Tow trucks

[nfitz]

You should always tell your insurance company in case you suffer losses later.

I've never been in an accident that was serious enough that it could possibly lead to that ... well there was one with damages after, but with the damages before, the insurer already needed to know.

But often it's just a dent that doesn't even feel noticeable for the drivers; I've felt a lot more braking quickly!

The person who wanted to pay for it themselves was fine. They dealt directly with the garage, and I didn't put my name to anything. I certainly wouldn't have done something, and then looked for reimbursement.

 

[crs1026]

If the damage is serious enough to consider calling a tow truck.... the collision is most likely over the reportable threshold and a police report will be required. Your insurance will likely expect to be informed of any reportable incident involving your vehicle, regardless of whether you want to claim from them or not.

- Paul

 

[txlseries4]

Speaking of this - from the TPS:

https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/63181/

AoD

Not in the release but said in the press conference; "[this is the group] that was organizing and hiring the acts of violence and it's quite telling that none of them have criminal records or are before the courts because they are the higher level"

 

[lenaitch]

That’s effectively what the current dispatch system, which was introduced a couple of years ago, effectively does. It helps, but it doesn’t solve the problem of where the damaged car is taken, what invoices and charges then ensue, and how the money is divided up.
The average motorist is not well informed, and is not in a very good mental state to make assertive and informed decisions in the aftermath of a collision. It’s easy pickings for unscrupulous actors. CAA membership is a basic defense.

- Paul

Within the Restricted Towing Zones (4) on provincial highways around the GTA under the HTA there are only 2 or 3 approved companies per zone so it is fairly easy for police dispatchers to manage. Outside of that area I have no clue how they mange it, now that all OPP dispatching is 'centralized' to four locations across the province. If you have CAA or a roadside assistance service you can use them. Beyond that, business/contractual requirements around towing and storage are contained in the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act which applies across the province.

Interestingly, when I called TD insurance for the repair, they said I could take it to either TD's branded bodyshop or any repair place I chose on their approved list. I asked the TD rep if he'd take his own car to the TD branded shop and he said no, take it somewhere else, lol. I highly recommend Don Valley VW, best body shop in town on any make or model.

I'm not sure I'd call them "branded" but most insurance companies have their 'approved' shops, which means they will accept the shops appraisal at face value. If it is off their list, they will usually require an independent appraiser to assess the damage and/or repair estimate.

 

[lenaitch]

Maybe take it out of an association and have a independent "queue" system.

AoD

The problem with any "independent" system is who pays for it. Somebody has to own a toll-free number, pay for call takers 24/7, etc.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

The problem with any "independent" system is who pays for it. Somebody has to own a toll-free number, pay for call takers 24/7, etc.

Considering the jurisdiction, MTO should pay for it and perhaps call it an incident reporting line with the additional authority to delegate tow trucks zonally and in rotation. It sure beats the current lawlessness and the incidental costs to the province associated with such.

AoD

 

[lenaitch]

Considering the jurisdiction, MTO should pay for it and perhaps call it an incident reporting line with the additional authority to delegate tow trucks zonally and in rotation. It sure beats the current lawlessness and the incidental costs to the province associated with such.

AoD

You do realize there is a lot of province outside of the GTA where the vast majority of the problem is centred. An 'incident reporting line' would be 911of which the MTO is a client agency. A limited number of approved companies are already dispatched in the Restricted Towing Zones. I don't think there is much need for a similar system in Kapuskasing or Bancroft at this time.

Once organized crime has determined that it is a profit centre, or at least a decent money laundering platform, it becomes the latest version of construction sites, strip clubs or any of the other industry sectors that they have set their sights on over the years.

I don't know but suspect that collision service on public roads isn't a big money maker for them. Drug movement, extortion of body shops, auto theft/re-vinning and running chop shops is probably where the money is, along with private towing including parking lots. Controlling a part of the city can benefit many criminal endeavours.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I'm not sure I'd call them "branded" but most insurance companies have their 'approved' shops

TD Insurance went all in.

 

[lenaitch]

TD Insurance went all in.

