BBB. I filed a police report with tge Will County sherriffs Department and I will be filing a report with the attorney generals office and the **** Someone needs to shut these people down.

• Initial Complaint

  08/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Called and asked how much a tow would be and was quoted $******- driver arrived and brought me exactly 4 miles from the place my car stalled to my home and charged me $386.10. When I asked why it was so much when I was quoted ****** I was told "I dont why they told you that?" I called to speak to a manager to request an adjustment and was told I would receive a call back and never heard from them.

• Initial Complaint

  08/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I called Preferred Emergency ****************., ********************************************************************* | Phone: ************ because I hit a pothole left tire blew. The company took my information and agreed to provide the towing to ********************** which is located at *************************************************************, 9 miles away. No pricing information was given. The total charge of the tow was $450.45 which they told me I had to send the money via Zelle in order to release my car. I sent the money. My big concern is the cost is extremely high, seems to be excessive and possibly usury. I contacted the company on 7/31/20023 at 12:00 PM to get an explanation of the bill and the agent told me to call back in 1 hour to speak to *****. I called 1 hour later and they said ***** was still not available and I asked that ***** call be me and they agreed. At 5:30 PM I called again because ***** had not contacted me and the said ***** was gone for the day. The guy on the phone said that he would help and i asked him to explain the breakdown of the invoice. Here is what the invoice looked like: Service ItemUnits/QtyPriceLine Total Loaded/Hooked Mileage9$10.00$90.00 Unloaded/Enroute Mileage20$5.00$100.00 Fuel Surcharge 1$65.45$65.45 Hook Up 1$195.00$195.00 Subtotal $450.45 Taxes $0.00 Grand Total $450.45 Here is their explanation of the bill to me: Loaded/Hooked Mileage = to hook up the carUnloaded/Enroute Mileage= the cost for the driver to get to me because he was 20 miles away Fuel Surcharge = cost of gas for the 9 mile tow Hook Up= for the tow Subtotal$450.45 I was not aware that I would have to pay for the distance the driver is away from me and the driver told me he was home. Had they advised me of the charges I would have used other options.

• Initial Complaint

  07/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I had called Preferred on Thursday 7/6/2023 to have my grandmothers car towed from mile marker 12 on 94 in ************ to *******. The price I was quoted was much less than the original bill that was given. I also submitted a $50 deposit that was supposed to be credited on the end bill and that never occurred. The price that was given at drop off was over $700 until we argued that and it was dropped to $500. The deposit was never credited and the invoice I received shows 12 tolls at $15 each for a total of $180. There are not 12 tolls in the route. The driver said he had to take a different route, but there is no route that has 12 tolls. I called the business on Saturday 7/8/2023 in an attempt to resolve the issue and the woman who answered panicked and asked if she could call me back. I waited about 2 hours and did not hear back. I reached back out and a man answered telling me I have to call back Monday morning since he does not deal with refunds.

• Initial Complaint

  03/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I called preferred emergency towing service after I got a flat tire on the I-80 expressway. I asked the man that answered the what the price would be to tow my vehicle to my home. He clearly stated that the tow would be $100 to hook up my vehicle and $3 per mile to take my vehicle to my home address I then googled my home address from my location. It was 11 miles from the point of where my vehicle was being picked up at. My husband and I listened to this on my car speaker at the time we I agreed to this. When my vehicle got to my home address the tow truck driver pulled up a receipt that said $232.83. I told him that I didnt agree with this and why was a told a different price over the phone. My husband also asked why we were being overcharged. He continue to state that this was the price and that he didnt know what I was told over the phone. I called back the next day and the man that I spoke to said that there was no one there that I could speak with regarding this. I believed that I was scammed. I did not sign a receipt agreeing to this.

• Initial Complaint

  02/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  My wife had a flat tire and was stranded on I-80. She called Preferred Emergency Towing & Recovery out of *******. The guy answered and said he would charge $100 to come out and put the donut on. They actually charged my wife's credit card $250! What's worse is I called the guy to ask for the refund of $150 since he lied to my wife and he starts cursing me out and using every expletive in the book and then hangs up on me. Now, every time I call back, he doesn't answer and his mailbox is full. They owe us a $150 refund.

• Initial Complaint

  12/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On 12/5/2022 I called preferred emergency roadside assistance llc towing company at approximately 2:45pm for a jump start and was told right off back by *****/**** that the cost would be 75$ and if they were unsuccessful with the jump the 75$ would be put towards the tow. *************************** arrived at approximately 330pm or 340pm and pretended to place the cables on my battery for approximately 1.5 minutes and takes it off and says oh it won't start its the starter so I ask did you give it time to charge he claims yes and then say we'll it's 75 dollars for the jump start I said but you didn't not jump it though do at this point I am a long way from home and unfamiliar withe the area and need to get my car closer to home I get in the tow truck and ******* says after we are already moving this tow is going to be $247 I said for a tow and you are still charging me for a jump that didn't happen I stated what the *************** said so he claims he was calling but never put the phone on speaker so I can hear. So I called **** myself and he clas to have taken the fee for the jump off but it will be placed towards the mileage which will make it $237. At this point im going back and forth with him because he said one thing and changed it once they were there. So ******* made a statement while driving stating he likes to get his money before service because ppl don't Iike to pay I stated I don't have a problem with paying but i don't like being told one thing and it switches up when you get here. Upon arriving to the desperate ******* asked was I using credit or cash I said credit he acted as if his card machine wasn't working so that I would pay cash because he knew what he had done he didn't get out to make sure my car was in the parking spot correctly he didn't give me receipt and told me he was short for my change and after I got out he just drove off not giving me a chance to make sure my car was ok or anything. I got to my destination and the person that was there waiting on me raised the hood shook the battery cables and the car started right up without a jump I asked ******* these questions before we left 97th and western and was lied to and told it was the starter but he never attempted to check the wire or put the cables on long enough to let it start even after I asked those questions. I tried c ****** the company back and was hung up on several times by **** after I was told to call back so he could speak to ******* about my complaint. I feel I was preyed on and lied to as a woman because he felt he could get away with it because he thought I didn't no any better because I'm a woman. I was quoted false information and feel o should be refunded under the circumstances who knows how many others they are getting over on especially women who just want to get home.

• Initial Complaint

  11/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On November 19, 2022 I called this company for their towing services. My 2011 ****** Maxima needed to be towed to my mechanic. I gave them the addresses and they stated that the cost would be $125. Once the service was complete I was charged $200 by *************************.

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