Resident alleges high towing fees, council directs administration to tighten tow rotation

Anita Likens, a London resident, told the London City Council on March 4 that Damien's Towing and Recovery LLC charged what she described as an inflated invoice after a Feb. 21 crash that left her vehicle at V's Auto Lot. Likens said the city police directed the tow vendor and that she and her insurer were not allowed to select an alternate tow company, and she described inconsistent information from the towing operator and the lot owner.

Why it matters: Likens said the invoice included charges she disputed — including an oil-cleanup fee and large recovery and callout charges — and she warned the council that such fees can affect insurance rates and can result in financial harm to residents who lack resources. Those concerns prompted direct responses from the mayor and the police chief during the meeting.

Details of the complaint: Likens said London officer John Gubot arrived after the crash and informed her he had called a towing company on rotation. Damien's Towing loaded her vehicle and took it to V's Auto Lot despite her request to have it taken to Coughlin's Collision. She said Damien's presented an invoice for $5,052.50 and later a payment dispute followed between the vendor and her insurer. Likens provided comparative invoices from Flynn's Towing showing substantially lower charges for similar short-distance tows.

City response and next steps: Mayor Peters acknowledged the complaint and said the city's policy is to ask the motorist if they have a tow preference when reasonable; he said he was surprised by the account and had already begun discussions with the law director and police chief to address the situation. The mayor said the administration will develop a formal contract and vendor requirements for tow companies used by the city, require proof of insurance and set fee guidelines comparable to other communities. He also said the city would temporarily suspend the offending tow company from the rotation pending execution of the new contract and investigation.

Police and council remarks: The police chief confirmed the department will review the department's handling of the incident; the chief and the mayor said they would check body-worn camera footage and policy compliance. Council members pressed for clarity about how rotation and vendor selection currently work and urged quick corrective steps. One council member said the administration had begun contacting other towing firms and had found the $5,000 invoice unusually high for the short distance involved.

What council directed: The mayor said the law director and safety/service administration will draft a contract that requires tow vendors to submit rates and proof of insurance and that the city will suspend vendors who fail to meet standards until contracts are signed. The council did not take a formal recorded vote on a specific ordinance during the meeting; the actions described were administrative directions and not a council ordinance vote.

Looking ahead: Council members recommended that the administration report back to council with the draft contract and the list of vetted tow companies. Likens recommended residents escalate concerns to state oversight if necessary; council members suggested the city will pursue local remedial action first.