Tow company owned by former Pennsylvania state senator accused of overcharging

However the Motion Information Investigative workforce has discovered some municipalities depend on an honor system to ensure the legislation is being adopted.

Our investigation uncovered some questionable payments by Capital Towing out of Morton, Delaware County.

The corporate is owned by Tom McGarrigle, a former state senator and present chair of the Delaware County Republican Social gathering.

We started asking Marple Township officers questions on two towing payments. Officers mentioned they will start conducting audits.

“We simply need to be sure individuals do not get ripped off, and the insurance coverage corporations do not get ripped off, and ensure they doing proper by the individuals,” mentioned Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff.

Chief Graeff tells Motion Information adjustments are so as after two automobiles had been towed on March 17 following an accident on the intersection of Sproul and Springfield roads in Broomall.

Invoices obtained by the investigative workforce present Capital Towing charged a automobile proprietor $945 for a one-day tow.

However beneath Marple Township legislation, that was $520 an excessive amount of.

Among the many fees: $250 in extra labor fees and $225 in particular tools fees. Neither are allowed.

And the corporate wrongly billed for the storage fee and variety of days.

Larry Gentile, the Marple Township supervisor, referred to as it regarding.

“This got here to mild as a result of a motorist went to choose up her automotive and seen an extremely excessive tow invoice for sooner or later,” he mentioned.

McGarrigle declined our request for an on-camera interview.

In a cellphone interview, he acknowledged the overcharge, calling it a mistake by a secretary who by chance billed for a distinct tow from Glen Mills.

Harmony Township doesn’t presently have a towing ordinance.

He mentioned when the corporate was alerted, it refunded the surplus fees.

“We have by no means had a grievance they usually’ve all the time been nice to and for us, to the individuals as we all know. Perhaps it was an oversight,” mentioned Chief Graeff.

However it seems the proprietor of the opposite automobile concerned within the accident was additionally billed an excessive amount of.

That bill additionally had a line merchandise cost for labor, this time for $100 which, once more, is not allowed.

Its proprietor doubtless would not know as a result of it was an obligation tow, that means Marple Township police referred to as for the tow after an accident.

“Insurance coverage corporations are typically going to choose up a automotive from a tow yard from a crash. We as customers by no means see that,” mentioned Chief Graeff. “We simply pay our insurance coverage. Insurance coverage cuts a verify, everyone seems to be comfortable.”

A key query is: how lengthy has Capital Towing been overcharging for Marple Township tow service?

At present, solely two corporations are licensed with the township for responsibility tows: Capital and Ok&S Towing.

For the reason that questionable tow payments, Gentile says the township plans to start performing audits of all responsibility tows however it doesn’t plan to do audits for prior years.

“We will be sending correspondence to our two tow companies, that efficient Could 1, we’ll must get a replica of all their invoices,” mentioned Gentile.

McGarrigle mentioned his firm welcomes an audit.

We checked with just a few different municipalities in Delaware County and located none do audits.

Nevertheless, neighboring Haverford Twp. mentioned it’s going to require invoices with all responsibility tows shifting ahead.

Marple Township informed us it might revoke licensing for responsibility tows if corporations don’t observe township charges and legal guidelines.

CONTACT US

Assist the Motion Information Investigation workforce unravel the tales that impression you.

Use the under type to inform us your story concept: