Price gouging is NOT allowed in SC flood zone!

[Reba]

My neighbors first told us about what happened Oct 3 because they were there. They are volunteers at the no-kill animal shelter in our community. The building got flooded, so they real quick had to make foster home arrangements for 70 dogs.

By working thru FaceBook they very quickly got the volunteers they needed. They drove out to the site in the rain. They couldn't park in the shelter lot because it was flooded. Each car that came didn't stay long; they picked up the dogs, did some paperwork, and left.

That's when they found out about their cars. It was awful!

This was her FB post:

"Never ever go to the shell station on 78 by the spca he knew people were there waiting to get into the spca to rescue animal a few parked by the rd to walk and pick up dogs and he called the tow company .They came and towed cars and told rescuers it would be 250.00 to claim their cars .Then when they called News 2 to complain they upped the fee to get their cars 75.00 more Dont use Carolina Recovery either"

Well, on tonight's news:

Authorities say a tow truck driver was arrested for price gouging after he removed a woman's vehicle as she was assisting in the rescue of animals at the Dorchester County SPCA.

The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office arrested Robert Andrew Boland of Summerville on Wednesday afternoon and charged him with two counts of price gouging during an emergency.

A report by the sheriff's office says two victims were charged, during a state of emergency, a tow fee that "was in gross disparity" to the price normally charged for the service.

The incident happened on Oct. 3 at the Francis R. Willis SPCA on 136 Four Paws Lane where the facility was being evacuated of all animals due to severe flooding.

A report by the sheriff's office says two victims parked at the nearby Shell gas station and were attempting to access the SPCA facility to assist with the rescue.

According to the sheriff's office, an employee at the gas station called Carolina Towing and Recovery in Summerville to remove the vehicles parked at the station.

Authorities say when one of the victims returned to the gas station, she discovered that her vehicle had been towed by Boland who the sheriff's office says is the operator of Carolina Towing and Recovery.

An affidavit states Boland charged the victim $250 before he would release her vehicle from his impound lot which was located a little over half a mile away from the incident.

A search warrant was executed on Tuesday at Boland's business on Lawrence Drive where authorities say they found a receipt for the incident totaling $125.

Investigators say they also located the price list for Boland's business which stated his normal day time towing fee was $85.

In addition, an investigation revealed that Boland charged the second victim $150. The sheriff's office says that vehicle was never towed or removed from the premises; the victim paid the $150 fee to have the vehicle unhitched from the tow truck.

The sheriff's office says Boland's business did not have a valid business license to operate in Dorchester County.

Boland will also be cited for operating without a business license.

Price gouging charges for driver who towed rescuers vehicle

SC Attorney General says price gouging statute in full effect

 

[Secretblend]

How sad can human beings be?

 

[whatdidyousay!]

How sad can human beings be?

I know , they were putting people and dogs lives at risk too by towing their cars . But let not forget the heroes that rescued the dogs, there are more
good people than bad people around. and Dorchester County Sheriff's Office did a great job going after the jerks !

 

[AlleyCat]

Some people are just jerks. Where's their sense of compassion?

 

[Jane B.]

Do those that paid the hiked rates have any hope of getting any money back? And I am not happy with the service station either. They could ask them to not block their driveway but to tow in these circumstances seems a bit inconsiderate if their customers could still get in and out. Anyone happen to know about that part?

 

[rockin'robin]

Greedy and slimy!....Hope they shut him out of business since he was not licensed to begin with....

 

[Secretblend]

Some people are just jerks. Where's their sense of compassion?

When they started to think only of themselves and greed for money takes over, compassion goes out the window!

 

[Reba]

Do those that paid the hiked rates have any hope of getting any money back?

I think so but don't know for a fact yet.

And I am not happy with the service station either. They could ask them to not block their driveway but to tow in these circumstances seems a bit inconsiderate if their customers could still get in and out. Anyone happen to know about that part?

Yes, it was inconsiderate, and unusual for this area. Usually, during times of distress, this community is very patient and helpful. I don't know why the Shell Station owner was such a pain.

In another of my neighbor's FB posts:

"I was there. They said they would tow cars but we went out and started directing traffic and it settled down."

 

[Reba]

A video here showing the scene but I'm sorry there are no captions.

ABCNews4

The text on that page is pretty much what they are saying on the video.

Some of it:

. . . Kathleen Fowler told ABC News 4 she drove to the shelter Saturday at the urging of her daughter, who saw the shelter's plea for help on Facebook.

"We drove there to find both sides of the road and Four Paw Lane were already inundated with vehicles," Fowler said. "I didn't think twice about parking in the parking lot of the Shell station thinking that well, OK, it was a community thing. So I figured it would be OK as long as I parked there for just a minute to run over and to see if we could rescue an animal."

While walking back from the shelter she noticed her car was gone.

"So of course you have that look on your face like, Where's my car?" she said. "I was really devastated and didn't really know what to do until the tow truck pulled around and I asked, "Did you by chance tow my car?" and he said "Yes, you'll have to pay $250 cash to get it back."

She said she walked to a nearby ATM and returned to find the tow truck driver charging another driver $150 to unhook his vehicle.

The investigation into Boland began after a massive social media outcry over the weekend. Hundreds of people shared Facebook posts and retweeted information about the illegal towing outside the shelter. . .

Fowler said she's not surprised by the firestorm that followed on social media after word got out.

"There are things you just don't do in a state of emergency," she said.

She doesn't know if she'll ever get her money back.

"If I don't then I don't but I can honestly say my daughter and I that day went for a good reason," she said. "If it comes back it does. If it doesn't then I believe justice has been served."

 

[Foxrac]

Those towing companies need go out of business by killing the license, civil lawsuit and criminal charge (felony).

 

[Foxrac]

This article made me very sad and angry at same time.

 

[Reba]

Those towing companies need go out of business by killing the license, civil lawsuit and criminal charge (felony).

This towing business didn't have a license to begin with.

 

[Jane B.]

I think so but don't know for a fact yet.


Yes, it was inconsiderate, and unusual for this area. Usually, during times of distress, this community is very patient and helpful. I don't know why the Shell Station owner was such a pain.

In another of my neighbor's FB posts:

"I was there. They said they would tow cars but we went out and started directing traffic and it settled down."

About what I have add bold to in the quote. Was it the owner or employee that thought that is what should be done?

 

[Reba]

This article made me very sad and angry at same time.

Yes, but the good news is that the law is being enforced, and that so many people cared about the animals and volunteered to take care of them.

 

[dereksbicycles]

I want to blow out tires on those trucks.