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| Image via Facebook/@FirstHelp Towing Westonaria |
Unsuspecting accident victims are duped into having their automobiles taken away by tow truck drivers.
The driver will inform you that he will call your insurance company to obtain a permit. Of course, he does not, but you will not know that until you reach your insurance company.
In worst-case scenarios, the motorist even gives the phone to the accident victim to check that they were speaking with their insurance - of course, they were speaking with someone participating in the fraud.
An example of such misconduct is recounted by a tweep who was a victim of such a scam. This person had an awful experience with one of South Africa's leading towing companies, First Help 24
Never get towed by these people, especially on the freeway; they are nice on the scene, but the moment the car gets into their yard, you start getting charged R1000 or more a day, the money will accumulate to a point where you just leave it there for them, that's how they get rich pic.twitter.com/7ORYERLdBq
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) April 3, 2023
Reviews from other websites confirm the unsatisfactory service received by various client's.
First help to truck drivers have no consideration for human life with the way they drive to a scene almost killing others with reckless driving on their way. Will never use a first help tow truck ever.
Some tweep reported having had great experiences with the FirstHelp towing company. The customer reviews on HelloPeter are 4.4 from 722 customers.
There are honest towing companies that will not dupe you. However, it is imperative to have things checked out before allowing any towing company to tow your vehicle.
Here are a few tips to follow during an accident scene:
- Find out if your insurance policy covers towing services and which towing companies are approved by your insurance company.
- If your insurance has provided you with a "Do not tow" sticker, place it on your vehicle's windshield or the right-hand side quarter vent window. This notifies tow truck drivers that authorized people may only tow your vehicle.
- Keep your insurer's towing assistance number with you at all times.
Nonetheless, a lot needs to be done to prevent this from continuing to happen.
