General Discussion

ymetca

(1,182 posts)

100. And it all started with the Tow Scam

Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:06 PM

Dec 2014

It happened to me years ago when I was living in Dallas. I had a really good job, and had to attend a conference downtown. There was a nice, well-lit parking lot adjacent to the conference center, which had "Free Parking" signs all over the place. So a bunch of us attending the conference parked and went inside. About 20 minutes into the conference, someone came in saying that a fleet of tow trucks was towing all our cars away. When we pointed out that there were "free parking" signs all over the place, the tow drivers all told us to look at the light poles. Way up, about 15 feet up on each pole, were tiny signs indicating that "free parking" was only available on Sunday evenings between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Lovely.

So, I had to walk to the nearest ATM, take out $200, which fortunately I had at the time, then walk about 5 miles through some of the roughest areas of downtown, to retrieve my car from the most post-apocalyptic hell-scape of a private impound lot I had ever seen. The booth in front had bullet-proof glass. Signs all over said "CASH ONLY" and "NO CREDIT CARDS", along with a whole bunch of other racist, misogynist, and "you want it when? Ha! Ha!" signs typical of that sort of operation.

After I paid, a guy drove my car up and it had a busted tail-light and a large dent in the door. Too fucking bad for me! Signs everywhere stated "WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE..." etc. I drove immediately to an all-night auto parts place and bought an overpriced replacement tail-light just so I could get back home without getting a ticket. I felt lucky to get out of there alive.

Unfettered "free enterprise" devolves into exactly this crap. I am amazed that so many people don't get that.

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I feel like people (other than on DU) don't get that the grid keeps you off once you're off [View all] Recursion Dec 2014 OP

a kick to go with my rec.. Because only one who has been pushed into the mud of annabanana Dec 2014 #1

"Once you don't have a bank account, it's hard to get one." Dreamer Tatum Dec 2014 #2

Bwah! Recursion Dec 2014 #3

No, I don't, if that's your claim. nt Dreamer Tatum Dec 2014 #4

I edited: I had an adverse closure due to a ($15) overdraft Recursion Dec 2014 #5

I completely believe you ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #35

And often that overdraft is a consequence of banking fees hidden away in the small print. hunter Dec 2014 #62

Well that changes matters significantly. Dreamer Tatum Dec 2014 #64

How does that change things significantly? pnwmom Dec 2014 #97

I don't understand why you said something so wrong so confidently CreekDog Dec 2014 #126

Sorry, Dreamer, it's true, it happened to me. I had an adverse closure when someone on my family DesertDiamond Dec 2014 #47

There is nowhere in this country where one can open an account only with $5. Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #96

And if you're an American living overseas, Art_from_Ark Dec 2014 #167

Any reason you think the OP is a liar? TexasProgresive Dec 2014 #98

Has it been a while for you. peace13 Dec 2014 #7

+1 nt Live and Learn Dec 2014 #142

Yep, it's always the poor person's fault. jeff47 Dec 2014 #8

That was what drove me insane on the Slate comments. Recursion Dec 2014 #13

Yes, people who haven't experienced it treestar Dec 2014 #23

Yep ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #46

It's funny. I took to eating at a church soup kitchen every Tuesday and Thursday night. Recursion Dec 2014 #60

Very similar to my own experiences. hunter Dec 2014 #105

+1 ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #158

Why I think community service is SO important - it pays closeupready Dec 2014 #155

So true ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #159

Another one that really 2naSalit Dec 2014 #57

This is the anti-social self-help "positive-thinking" culture at work. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #75

It is. 2naSalit Dec 2014 #81

"That's why I ... walk away" - yes, exactly. closeupready Dec 2014 #156

The brilliant Barbara Ehrenreich writes about this in her book tblue37 Dec 2014 #132

Oh cool. 2naSalit Dec 2014 #162

The ebook version is under $6. nt tblue37 Dec 2014 #163

thank you for the recommendation- sounds good! bettyellen Dec 2014 #164

Not true in many cases. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2014 #11

I've since found out that MA is particularly ruthless about this Recursion Dec 2014 #73

Try walking into a bank, post Patriot Act with nothing but $5 in your pocket Glassunion Dec 2014 #20

Smug much? - nt KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #25

Uh if by "much" you mean "all the time," that's an affirmative. closeupready Dec 2014 #157

How rude, tatum. chervilant Dec 2014 #33

That's his M.O. geardaddy Dec 2014 #40

Well, then... chervilant Dec 2014 #45

Apparently you have never worked in a bank Ruby the Liberal Dec 2014 #43

Is that really true? Recursion Dec 2014 #52

Usury is alive and well Ruby the Liberal Dec 2014 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Recursion Dec 2014 #71

