171 replies to this topic

[North Shore]

^ Sure about that VHF?

 

I seem to remember having to clear an unpaid city parking ticket from my credit rating prior to being allowed to renew my mortgage.  (asinine, really, seeing as I'd just given them 60 uninterrupted $2k payments, and they were now trying to claim that I was a poor credit risk over an unpaid $20...)

[VicHockeyFan]

I'm sure.  If someone put that on your rating you could have it removed.  Only credit-granting agencies can rightfully put a mark on your rating.  That does not mean others do not do it wrongfully.

[Jill]

CBC did just run a story about private parking tickets (this was commented on in another thread, IIRC), and Equifax claims they don't pursue parking tickets -- full stop. That was news to me.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...-lots-1.3851956

Edited by Jill, 15 December 2016 - 07:35 AM.

[spanky123]

To correct my earlier comment, new plates from ICBC are $18.

[Mike K.]

If the ticket falls off the dash, just pick it up off the floor and take it in the next day apologetically and they'll fix it. If it falls down from the dash and somehow manages to blow its way out of the car and vanishes, well, come on, that's not their fault.

 

Yup, I've had that happen. The cancelled the ticket and gave me a little ticket holder thingy to adhere to the windshield.

[Awaiting Juno]

This decision sets up the right incentives, otherwise the situation is rife for exploitation and fraud.  If a tow company can sell goods for way below market value and "get away" with not paying the excess of the charges owed to the rightful owner, there's an incentive for them to fail to sell goods for "fair value" to recoup costs.  They sell it to the mechanic buddy, who then sells it at a huge profit.  Who knows maybe he offers a "kick back" to the towing company?  Which they then get to pocket.  All of a sudden, the tow companies are then "looking" for opportunities to tow cars that are unlikely to be claimed - they could have an incentive to hope that the rightful owner doesn't come forward. 

 

This guy pursued the matter in court - but how many wouldn't?  Seems like by doing this the whole business is opening itself up to audit and scrutiny.  My eyebrows are raised.

[Awaiting Juno]

If you are parked in violation of the lots terms, as this guy was.  No valid decal displayed.

 

And they have to advertise it that they are about to sell it.  You see those in the newspaper lots.

 

I'm not sure newspaper advertising is effective anymore.  How many people don't bother with the paper anymore?  There's a good chance such "ads" go unnoticed.

[Jill]

I'd say that in the majority of cases, the people involved are fully aware that their seized vehicle or the contents of their storage unit are at risk of auction. The newspaper ad meets a legal obligation.

[HB]

I think ALL WAYS  TOWING and KUSTOM TOWING  are the same company

 

They are all bottom feeders

[Dr. Barillas]

I traded a car in @ Wheaton. Two years later I received a collections notice from a parking company in Vancouver. I was so confused as I rarely was on the mainland at that time.

 

The car I traded in had my old plates still attached, somebody snagged the plates and had been using them for who knows how long.

 

I filed a police report, gave the collections company the case # and never heard about it again.

[Mike K.]

One of VV's members has contacted me to say that he or she called up Kustom Towing and asked to speak to a "scumbag" (his or her words during the call) at the company who'd like to talk about their side of the story. Kustom hung up on the individual. Then Saanich Police called our member and instructed him/her never to call Kustom again and to not come around their property.

[Jill]

Really? Asking to speak to a scumbag was counterproductive? I hope you've learned your lesson, Rob.

[Bingo]

One of VV's members has contacted me to say that he or she called up Kustom Towing and asked to speak to a "scumbag" (his or her words during the call) at the company who'd like to talk about their side of the story.

Kustom hung up on the individual. Then Saanich Police called our member and instructed him/her never to call Kustom again and to not come around their property.

 

"Scumbag" eh! 

That doesn't require much imagination to come up with his, or his name. 

By the way which data base does Saanich PD use to access VV members phone numbers?

Or do they use locators to track all the scanners in use.

Hang on maybe they use the police helicopter to follow VV members out doing their reporting.

[HB]

Or what about old fashioned call display

[sebberry]

One of VV's members has contacted me to say that he or she called up Kustom Towing and asked to speak to a "scumbag" (his or her words during the call) at the company who'd like to talk about their side of the story. Kustom hung up on the individual. Then Saanich Police called our member and instructed him/her never to call Kustom again and to not come around their property.

None of us know who said what, but if no threats were made, why are the police involved?

[aastra]

 

Asking to speak to a scumbag was counterproductive?

 

Methinks it all depends on the tone of voice.

[Mike K.]

None of us know who said what, but if no threats were made, why are the police involved?

 

Good question. I guess Kustom may have received numerous such calls or visits to their yard since the story broke?

 

So here's a question, if Kustom and All-ways Towing are the same company, does Saanich contract either of them out as their hook of choice for traffic issues?

[HB]

Someone can just phone Saanich non emergency line and ask which tow company has the contract for towing in Saanich

[Jill]

Pro-tip: don't call them scumbags.

[Bingo]

Pro-tip: don't call them scumbags.

 

Dirtbags?