Dominion Towing Thieves and thugs stole my car Manassas Virginia

You know... I came to this website to file a complaint against Dominion and was surprised to see a few other people already had complained. And, I read your rebuttal with NO skepticism. I hear your perspective. But... perhaps you are just wrong and placing good faith in the wrong place.

My car was towed by the Manassas Dominion Towing location. My car was an easy target with it's out of state license. I had arrived in town just hours before the car was towed and literally had enough time to park, move my bags inside, get settled, & fall asleep on the couch. I moved to a bed at some point & slept in late after my long drive. The next afternoon, I go out to my car and... It's gone! GONE!

Now here's where they screwed up... First) I knew the rules of the complex & had my fiancee repark his STICKERED car in his guest parking spot. I parked in his number spot where anyone can park and a sticker is NOT needed. He pays for the spot in his lease and he can park any vehicle there or can call and have anyone towed from that spot. Second) I did not know if my fiancee would be home when I got into town (it turns out he was) & because of the late time, the apartment complex left a guest pass for my car mirror and a door key in a hidden location. When I arrived I immediately put the tag on my mirror & the key on my keyring. Third) They took it on a Friday morning, which had I not known something about towing and what with being out of state, I might not have had access to my ownership paperwork. I also wouldnt have had but a few hours to contact the DMV to get a copy sent to me. This would have racked up their storage fees.

I will also add that I was right in the middle of funeral arrangement planning for a family member. I was not in a position to take photos or argue. I had enough trouble just not crying every hour. But, they DID tow my vehicle improperly. They used the wrong equipment... equipment that is expressly prohibited for my model of vehicle. They also IGNORED my fiancees unstickered, illegally parked motorcycle... which was right next to my car. AND, when I arrived to pay for & present paperwork for my car they asked for NOTHING.... I repeat... N O T H I N G other than my license and money. After I had receipt in hand I asked him "how do you even know this is my vehicle?" The man behind the counter got an attitude and stopped talking to me... but it was a crucial question! I had my title, registration, & insurance in hand but he didn't ask for any of it... what would have prevented ANYONE from coming in and just paying to pick up my car?

Because my family is in the towing business, because I own my own trucks, and because we have always done private property tow offs, I know the rules. I read the Tow411 industry form, subscribe to Tow Times, am a member of TRAA. I, perhaps even know more about the rules than Dominion does. And... Since I was about 5 years old my dad and I would tow unmarked cars or improperly parked cars off in our state for the apartment complexes on our account list. I understand people are pissed when their vehicle is towed. I know the anger you encounter the next day when people come to get their vehicles. And I don't hold anything against tow companies for just doing their jobs (just as my family does ours!) But... one things you seem to be forgetting... You can't watch your employees 24-7. And, from time to time we did have people employed with us that we later learned were over zealous and towed cars that didn't entirely fit within the guidelines requiring removal. These employees were gone once we learned what had been done. And in many instances people received refunds.

How do you know Dominion doesn't employ people who are (now and then) a little too eager to make a commission? Who in the middle of the night get a little tow-happy and hook up and go?

If you ask me to accept that the owners of Dominion aren't filled with bad intentions... then what do you have to say to the notion maybe 1 or 2 of their employees are?

I followed the rules for parking properly. I knew more than a little about the towing world from the tow companies' perspective. And I still feel I was ripped off and treated improperly by Dominion of Manassas. On every level my car's towing was mismanaged.

The only good thing I got from the experience was a new level of understanding for my customers... who, even when I'm in the right on towing their vehicle, need to see a greater degree of respect, regard, and kindness extended to them from me and my employees. Afterall... they're the ones having the bad day with their vehicle in-tow... not me.

As a final note... when I called a cab to get a ride to Dominion's tow facility, I was picked up promptly. In about 10 minutes. I was on the phone explaining the situation to my fiancee while riding in the back of the cab. Well, the cabbie overhead my conversation and when I got off the phone told me that he knew exactly where they were located and would get me there quickly before they closed. He said that his friend had just weeks before needed for a similar situation, that by the time he got him to Dominion's location they had closed for the day, that it cost in another $90 for having it stored through the weekend, and that the people there were unbelievably rude when he took his friend back on Monday. As I got out of the cab he told me "good luck". Now, I say this as a "ps" because I know it's someone else's third hand info and its subject to being drummed up and made more dramatic. But... how strange and WHAT A COINCIDENCE that the very person I got in a cab with had a negative story about the same company! If this company were working harder on their reputation, I find it hard to believe so many negative stories would still inconveniently be circulating out there.

There are at least 3 towing companies with the name beginning "Dominion" they are all responsible for different locations. They are run by different staff as well as different owners, some of the complaints are against the wrong company. For many of you living in the Northern Virginia area towing companies get a bad rap even when they are doing the right thing. In fairness some deserve the crap they get. The report from "Heather, Woodbridge,VA" says it was in Manassas "thugs and thieves". Manassas is ran by one owner and Woodbridge is owned and operated by someone else.

