In January I called a tow co. to tow my truck that broke down. They towed me to an auto shop and gave me the total amount. After I left, they came back and charged me more without my consent, stating they made a mistake. I called them to inquire about this as I was unhappy with how they blindsighted me with a new amount and requested the original receipt with my first amount, as they took that one away and left only the new receipt quoting a tow of 3 hours. I also asked for a pricing guideline.
The manager would not provide this. I got upset and he said that if I got upset more, he would charge me more. I made complaints to the BBB, FTC and WA St. Attorney General. Then a few weeks later I went in person to request the same items, which he once again refused to give me. We exchanged unkind words to each other... I lost my temper and called him a few names. He said because of my actions he was going to charge me more. Next day I received a bill from him that if I did not pay he would send me to collections.
So in his response to the BBB he wrote "I told him that because of his attitude and threats that I was going to now charge him the actual time the driver had on the tow" and "due to his actions at our office, I am now seeking compensation for the full amount of time or an additional 1.25 hours". Yes I had an attitude, yes I swore at him and called him names, yes I threatened him by telling him I made complaints to the agencies I listed above, but no I never threatened his life as he claimed I did! The tower clearly wrote on the receipt that he towed for 3 hours. But due to my complaints and actions that the manager is unhappy with, he is now claiming that he will charge me 4.5 hours instead, as compensation for my actions. Then he ends his response with "I would be willing to waive the additional 1.25 hours of towing charged to him ($138.05) as long as he agrees to cease communication with our firm and apologize for his threats and insults to me."
From a comsumer's standpoint he is clearly blackmailing me. He is bascially stating that due to my actions and complaints and perhaps personally offending him, unless I "apologize" and stop my complaints, he will charge me extra as his revenge. The tower clearly wrote that he towed for 3 hours. Now he wants to change it to 4.5 hours because he is upset that he has an angry customer? I do not understand how a business can use their power of charging consumers as they wish, because an employee was offended. I want to stand up for my right and protect myself as a consumer and ensure that this business does not do this kind of blackmailing again to other upset consumers, taking away their rights to complain against a business.
I regret losing my temper, but I do not regret making complaints against them, as I am standing up for my consumer rights.
Where do I go from here? Do I sue them? Do I have to hire a lawyer and fork over more money, or take him to small claims myself. I'm a bit afraid of small claims, because as them being a business, what if they make up bogus invoices and other things and use their power as a business, as they have done now, to squash me as a consumer??? And what do I sue for? I don't believe he has sent me to collections yet... but he is threatening to, and I want him to stop here!

