Philly companies kept towing cars illegally despite court order, Pa. attorney general says
The companies named in a new court filing by Attorney General Dave Sunday reached a settlement with the state in 2022 over alleged unlawful towing.
Six years ago, the Pennsylvania Attorney General sued a group of tow-truck operators for allegedly towing cars unlawfully — and then using intimidation tactics, including the threat of a pit-bull attack, to pressure car owners to pay excessive fees.
Now, the office’s Bureau of Consumer Protection says the companies violated the terms of a 2022 consent order settling that lawsuit, and has asked a Philadelphia judge to find them in contempt.
The contempt petition, filed Sept. 2 in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia, seeks about $220,000 in penalties and restitution from the companies, Siani’s Towing and Recovery, Angelina’s Towing and Recovery, and Aubry’s Towing, which all operate out of the same address in North Philadelphia.
“The terms of this settlement were very clear, yet these companies continue to improperly tow consumers’ vehicles, and charge exorbitant fees,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. “Predatory towing is a scourge that causes tremendous anguish and financial burden for the vehicles’ owners, and will not be tolerated.”
A person who answered the phone at the company hung up when contacted by a reporter.
According to the contempt petition, the Bureau of Consumer Protection has received 38 complaints about the towing companies’ conduct since the 2022 settlement.
Among them: The companies had persisted in towing peoples’ cars from spots not marked with proper signage, charging fees higher than what’s allowed by law, and harassing car owners who complained that their cars had been damaged while they were towed.
Some of the drivers were residents of apartment buildings, parking in the building lot with permission, when their cars were towed from their homes, according to the filing.