We weren't told about the adverse closure when I replied. Dreamer Tatum Dec 2014 #65

Or, you chose to ignore that fact Ruby the Liberal Dec 2014 #72

Yep. In fairness the manager was very polite in explaining this to me Recursion Dec 2014 #74

I love USAA Ruby the Liberal Dec 2014 #79

I think you are in denial. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #77

What am I denying? That it's unfair and expensive to have a bank account without a lot of money? Dreamer Tatum Dec 2014 #83

You are calling the OP a liar because it threatens your beautiful mind. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #89

I object ... staggerleem Dec 2014 #104

. Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2014 #137

BWAH! Odin2005 Dec 2014 #147

How does a banking/credit professional not know that banks just don't hand out checking accounts kcr Dec 2014 #122

That might be true where you live, but it's not true everywhere. ColesCountyDem Dec 2014 #91

LOL! Have you tried to open an account with a $5 bill lately? Pacifist Patriot Dec 2014 #102

In 1967, I opened a savings account with 10 cents Art_from_Ark Dec 2014 #168

Not true. I couldn't get a bank account either back in the day. cui bono Dec 2014 #110

I just opened a new bank account -- minimum of $300 deposit. n/t nichomachus Dec 2014 #114

Totally wrong. Banks use verification clearing houses to check past banking history. Lochloosa Dec 2014 #117

Wrong again. Are you in the running for the most wrong-headed thinking closeupready Dec 2014 #154

Excellent thread, we need MORE of this at DU steve2470 Dec 2014 #6

Predators prey on the weak. bemildred Dec 2014 #9

you can get a birth certificate copy with your drivers license snooper2 Dec 2014 #10

I would have had to get to Mississippi, which I couldn't afford Recursion Dec 2014 #12

Was it a long time ago? treestar Dec 2014 #22

Requests by mail still require proof of identity. jeff47 Dec 2014 #28

that's true treestar Dec 2014 #38

But the license had expired, so that was another complication. deurbano Dec 2014 #51

Yeah. In fairness if I had realized the world of shit I was getting into, I would have moved faster Recursion Dec 2014 #53

When I moved back to OK littlebit Dec 2014 #58

It was compounded by losing a permanent mailing address Recursion Dec 2014 #55

Another big problem treestar Dec 2014 #67

Post-PATRIOT, a PO Box requires a valid ID Recursion Dec 2014 #68

Oh my treestar Dec 2014 #95

in addition... handmade34 Dec 2014 #149

If a cop stops you with that much cash, Arger68 Dec 2014 #115

My MS birth cert. is under lock and key in the S D box BobbyBoring Dec 2014 #121

The part you're missing is the hurdles to get to the "easy" solution jeff47 Dec 2014 #26

When I moved to Texas all I had was an expired Missouri license snooper2 Dec 2014 #30

When I moved to NY, I had a valid CO license. They wouldn't give me a new NY one. jeff47 Dec 2014 #34

$79.00 for a copy of my birth certificate!!? Pakhet Dec 2014 #135

Wow!!! heaven05 Dec 2014 #14

Also: at that point I didn't know about the Legion or VFW Recursion Dec 2014 #15

Yep the Legion and VFW have been known heaven05 Dec 2014 #29

Well, you hear "homeless vet" and you have this image; it took me months to realize that was me Recursion Dec 2014 #54

+1 nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #18

Amen.... daleanime Dec 2014 #16

Even on DU, people try to tell you you didn't experience what you experienced malthaussen Dec 2014 #17

+1 nt DawgHouse Dec 2014 #31

It's what we call "denying the realities of the oppressed" is social justice circles. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #80

+1 n/t Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #101

Honestly it was that experience that got me really into feminism Recursion Dec 2014 #82

k and r. thank you for sharing this with us. amazing how blithely ignorant so many are about niyad Dec 2014 #19

The guy at the impound lot was a real heartless SOB sociopath steve2470 Dec 2014 #21

Amen, hold the car hostage treestar Dec 2014 #24

yep you nailed it nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #32

They do. I guess that's the point. Recursion Dec 2014 #76

IMO most of those kind of folks are sociopaths and psychopaths. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #85

Can I Munificence Dec 2014 #27

Don't you have to be looking for work to collect UI? Going to college would KingCharlemagne Dec 2014 #39

Because I was in school Recursion Dec 2014 #41

Um Munificence Dec 2014 #59

BU had laid off their vet rep position three years before and didn't refill it until two years later Recursion Dec 2014 #61

