It can be frustrating to have to wait around for your car to be towed. A lot of people are so happy to see a tow truck arrive that they fail to take some necessary precautions that could save them a lot of money, and a lot of trouble. The National Insurance Crime Bureau, or NCIB, has started a campaign to educate consumers about how to avoid getting scammed by bad towing companies.
These tips from the NICB are designed to help consumers avoid getting taken advantage of by towing companies, vehicle storage companies, and repair shops that are charging unreasonable rates for their services. The primary purpose of the National Insurance Crime Bureau is to prevent insurance fraud. One way to prevent that is to make sure that consumers know what to watch out for.
Before you allow a towing company to tow away your incapacitated vehicle, take the time to call your insurance company. Many auto insurance policies come with a roadside assistance package. Using that service is often free of charge to the person who has the insurance.
When my car died, the first call I made was to my insurance company. The agent placed a call to the towing company that is covered by my insurance policy. Next, she called me back, to let me know exactly which company I should be expecting. This made everything crystal clear. I knew, without a doubt, that I was working with a trusted towing company, and that I would not be charged anything at all for it. If you don’t check with your insurance company, you might end up with an towing company that is intending to rip you off.
Other things to watch out for include a towing company that arrived without you, your insurance company, or the police officer who is assisting you contacting them first. Don’t ever give an unsolicited towing company permission to take your vehicle! The reason they arrived so quickly, without being called, is because they are going to try to scam you out of a lot of money.
Always make sure that the signs on the tow truck are identical to what appears on the paperwork that the tow truck operator provides. Don’t accept the excuse that this tow truck operator “works with” your insurance company. They are telling you what you want to hear, in order to scam you. When in doubt, call your insurance company and ask, or call the police. If things do not match up, do not let this suspicious person take your vehicle!
Never give the tow truck operator your insurance information. They don’t need it. If your insurance company really did send them to go find you, then they already know everything they need to know about your insurance information.
It is always good to remove all the valuables from your vehicle before you let a towing company take it to a storage facility or repair shop. After all, you are handing over the keys to your vehicle, and you will not have complete control over who will use them. Use some common sense, and take your belongings with you.
Image by Bugeater on Flickr