Im glad you did a story on this, but wish you delved more into the practices during snowstorms. She was on a street, legally parked right before a big snowstorm. The towing company towed all the cars on her street in the South End. I had to drive her within 24 hrs to get her tow--she had to fork up nearly $200 in cash (of course) and then we spent 45 minutes digging it out of the snow. She then had to submit paperwork to try to get her money back. Had SCAME written ALL over it. Sketchy stuff!

Follow the money. You can bet it will lead to some pol who is greasing the skids for the towing companies.

My daughter got towed at the CVS Parking Lot in Allston by Roberts Towing; I paid the $131.00 at 3AM and then fired off a bunch of emails to some CVS execs; they got back to me Immediately ; sent me a check for $131 and 2 CVS Gift cards for $20 each. So that is what you do if you get towed; send emails to the CEO of Rite Aid and Dunkin Donuts; That will get you some satisfaction!!

Pure evil. Bullies.. A total shakedown. There's zero parking for visitors in that neighborhood. Tell me that's not contrived by politicians in cahoots with tow companies... Something like, 'we don't allow parking facilities to be built, parking lots to be created, and we'll take a cut of your $131.' Just as another said, 'follow the money.' Would LOVE to see more on this.. WHY is there no parking at all in this very busy part of town? Its entirely Resident Parking Only or very limited general public curb parking on the main drags. Who controls these demographics??

It's sad how it took THIS LONG for someone to bring this to light. This predatory towing has taken place for 10+ years. I've nearly been towed before. My grandmother was in the car because she was too tired to go into Rite Aid with me. She opened the door and screamed at the guy. I ran out and told him that if he was to take the car with an elderly woman inside, he would be sued. I was in Rite Aid and I dropped my stuff to run out. Rite Aid lost that sale. Second time, I was at Rite Aid. Rite Aid made an announcement saying that a car (matching my description) with license plate (my license plate!) was being towed. I ran outside and yelled at the guy saying that I was at Rite Aid and that there was video surveillance to prove it and that it he towed my car, I'd call the police. He ended up towing the car next to me. Don't believe that Rite Aid isn't part of this scam. If they're announcing it over the intercom, then they're part of the scam too. I talked to the manager of the Rite Aid (Mike Jones) who completely blew off the issue so he/they clearly benefit from the towing.