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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    1

    Default Charged Towing and Storage Fees on a Stolen Trailer

    Here is the situation, I have a small buisiness in Socal. I remodel kitchens and have a small warehouse in downtown san bernardino. Well I purchased a small 2 wheel utility trailer on craigslist for a little over $500 to haul away trash and what not from demolished kitchens. I always lieave it outside of my warehouse because it usually has trash and I didn't think anyone would bother to steel it. Well sure enough one day I came back for it and it was gone. Right away I reported it stolen. I pretty much took it as a loss because I didn't here anything for over 2 months. About a month ago
    I had a letter in the mail from sdpd saying they had recovered the utility trailer. I thought great right. Well I called right away and they told me that for towing it and storing it it would cost $600 and I would have to go pick it up in San Diego which is almost 3 hours away from me in traffic. I decided it wasn't worth it being that the trip w/ my truck would cost me like 120 in gas, 600 and countless more in time. I told them that and they said it would go to auction to pay for those charges. I thought ok oh well at least someone else will benefit. Today I received a letter from them saying that I owe $3000 and that if I don't pay I would be sent to collections. I can't afford $3000 and I can't afford to have this damage my credit as I am in the process of buying a house. I really need help! What can I do Im being robbed like crazy its like I'm being punished for getting robbed! What a beautiful justice system we have, criminals steal from me and then authorities steal even more! How sweet!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Charged Towing and Storage Fees on a Stolen Trailer

    It's nobody's fault but your own that you blew off your opportunity to promptly recover the trailer from impound. You knew charges would accrue, and you speculated that your trailer would be valuable enough to cover the costs - but you guessed wrong and stuck yourself with the bill.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Tacoma, WA
    Posts
    1,534

    Default Re: Charged Towing and Storage Fees on a Stolen Trailer

    If you think back, I'm willing to bet that you will remember signing a form when you reported the trailer stolen. On that form, you were given notice that, if recovered, the trailer would be impounded and, by signing, you agreed to pay any associated costs. Impound storage costs can add up quickly and, from your description, your trailer was not likely to sell for much at auction. Since you were given proper notice to recover the vehicle, and basically just said screw it, you are not likely to garner much sympathy.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Charged Towing and Storage Fees on a Stolen Trailer

    Instead of speculating, you could have handled this with a simple phone call to the towing company:

    "Hello, towing company? You have my stolen trailer that was recovered, but I'm far away and the value of the trailer isn't worth the storage and expense of coming to get it to me; what should I do? (pause) Oh, I can sign the title over to you and the value of the trailer would cover all or most of my costs to date and stop additional fees from accruing? Then I'm free and clear? Great, what's your address and I'll get the title in the mail."

    Easy peasy. But required ACTION on your part.

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