Rogue Chicago towing company rebrands again, tricks more unsuspecting victims
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Even after its license was revoked, a rogue towing company is still out on the street—towing cars and holding them for exorbitant fees.
It is a company that has rebranded several times and is now known as Tow City Inc. A Chicago mom who asked to remain anonymous is one of its latest victims.
"I worked very hard to get my car. I did catch the bus, and I did get on the train, and made the money that I needed to do for my family— and some creep just come and take it from me," the mother said. "I feel so violated."
The accident involving the woman's car happened on busy DuSable Lake Shore Drive—right near Soldier Field. It was a scary spot to be stuck—especially for woman's 22-year-old daughter, who was driving at the time.
"I'm a mom. I have a daughter," the mother said. "She needs to go places, and I can't afford Ubers."
Tow City Inc.—a company CBS News Chicago has been looking into since February—has been holding the mother's car for over a week. They want upwards of $8,000 for it.
"My daughter was in an accident. You took advantage of her," the mother said. "You know, she was very vulnerable at that point—because she's never been in a car accident."
The woman's daughter was getting school supplies for the start of her semester this fall, when she found herself in need of a tow on after the accident in her mother's car on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
"She started school for the fall, and just a normal trip to Target turned into a nightmare," the mother said.
After the accident, the mother said her daughter called her—and she herself called roadside assistance. But Tow City showed up before they could get there.
"I had reached out to my roadside assistance, and they were actually en route to assist my daughter," the mother said. "Didn't listen to me—hooked my car."
The mother said she spoke to someone from Tow City—telling them explicitly and repeatedly not to take her car. But they took her daughter to the nearest police station and brought her car to an undisclosed location anyway.
CBS News Chicago visited the address where the mother was told the car would be. Nothing was there.
Tow City Inc. is the latest tow company to be opened by the same person, state records show. Those records show Tow City Inc. was previously Tow Team Inc., Traffic Management Team Inc., and Elite Roadside Care Inc.
The Illinois Commerce Commission said what is now Tow City Inc. got its license revoked in July. But the company is still operating.
"It's hurtful, you know, that people can do this, and just keep doing it, and just keep doing it—just keep doing it," the mother said, "and it's not OK."
There is an ordinance being drafted to combat rogue towing in the city of Chicago. Ald. Gilbert Villegas (38th) hopes to introduce the ordinance to the City Council sometime next month.
But the ordinance, if passed, still would not prevent businesses from rebranding and reopening at the state level.
CBS News Chicago tried to reach Tow City Inc. They hung up the phone as soon as soon as they found out they were talking to CBS News Chicago.