Unemployment is a state benefit, and the eligibility rules differ. jeff47 Dec 2014 #42

K and R geardaddy Dec 2014 #36

Great post. Personal experience provides a keen understanding that can't be found elsewhere think Dec 2014 #37

interesting how those stories do not get told hfojvt Dec 2014 #44

I know exactly what you mean Marrah_G Dec 2014 #48

God yes. That fear. I still have fear of that fear (if that makes sense). Recursion Dec 2014 #49

I grew up in that world and still live in it. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #92

I've seen young people drive without car insurance because they couldn't afford it, Zorra Dec 2014 #50

Then they start selling drugs to pay the fines, are busted, and become prison slaves. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #93

Well, fellow DUer, chervilant Dec 2014 #56

Sorry to hear that Recursion Dec 2014 #109

+1 nt Live and Learn Dec 2014 #145

Once out of the Matrix it's a bitch to get back in. harun Dec 2014 #66

Absolutely true. Been right there. I've never forgotten it, either. byronius Dec 2014 #69

Exactly. Ironically, I was taking Relativity that semester and we studied the event horizon Recursion Dec 2014 #70

Haven't been there myself (at least yet and hope to never be) Live and Learn Dec 2014 #146

Around 15 years ago my brother had his bank account SheilaT Dec 2014 #78

That's not quite accurate, you can get your SS payment on a debit card Fumesucker Dec 2014 #128

I did not know that. SheilaT Dec 2014 #138

Kick - Thanks for sharing. LeftInTX Dec 2014 #84

Well, I'm lucky to be white (or white enough to pass) Recursion Dec 2014 #86

My brother, who is on Social Security, had a medical emergency when he was at a bus stop panader0 Dec 2014 #87

Jesus that's brutal Recursion Dec 2014 #90

This is what so many don't understand. Unless you have a ton of money, it doesn't take much stevenleser Dec 2014 #88

Poverty is like quicksand. ColesCountyDem Dec 2014 #94

+1 I don't know why it is so hard for people to understand this. Live and Learn Dec 2014 #148

Yours was the first post I clicked on after walking in the door today Fumesucker Dec 2014 #99

Small world Recursion Dec 2014 #103

Reminds me of a Yakov Smirnoff joke Fumesucker Dec 2014 #127

There was a similar one I remember: "under capitalism, man is oppressed by his fellow man" Recursion Dec 2014 #136

And it all started with the Tow Scam ymetca Dec 2014 #100

It would be interesting to know how many lives ThoughtCriminal Dec 2014 #112

+1 Had a family member victimized by this one too. nt Live and Learn Dec 2014 #143

Tow companies and impound lots are vultures. I went to get my car once, and like your story, the Stardust Dec 2014 #166

I have a question, Recursion ... staggerleem Dec 2014 #106

I mentioned that upthread Recursion Dec 2014 #107

Sorry, what do you mean "here in India"? brush Dec 2014 #141

That was years ago. I live in India right now (nt) Recursion Dec 2014 #151

Employers also go a LOT by salary history.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #108

I have a habit of not putting salary history down Recursion Dec 2014 #111

Let's hope they don't see this... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2014 #113

But I'm sure you DO list prior employers ... staggerleem Dec 2014 #161

This is why... MaggieD Dec 2014 #116

What a SUPERB essay! Nails the issue, right there. nt MADem Dec 2014 #118

sadly, I knew two types of comments would show up here DonCoquixote Dec 2014 #119

+1 nt Live and Learn Dec 2014 #144

I would recommend this to anyone thinking those in poverty are there due to a moral failing. pa28 Dec 2014 #120

You have a future in writing. grahamhgreen Dec 2014 #123

Recursion: Raine1967 Dec 2014 #124

impound lots and payday loans hopemountain Dec 2014 #125

Recommend and thanks for babylonsister Dec 2014 #129

KnR to the nth degree! nt tblue37 Dec 2014 #130

K&R ismnotwasm Dec 2014 #131

Juicy Flight Derek V Dec 2014 #133

What the fuck does that mean? Control-Z Dec 2014 #139

The Columbia Tragedy Derek V Dec 2014 #160

It's interesting that there more than a few people questioning the validity of your life story PersonNumber503602 Dec 2014 #134

"I learned about 25 ways to cook rice and beans" - even that's not a great idea anymore progree Dec 2014 #140

thank you Recursion handmade34 Dec 2014 #150

I'm glad to hear you had such great support marym625 Dec 2014 #152

thanks for sharing your story fishwax Dec 2014 #153

Great OP. blackspade Dec 2014 #165