CHICAGO — There’s an update on a towing firm accused by a trucking company of holding one of their semis hostage for $41,000.
WGN Investigates first told you about this story two weeks ago. Since then, we have learned there have been numerous other complaints against this company, which wasn’t supposed to be operating in Chicago in the first place.
A trucker over-turned after hitting a South Side bridge in mid-January.
A tow truck quickly arrived without being called.
Trucking firm manager Junior Smit said a man from Emergency Towing arrived at the crash scene and claimed Chicago police ordered him to move the truck and trailer because it was blocking traffic.
But rather than being towed back to the trucking company as requested, the rig was taken to a tow lot.
Smith said he then received an invoice from Emergency Towing demanding $41,000.
“He came to the scene of an emergency, got people rushing to clean up a mess and took advantage of us and now he’s high-jacked our equipment and holding it ransom for $41,000.
After our report, Smith said he was able to negotiate the bill down to $12,000 and got their truck back.
But now WGN Investigates has learned the City of Chicago sent this cease and desist order to Emergency Towing a few days after our story aired.
The city says the company was operating without a license to tow or impound vehicles at the lot at 75th and Western.
Other consumer complaints filed with the city accuse the company of not disclosing prices, misleading customers into believing insurance would pay the costs of towing and responding to accident scenes to solicit business.
WGN Investigates reached out to Emergency Towing and a man answered by hung up after WGN Investigates identified ourselves.
The company does have a hearing date set with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection on April 17.
