If you'd take just a few seconds to store the above telephone number into your cell phone, it can save you quite a bit of money. Just type the name "Towing" and the phone number 410-742-6772 in case you ever break down. IF you call the towing company first, (before the police) you'll only be charged their minimum rate, (Salisbury to Salisbury for example) of $55.00.If you're in an accident within the City Limits, (per the City's Charter) there is no owners request. If the Police make the call for you in the County you will be charged a minimum of $125.00 to $150.00.
So it's wise to take the time to store their number into your cell phone and call them right away if you unfortunately have a problem with your vehicle.
That's a great idea Joe. I just stored their number into my phone. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteThe city should force all of the towing companies to only use their storage lot telephone numbers as contact numbers. this will assure they'll answer the phones if someone should call. Our experience has not been good trying to get a hold of other companies to get our car out of storage. The longer they take to get back to you the more fees they charge. Fair is fair.
ReplyDeleteSimpson's lot and office are located at the same place.. right on Rt 13. I've called 'after hours' before and an answering service took my info and dispatched the driver.
ReplyDeleteSo why is it they (the towing companies) charge different rates if the owner calls vs. the police? Just doesn't seem right to me.
ReplyDeleteanonymous 2:22, it has to do with the City Charter. You should ask your representatives.
ReplyDeleteYou can contact all simpsons towings drivers right from their webpage. You can dispatch a wrecker from their site call goes straight to the driver. Etc etc pretty neat
ReplyDeleteActually SPD does allow drivers to call there own tow company, as long as they can respond and have the car towed in the 30 minute time limit.
ReplyDeleteSimpsons is a class act. They have been in Salisbury since I was little, and that is becuase they are honest and fare. Another company that I trust and use is Adkins. These other companies around here that have sprung up in the last few years will rip you off and hold your car hostage.
ReplyDeleteSimpson's Towing resume
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com//#!/pages/Simpsons-Towing-Svc-Inc/257487614059?ref=ts
Hey Jeff, remember when Boomer saved Tom at 7/11 back in the day, ha,ha...
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:22
ReplyDelete1. Huge truck payments.
2. Insurance premiums
3. Storage lot rent/mortgage
4. Storage lot insurance (seperate from truck policy)
5. Experience vs. inexperience
6. Getting stuck with cars people never pick up---- and this happens a whole lot
7. Amount of companies on the rotation list---- 26
8. Employee pay
9. Employee benefits
10. Having to comply with many more regulations than companies not contracted with police
11. Response times
12. Equipment necessary to perform any towing task
13. Hazmat vehicle fluids
14. BIOHAZARD body fluids in cars
15. Danger factor of secondary accidents due to inattentive drivers rubbernecking. I have been hit before.
16. Professionalism (by some)
17. Escorting vehicle owners into the lot to get their belongings, sometimes takes an hour for some people as they carry many things in their cars, someone has to be paid to assist/monitor the customer.
18. Vehicles that have no keys upon arrival-- making it much more difficult to load and unload without causing further damage
19. Advertising costs
20. Taxes
Here is 20 reasons why it costs more. There are probably 100 more that I dont have time to list, but you get the picture.
What I dont understand is why people think 50 bucks is a fair rate to transport/tow a vehicle that is worth 20,30,40 thousand dollars on the back of a 70 thousand dollar tow truck. With all the overhead, (and competition especially) prices will surely be high.
Why does prime rib cost more than flank steak? Why does the hospital cost more than the Immediate Care Center? Why does an ambulance ride cost 500 or more dollars?
I am a professional operator, as are most of the operators in this town. Some of us have been doing this a long time and why shouldnt we be paid fairly to perform our services?
Yes I know that there is some extreme pricing going on, but you have that in any industry. I wish I would like to be able to post photos of some scenes that I have responded to. You might get a better understanding of what I'm talking about, but you could find some photos on youtube.com or fithp.net
You see, when there was only 15 companies on the rotation list police calls were about 85 dollars. Now there is 26. That means in order to stay afloat companies have to adjust rates.
Cap the amount of companies allowed onto the list and I think prices would level out. Remove the shady ones and prices will be better also.
Another reason some are higher than others is because there will always be a company willing to WHORE themselves out for less than they are worth, as they do not know what their true bottom line is.
ReplyDeleteANON 2:08
ReplyDeleteYou got that right. An office with staff costs money though, and the public (the folks on this blog anyways)thinks 55 dollars will do the trick, when it really does not.
New rules and regs are coming to this industry for sure. Enough has been stirred up that the right people have seen this and somethings gonna be done. Sooner than later too.
I'd like to see the rule that towing co's must be available 5 days per week 9-5pm for customers to get their belongings or body shops to have the car picked up.
Yet another reason prices are high is because some co's think they are ABOVE THE LAW.
ReplyDeleteNow youve got a new comapny that joined the rotation just this week. His only piece of equipment is an old outdated wrecker that cant possibly tow an all-wheel drive vehicle. He has never towed before, and they let him just hop right on the list. Yes, he was a Salisbury City cop for a while and has seen many wrecks I'm sure, but how does that qulify him to now tow them?
ReplyDeleteIts things like this that suck the most. Just go buy a truck and anyone can be a "professional" overnight.
CRAZINESS !!
Simpson's Towing is the best company around. I had my Jag towed from Ocean City back to Salisbury within an hour of calling. They should be your first phone call for towing services.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Joel Maher