Wow, cool. They must have determined that it is worth their while in larger centres. When our daughter had her collision and was still under us (and we were with TD) we were just given the name of I think two body shops to pick from.

TD Insurance has annoyed me over the years. We were with them for a number of years then we bought an old farmhouse with a wood cookstove and they flatly refused to write a policy, so we shopped. A few years ago I came back but after the first year the home premium went up 40%, so I shopped again. I am still with them for the bike because the rates have been stable and there aren't that many companies that write bikes anymore.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I am still with them for the bike because the rates have been stable and there aren't that many companies that write bikes anymore.

I have my motorcycle with TD because my wife has excellent group rates through her employer.

 

[turbanplanner]

I believe Mississauga banned tow truck operators with a criminal record, not sure why other cities don’t do this?

 

[lenaitch]

I believe Mississauga banned tow truck operators with a criminal record, not sure why other cities don’t do this?

That is now covered by provincial legislation. The Act doesn't declare a blanket criminal conviction prohibition but but the list of disqualifying offences is quite extensive. How the Mississauga bylaw would hold up now that it is addressed by provincial law IDK. Municipalities generally have the authority to regulate most types of businesses but this may be out of their hands now.

 

[doady]

Reading this thread makes me kind of glad that MTO suspended my driver's license years ago.

 

[micheal_can]

You do realize there is a lot of province outside of the GTA where the vast majority of the problem is centred. An 'incident reporting line' would be 911of which the MTO is a client agency. A limited number of approved companies are already dispatched in the Restricted Towing Zones. I don't think there is much need for a similar system in Kapuskasing or Bancroft at this time.

Once organized crime has determined that it is a profit centre, or at least a decent money laundering platform, it becomes the latest version of construction sites, strip clubs or any of the other industry sectors that they have set their sights on over the years.

I don't know but suspect that collision service on public roads isn't a big money maker for them. Drug movement, extortion of body shops, auto theft/re-vinning and running chop shops is probably where the money is, along with private towing including parking lots. Controlling a part of the city can benefit many criminal endeavours.

Quick, you are in Wawa and need a tow, who do you call?
There was a time you dialed #TAXI and you were connected with the first available company.

This reminds me of the taxi mess before Uber. Many taxi companies were fronts for organized crime. Many had undocumented workers renting taxis to make money. No idea how to resolve the issue, but it may get a whole lot worse before it gets better. I do think a bigger part of it is better police enforcement.

 

[starlinnitschke8]

A little different scenario. Those are contractors to perform maintenance work on and in relation to property owned by the municipality/province.

You collision on the 401 must have pre-dated the introducing of Restricted Towing Zones, mostly in the GTA.

Besides, the proposal is very urban-centric. The vast majority of the province, and the municipalities within in, function largely on the basis of small private operators. Towing companies and operators are at least regulated now, as opposed to the wild west it was before.

The organized crime and violence we are seeing in the towing industry is primarily and GTA and Ottawa area problem. We're not seeing it in Bancroft or Kenora. The recent round-up in Peel really had nothing to do with public collisions, it is all about stolen cars, insurance fraud and staged collisions.


I doubt the insurance industry really cares so long as it is not them being ripped off. They will pay claim bills and pass costs onto the policy holders. A few years ago, our daughter was involved in a collision. Being fairly unfamiliar with the area, I told her to have the car towed to the dealer. We later learned they didn't have a body shop so it had to be towed a grand total of about 9km to the body shop: $500 (in addition to the from-scene tow).

At such moments, I reflect on how important it can be to have additional funding at times. Personally, I use https://pokiespros.com/best-payout-pokies/ just look for games with a bonus there and win. It would be cool to have something similar for companies.

Besides, private, for-profit companies regulating other private, for-profit companies? There are a number of laws that would probably interfere with that. Years ago, police-related towing on the 400-series in the GTA was fairly-well managed by an 'association' of tow operators. It worked quite well. For the police, it was a one-number dispatch and the association balanced the work between member companies. The wheels fell off when they tried to restrict the number of members. Other companies complained the the federal Competition Bureau who determined that it was a restraint of trade.

Sounds about right, insurance covers claims, but the extra towing costs add up. Associations can help, but competition laws often complicate things!