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PrintHelp Me Hank: Towing Trouble
What can be more annoying than searching for a Boston parking place? Searching for a parking place in the rain! And that’s why Don Collins was so psyched when after circling and circling, he actually found a spot.
"And you knew that it was a legal space?"Hank Phillippi Ryan, Investigative Reporter
Don Collins, Boston Driver
But then, talk about more than annoying, when he came back to get the car -- it was gone.
"Of course I was panicked… I thought I was going to report it stolen until they told me it was towed."Don Collins
Towed! The worst! So, he picked up the car at the lot, paid the tow fee and complained.
"She told me to take it up with City Hall."Don Collins
Now here's the good part, Don went to City Hall and fought the ticket and won! The hearing officer even agreed to refund the cost of the tow.
"I felt good that he said he would dismiss the ticket and refund the towing money."Don Collins
Now here’s the bad part, a year went by -- Don never got his refund! He called City Hall to complain.
"You know it’s $57, it’s not a lot of money, but its just the principal and it isn’t right."Don Collins
Then -- another year went by! Still no refund check, that's when he called "Help Me Hank".
"So the city has held your money for two years?"Hank Phillippi Ryan
Don Collins
So we called City Hall and reminded them the paperwork clearly calls for a refund, when they looked it up, they found the glitch. No one had entered the handwritten order into the computer and as a result -- no check.
Soon Don got his money back and you know what? He instantly donated it to charity.
"I haven't had it for two years, I'm not going to miss it. I think it'll do some good somewhere."Don Collins
News you can use, Boston parking officials say they may refund tow charges in a ticket dismissal, but only if you ask! So keep that in mind next time you're in a ticket dispute. If you’re fighting a consumer battle maybe we can help!