Car towed
May 25th 2010, 3:34 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 254
Car towed
As the Marriott charges $33 for overnight parking, I parked my car on a meter in downtown LA Sunday night. I showed up early Monday morning to feed the meter but the car was gone. According to the signs, the pay period did not begin until nine so initially I thought it had been stolen. But it turned out it had been towed.
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
May 25th 2010, 5:51 am
#2
Not around much..
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: San Diego CA
Posts: 1,873
Re: Car towed
As the Marriott charges $33 for overnight parking, I parked my car on a meter in downtown LA Sunday night. I showed up early Monday morning to feed the meter but the car was gone. According to the signs, the pay period did not begin until nine so initially I thought it had been stolen. But it turned out it had been towed.
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
We call em "cowboy" companies just a few hours south of you...
Personally I think you were brave to leave your car parked in any areas of LA...Lesson learned eh...
May 25th 2010, 10:39 am
#3
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Car towed
As the Marriott charges $33 for overnight parking, I parked my car on a meter in downtown LA Sunday night. I showed up early Monday morning to feed the meter but the car was gone. According to the signs, the pay period did not begin until nine so initially I thought it had been stolen. But it turned out it had been towed.
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
I go to all kinds of lengths to avoid having to pay exorbitant hotel parking charges myself. Sometimes I find trawling through TripAdvisor reviews yields hints and tips on cheaper alternatives. I wouldn't have shoved it in the Marriott's $33 parking either!
May 25th 2010, 11:56 am
#4
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
Re: Car towed
Wankers.
What are you supposed to do if the title's in the car, then?
What are you supposed to do if the title's in the car, then?
May 25th 2010, 12:59 pm
#5
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,605
Re: Car towed
You might want to check whether that's true. If not, you may have a course of action against them.
May 25th 2010, 1:34 pm
#7
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
May 25th 2010, 3:44 pm
#8
Peace onion
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 5,686
Re: Car towed
Do you mean registration? The car's registration. Keeping a title in a car is a bad idea if it gets stolen.
May 25th 2010, 4:04 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: My Old KY Home!
Posts: 6,498
Re: Car towed
That's what I was going to ask. I've never kept my title in the car, because there isn't a legal need to. And actually, in some states, if there is a lien on the car you do not get the title at all - the lien holder keeps it until the lien is paid off. I found this out when we lived in Ohio.
May 25th 2010, 4:21 pm
#10
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Car towed
As the Marriott charges $33 for overnight parking, I parked my car on a meter in downtown LA Sunday night. I showed up early Monday morning to feed the meter but the car was gone. According to the signs, the pay period did not begin until nine so initially I thought it had been stolen. But it turned out it had been towed.
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
The place it had been towed to was on the other side of Skid Row, which is an amazing place. Block after block of homeless, sick and mentally ill people. I never knew such a place existed in LA.
So I walked through all that on foot. It took me about two hours to find the car pound. They told me that there was no parking allowed between 7 and 9, and even though there was no sign stating this on the block I parked my car “there didn’t need to be”.
They would not accept my driving license, insurance card and passport as proof of ID. They would only accept the original car title. I was glad that I had it back at the hotel. If I didn’t, and had to get a replacement, I would have lost the car. They charge $100 per day storage fee, and to wait a week for a replacement from the DMV would have been too costly.
I walked back through Skid Row to the hotel, grabbed the title and returned. They then released the car. It took me most of the day and cost me $246 plus an $80 ticket - $326.
I wish I’d have paid the Marriott rate now!
"I never knew such a place existed in LA."
You really have to be careful wondering around cities you're not familiar with.
I remember something similar happened to a girl who was out partying in NYC. She walked to the car pound located on the West Side Highway...because she'd been drinking they refused to release her car. She began to walk along the main road and was picked up by a guy in a passing car. I'm sure you can guess the rest.
May 25th 2010, 7:44 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 254
Re: Car towed
Jesus! That's terrible.
I go to all kinds of lengths to avoid having to pay exorbitant hotel parking charges myself. Sometimes I find trawling through TripAdvisor reviews yields hints and tips on cheaper alternatives. I wouldn't have shoved it in the Marriott's $33 parking either!
I go to all kinds of lengths to avoid having to pay exorbitant hotel parking charges myself. Sometimes I find trawling through TripAdvisor reviews yields hints and tips on cheaper alternatives. I wouldn't have shoved it in the Marriott's $33 parking either!
But yeah, lesson learned. I should have at least put it in a car park.
May 25th 2010, 8:23 pm
#12
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: Car towed
"I never knew such a place existed in LA."
You really have to be careful wondering around cities you're not familiar with.
I remember something similar happened to a girl who was out partying in NYC. She walked to the car pound located on the West Side Highway...because she'd been drinking they refused to release her car. She began to walk along the main road and was picked up by a guy in a passing car. I'm sure you can guess the rest.
You really have to be careful wondering around cities you're not familiar with.
I remember something similar happened to a girl who was out partying in NYC. She walked to the car pound located on the West Side Highway...because she'd been drinking they refused to release her car. She began to walk along the main road and was picked up by a guy in a passing car. I'm sure you can guess the rest.
May 25th 2010, 8:54 pm
#13
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
May 25th 2010, 9:12 pm
#14
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: Car towed
May 25th 2010, 10:39 pm
#15
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Car towed
Just got to find city parking with cheap parking fines...usually cheaper paying a parking fine in Needham ($25) than it is for actual parking...saying that, to many tickets and they will tow the car 
