On 2/12/2015 I contacted Jonnys Towing, an Illinois Corp with numerous locations, Lombard and Oswego Il., and apparently serviced by a centralized call center. The Secretary Of State shows a Jonathan Maye, 512 Lakeview Dr, Chicago, Il 60543 as the Agent and President. File number 69189202. On that date I explained in detail, how I was stuck with one rear wheel spinning in ice and needed to be towed no more than 2-3 feet from where I could drive home.
I was off the roadway in a lot where people brought their children or grand children to sled. The dispatcher confirmed and I had him reaffirm the advertised tow charge of $65 would be sufficient for such a short and simple procedure. When the tow truck arrived the driver backed to within about 6 feet of my left front fender. He did not back up to be in front of me but instead chose an angle of what could be described as from 10 to 4 o'clock on a clock while I was pointed from 6 to 12.
The 2 men then put a hook on the end of about 10 feet of chain onto the front subframe of my van and tried to drag me free. The angle they were at caused too much resistance so they instead backed up to within about a foot of my van creating slack in the chain and then gunned their tow truck forward which did jerk my van free. I have yet to ascertain what damage they may have caused to my frame or steering components by this unorthodox and improper technique. In any case when I went to pay them the $65,they then demanded $500.
The Woodridge, Il police were called and the responding officer told me that although the $500 was far above what Woodridge authorized tow companies charge, his hands were tied by the Illinois Theft Of Service statute. (720 ILCS 5/16-3) While I question his interpretation of the statute, the fact remains either I paid the $500 or I would face arrest and Jonnys Towing would then impound my van adding additional expense and the possibility of some of the tools and equipment I have in my van disappearing which is a well known problem of vehicles being towed.
The bull s* excuse, given by the driver was that he never "towed" my van but "winched" it instead. He then cited that the $65 was for "TOWS" only. There was no reason,either with my vehicle, my positioning nor the terrain to prevent a simple tow to be performed. Furthermore, a winching procedure is not putting a hook on the end of a chain around the sub frame and dragging a vehicle 2-3 feet to free it.
There are innumerable complaints on the internet from other victims of Jonnys Towing with the same complaint. Repeated attempts to contact Mr Maye were fruitless. After I left a message that I was determined to pursue this, both in Small Claims and to make every effort to contacat the other victims with postings on various websites, in the hope of getting enough of a foundation to get the Illinois Attorney General to investigate, I did get a call from someone purporting to be Jonathan Maye.
What I got was a death threat if I didn't back off. Obviously, the threat cannot be proven to have been made by Maye. However, I am convinced that the huge number of complaints already, besides my experience, are indisputable proof that the ongoing scamming is fully condoned and encouraged, perhaps even ordered by Mr Maye.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET BY PEOPLE WHO WERE SCAMMED IN THE SAME WAY. IF YOU EVER NEED A TOW, JUST CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE HONEST COMPANIES THAT THEY CAN CALL FOR YOU. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT EVER CALL JONNYS AND SPREAD THE WORD. HELP SAVE SOMEONE ELSE FROM THESE SCAMMERS
Jonnys Towing & Recovery Inc. Reviews
On 2/12/2015 I contacted Jonnys Towing, an Illinois Corp with numerous locations, Lombard and Oswego Il., and apparently serviced by a centralized call center. The Secretary Of State shows a Jonathan Maye, 512 Lakeview Dr, Chicago, Il 60543 as the Agent and President. File number 69189202. On that date I explained in detail, how I was stuck with one rear wheel spinning in ice and needed to be towed no more than 2-3 feet from where I could drive home.
I was off the roadway in a lot where people brought their children or grand children to sled. The dispatcher confirmed and I had him reaffirm the advertised tow charge of $65 would be sufficient for such a short and simple procedure. When the tow truck arrived the driver backed to within about 6 feet of my left front fender. He did not back up to be in front of me but instead chose an angle of what could be described as from 10 to 4 o'clock on a clock while I was pointed from 6 to 12.
The 2 men then put a hook on the end of about 10 feet of chain onto the front subframe of my van and tried to drag me free. The angle they were at caused too much resistance so they instead backed up to within about a foot of my van creating slack in the chain and then gunned their tow truck forward which did jerk my van free. I have yet to ascertain what damage they may have caused to my frame or steering components by this unorthodox and improper technique. In any case when I went to pay them the $65,they then demanded $500.
The Woodridge, Il police were called and the responding officer told me that although the $500 was far above what Woodridge authorized tow companies charge, his hands were tied by the Illinois Theft Of Service statute. (720 ILCS 5/16-3) While I question his interpretation of the statute, the fact remains either I paid the $500 or I would face arrest and Jonnys Towing would then impound my van adding additional expense and the possibility of some of the tools and equipment I have in my van disappearing which is a well known problem of vehicles being towed.
The bull s* excuse, given by the driver was that he never "towed" my van but "winched" it instead. He then cited that the $65 was for "TOWS" only. There was no reason,either with my vehicle, my positioning nor the terrain to prevent a simple tow to be performed. Furthermore, a winching procedure is not putting a hook on the end of a chain around the sub frame and dragging a vehicle 2-3 feet to free it.
There are innumerable complaints on the internet from other victims of Jonnys Towing with the same complaint. Repeated attempts to contact Mr Maye were fruitless. After I left a message that I was determined to pursue this, both in Small Claims and to make every effort to contacat the other victims with postings on various websites, in the hope of getting enough of a foundation to get the Illinois Attorney General to investigate, I did get a call from someone purporting to be Jonathan Maye.
What I got was a death threat if I didn't back off. Obviously, the threat cannot be proven to have been made by Maye. However, I am convinced that the huge number of complaints already, besides my experience, are indisputable proof that the ongoing scamming is fully condoned and encouraged, perhaps even ordered by Mr Maye.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET BY PEOPLE WHO WERE SCAMMED IN THE SAME WAY. IF YOU EVER NEED A TOW, JUST CALL YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE HONEST COMPANIES THAT THEY CAN CALL FOR YOU. DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT EVER CALL JONNYS AND SPREAD THE WORD. HELP SAVE SOMEONE ELSE FROM THESE SCAMMERS