Alarm bells are ringing for Albertans and Équité Association investigators, as there is growing trend in predatory tow truck incidents in the province. These predatory actions include unjustifiably inflated storage and tow bills, which are rooted in fraudulent practices.

While the scale and violence Ontario witnessed with recent towing wars has not yet reached Alberta, the government of Alberta has recognized this as a concerning trend and a threat to public safety. There have been reports of towing operators’ vehicles still displayed 416 area codes from Toronto, demonstrating that Ontario towers are bringing predatory strategies to Alberta. Ontario was the testing ground for predatory tow practices, and trends show that Alberta is becoming the proving grounds.

What are predatory tow truck practices?

Individuals or entire businesses may build themselves around deceptive tactics to fraudulently take advantage of honest drivers when their vehicle requires a tow.

• Charging excessive fees and surcharges
• Fees for services not rendered
• Refusing to release a vehicle
• Falsely claim to work with or for insurance companies

How to prevent becoming a victim of predatory tow incidents

• Understand tow rules for your local area
• Do not use a tow truck that you didn’t request
• Reach out to your insurance company for a list of trusted towers
• Get towing fees upfront and in writing before they hook up your car: If they only accept cash, that is a big red flag
• Take photos of the towing truck, including the license plate

To report information about insurance crime by phone (available 24/7), please call 1-877-422-TIPS (English) or 1-866-422-4331 (service en français). If you would like to remain anonymous, please call our partners at Crime Stoppers Canada (available 24/7) at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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