When a person’s car is broken down on the side of the road, or when you are in an accident that makes your vehicle undriveable, it is extremely important that you stay focused on protecting yourself and not put yourself in a more vulnerable situation. Unfortunately, there are some scammers out on the roads that offer towing services, and roadside assistance services, that turns out to be a very unfortunate situation for the person that needs to have their car fixed or towed. Below you will learn about some things to watch out for when you are seeking the help of a tow truck driver. Remember these tips for when, and if, you are ever in an emergency situation.
First of all, when you are stranded on the side of the road, any type of help can look very attractive to you; however, if someone pulls over to help you, especially unsolicited help, then you should know what to look for, in order to check for their reliability. Beware of tow trucks that do not have the company name on the side of the truck. This type of scam has been around for many years and has given many drivers trouble that they were not expecting. The best practice is to contact a towing company yourself and wait for the person that you called to arrive in the chosen company truck.
Once the tow truck arrives that you have connected with, then ensure that the name on the truck, and on the paperwork, matches the name of the company that you called. It will be beneficial for you to ensure that you know who you are working with, and who will be taking care of your vehicle.
Speaking of paperwork, once you have confirmed the name of the towing company, you will also want to confirm all of the information that is listed on the paperwork. The paperwork should be completed prior to the towing service begins, because you will want to make sure that no hidden fees show up after the fact. Incomplete paperwork can backfire on you, if you and the towing company have a difference of opinion after the car has been towed.
You and the tow truck operator will also need to agree on a quote for the work that is to be provided, before your car is towed. Once again, you want to avoid fees that may be tacked onto your bill after the work has already been done. This may be an organized scam, or it may be an oversight on the part of the tow truck driver, but you want to ensure that you know how much you are going to have to pay for the towing service.
Lastly, it is best to avoid working with a towing company that will only tow your car to one destination. This is, of course, unless this one destination is where you want the car to go anyway. If you are looking for the flexibility to choose your own auto repair shop, or other destination, then clarify your wish before the tow truck driver arrives, or prior to the towing service commencement.
It’s a good idea to remind yourself of some of these scams every now and then, because people often don’t remember the dangers of roadside scammers when they are in desperate need. Try to remain calm and clear-headed when a situation like this arises.
First of all, when you are stranded on the side of the road, any type of help can look very attractive to you; however, if someone pulls over to help you, especially unsolicited help, then you should know what to look for, in order to check for their reliability. Beware of tow trucks that do not have the company name on the side of the truck. This type of scam has been around for many years and has given many drivers trouble that they were not expecting. The best practice is to contact a towing company yourself and wait for the person that you called to arrive in the chosen company truck.
Once the tow truck arrives that you have connected with, then ensure that the name on the truck, and on the paperwork, matches the name of the company that you called. It will be beneficial for you to ensure that you know who you are working with, and who will be taking care of your vehicle.
You and the tow truck operator will also need to agree on a quote for the work that is to be provided, before your car is towed. Once again, you want to avoid fees that may be tacked onto your bill after the work has already been done. This may be an organized scam, or it may be an oversight on the part of the tow truck driver, but you want to ensure that you know how much you are going to have to pay for the towing service.
Lastly, it is best to avoid working with a towing company that will only tow your car to one destination. This is, of course, unless this one destination is where you want the car to go anyway. If you are looking for the flexibility to choose your own auto repair shop, or other destination, then clarify your wish before the tow truck driver arrives, or prior to the towing service commencement.
It’s a good idea to remind yourself of some of these scams every now and then, because people often don’t remember the dangers of roadside scammers when they are in desperate need. Try to remain calm and clear-headed when a situation like this arises.
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