After a lot of research and talking with state officials, county officials, county law enforcement, and attorneys, I learned that there have been similar instances to mine in Sumner County. Some towing companies seem to have adopted a practice of legally towing a car but then making it so costly and difficult for an owner to locate and pick up the car that the owner cannot retrieve the car in a timely manner. The cars then end up in the towing companies’ possession for so long that the company can file for a lost title of an abandoned car to sell the car and keep the proceeds. The laws that make this highly unethical practice legal result in substantial financial gains for these kinds of towing companies.

Because our car likely cannot be sold for enough money to cover the charges accrued by Towing Company, I have been advised that they can legally sue me for the difference. I cannot even begin to try to disprove the multitude of untruths the company has documented to build their case. However, I do understand the basic truths of this matter as follows: 

1.       1.      My son’s car was parked on the pavement next to a curb not obstructing or making driving unsafe.  It was in a spot the board of our association would prefer you did not park.  Therefore, it was towed at the request of the board.

2.       2.      As owner of the car, locating it and getting information as to how to pick the car up was stalled for reasons that were no fault of my own.

3.       3.      Charges accrued to an amount that are impossible for me to come up with immediately and in cash only.

4.       4.      The company has documented that the charges will not stop accruing and they will sell the car.

5.       5.      I am bound and at the mercy of any action Towing Company wishes to take.

I will be sending a copy of this document to county and state officials in hopes they will consider investigating this as a legal matter and, eventually, pass legislation that protects residents of Sumner County from being forced into a situation similar to mine.  I will be happy to provide the list this document has been sent to upon request.