I don't work for or own either one, but I am studying the laws of towing in the areas around me. Also, in most shopping plazas you can not park for sale cars, the ones you mention are they for sale? How do you know they do not park there everynight? Also if your husbands car was on a jack, did the parking contract for where you live state that there can not be "inoperable vehicles" ? Even legally registered and parked in your space this may be another reason for towing. Most of these towing companies just do what they are told by the home owners associations and are directed by them of the rules for your location.

So instead of complaining your car is being stolen by the "thugs and thieves" contact where you live for the rules of your complex and the shopping complex around you and then take it further if you still believe it is "stealing".
Or think about when someone is parked in your spot, who do you call to have them removed when you can not locate the person who has been there for at least a hour and you are carrying the groceries, baby or anything else, down the street... Maybe the same "thugs and thieves" that stole your car!!! There are reasons for the rules these towing companies are given by the home owners association, even if it seems unfair sometimes.

There are at least 3 towing companies with the name beginning "Dominion" they are all responsible for different locations. They are run by different staff as well as different owners, some of the complaints are against the wrong company. For many of you living in the Northern Virginia area towing companies get a bad rap even when they are doing the right thing. In fairness some deserve the crap they get. The report from "Heather, Woodbridge,VA" says it was in Manassas "thugs and thieves". Manassas is ran by one owner and Woodbridge is owned and operated by someone else.

I don't work for or own either one, but I am studying the laws of towing in the areas around me. Also, in most shopping plazas you can not park for sale cars, the ones you mention are they for sale? How do you know they do not park there everynight? Also if your husbands car was on a jack, did the parking contract for where you live state that there can not be "inoperable vehicles" ? Even legally registered and parked in your space this may be another reason for towing. Most of these towing companies just do what they are told by the home owners associations and are directed by them of the rules for your location.

So instead of complaining your car is being stolen by the "thugs and thieves" contact where you live for the rules of your complex and the shopping complex around you and then take it further if you still believe it is "stealing".
Or think about when someone is parked in your spot, who do you call to have them removed when you can not locate the person who has been there for at least a hour and you are carrying the groceries, baby or anything else, down the street... Maybe the same "thugs and thieves" that stole your car!!! There are reasons for the rules these towing companies are given by the home owners association, even if it seems unfair sometimes.

There are at least 3 towing companies with the name beginning "Dominion" they are all responsible for different locations. They are run by different staff as well as different owners, some of the complaints are against the wrong company. For many of you living in the Northern Virginia area towing companies get a bad rap even when they are doing the right thing. In fairness some deserve the crap they get. The report from "Heather, Woodbridge,VA" says it was in Manassas "thugs and thieves". Manassas is ran by one owner and Woodbridge is owned and operated by someone else.

I don't work for or own either one, but I am studying the laws of towing in the areas around me. Also, in most shopping plazas you can not park for sale cars, the ones you mention are they for sale? How do you know they do not park there everynight? Also if your husbands car was on a jack, did the parking contract for where you live state that there can not be "inoperable vehicles" ? Even legally registered and parked in your space this may be another reason for towing. Most of these towing companies just do what they are told by the home owners associations and are directed by them of the rules for your location.

So instead of complaining your car is being stolen by the "thugs and thieves" contact where you live for the rules of your complex and the shopping complex around you and then take it further if you still believe it is "stealing".
Or think about when someone is parked in your spot, who do you call to have them removed when you can not locate the person who has been there for at least a hour and you are carrying the groceries, baby or anything else, down the street... Maybe the same "thugs and thieves" that stole your car!!! There are reasons for the rules these towing companies are given by the home owners association, even if it seems unfair sometimes.

There are at least 3 towing companies with the name beginning "Dominion" they are all responsible for different locations. They are run by different staff as well as different owners, some of the complaints are against the wrong company. For many of you living in the Northern Virginia area towing companies get a bad rap even when they are doing the right thing. In fairness some deserve the crap they get. The report from "Heather, Woodbridge,VA" says it was in Manassas "thugs and thieves". Manassas is ran by one owner and Woodbridge is owned and operated by someone else.

I don't work for or own either one, but I am studying the laws of towing in the areas around me. Also, in most shopping plazas you can not park for sale cars, the ones you mention are they for sale? How do you know they do not park there everynight? Also if your husbands car was on a jack, did the parking contract for where you live state that there can not be "inoperable vehicles" ? Even legally registered and parked in your space this may be another reason for towing. Most of these towing companies just do what they are told by the home owners associations and are directed by them of the rules for your location.

So instead of complaining your car is being stolen by the "thugs and thieves" contact where you live for the rules of your complex and the shopping complex around you and then take it further if you still believe it is "stealing".
Or think about when someone is parked in your spot, who do you call to have them removed when you can not locate the person who has been there for at least a hour and you are carrying the groceries, baby or anything else, down the street... Maybe the same "thugs and thieves" that stole your car!!! There are reasons for the rules these towing companies are given by the home owners association, even if it seems unfair sometimes.