Family Towing & Transport

I parked at a KFC parking lot (470 Lake Park Ave, Oakland). The sign in front of where I parked said customers could park there, and went inside to order a coke and then made a short trip up the street to drop something off. Upon returning to the parking lot, my car was on a tow truck. When I told the driver (Jamal from Family Towing & Transport) that I had just purchased an item at KFC he didn’t believe me. Jamal said that unless I produced a receipt, he would tow me. I did not ask for a receipt earlier, I attempted to get another copy of my receipt inside, which was not possible due to the unhelpful staff. When I shared the news with Jamal, he said that he would not tow my car if I gave him $ 200 cash (half the amount the tow yard would charge me). I told him that this seemed like a bribe and proceeded to call the company that was listed on the tow truck. The man on the phone from the tow truck company said I must pay and also wouldn’t listen to my story about being a recent KFC customer. After waiting and pleading with the tow truck driver for about 30 minutes, he finally said he couldn’t wait any longer and needed to leave with my car. At this point, I offered to pay $ 200 using a credit card, which he agreed to. Upon further investigation including Unilocal reviews have seen that I am not the only one who has had this experience at this KFC lot. It seems this company is prying on people that park in the lot whether they are customers or not.

There seems to be a trend with this joke and SCAM of a company called «Family Towing» and obviously one of their first class, grade-​A employees JAMAL in Oakland.
My wife and I parked our car in the KFC parking lot (same as a different reviewer) and were gone NO LONGER than 15 – 20 minutes, only to return to our car having the long square bar strapped around the front tires, and the back tires were latched to whatever the contraption is they call it that comes from the tow​-truck​.My car was being held hostage.
Seeing this happening to our car from about 15 feet away, i started flailing my arms about and yelling «NO! STOP! I’M HERE!», only to be welcomed by Jamal with this direct quote:
«So this is how it’s gonna go: You’re gonna give me $ 200.00 cash to get it off the rig, or I’ll tow it and it’ll cost $ 300.00.»
First thought: How in the F did they get here to «tow my car» so quickly, and why would it cost so much to merely take about 2 minutes of «work» to release my car? IT WASN’T EVEN OFF THE GROUND YET.
Looking over these reviews, this all makes sense now.
This a– hole was WAITING for us to come back because he KNEW we were going to. The KFC is in on it because they were the ones to call it in. KFC knew we weren’t using their parking lot as customers. We weren’t. I had to ship a package out at the USPS today, which is a Saturday, and there was absolutely NO PARKING ANYWHERE because they have this huge festival going on every Saturday right in that area.
Figuring we were only going to be at USPS for no longer than 20 minutes, (which was exactly how long we were gone for) I couldn’t see ANY possibility of being towed in that short amount of time.
I BEGGED. I PLEADED with Jamal to give me a break. $ 200.00 is a LOT of money to just throw at some clown for doing absolutely NOTHING. He wouldn’t budge. He was demanding, rude, arrogant, and the only words expunged from his mouth were «$ 200.00 or I’m taking it away.» for apparently «trespassing».
I had all of $ 6.00 cash in my wallet, and was freaking out about where i was going to get the cash from, BUT REST ASSURED! JAMAL KNEW AND TOLD ME THERE WAS AN ATM RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! (like literally, Bank of America), ONLY A FEW STORES DOWN FROM KFC! WHAT AN ODD COINCIDENCE!
Why is it in other reviews people have written in regards to when their company is called because they’re services are actually NEEDED by people, they’re ALWAYS late, or from what a different reviewer said: didn’t show up at all and left them STRANDED for over an hour, yet somehow, mysteriously, they’re RIGHT THERE WITHIN 20 EFFIN MINUTES AFTER BEING CALLED BY KFC FOR SOMEONE BEING IN A SPOT FOR ALL OF 20 MINUTES, READY AND WAITING TO PREY ON PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING THREATENED TO HAVE THEIR CAR BEING TAKEN AWAY UNLESS THEY FORK OVER $ 200.00?! AGAIN, What an ODD coincidence!
Here’s my end prediction: KFC REGULARLY calls this company IMMEDIATELY on people they see not going to their store. Family Towing/​Jamal IMMEDIATELY dispatch to rig the car. Jamal EAGERLY awaits for the people/​victims they KNOW are going to come back. Jamal demands $ 200.00 for the supposed «trespassing». Then Jamal waits til the unfortunate victims leave to go in to the KFC to split the money on the bull— con they’ve just succeeded in.
Is it another coincidence that my car wasn’t just immediately taken away/​towed? Because it seemed as though Jamal was just sort of meandering and hanging out, knowing we were going to show up sooner rather than later so that he could of COURSE demand the $ 200.00 to split with KFC.
Why do i figure this? Because after i unknowingly (should have called the cops) forked over the money, i sat in that spot for about 3 – 4 minutes, in disbelief of what had just happened. I witnessed Jamal pull his tow truck away from my car and right up to the KFC building, as if he were waiting for us to leave so he could proceed to go in and split the cash with who i can only assume would be the manager that called.
I wish i knew now what i didn’t know then. I should have refused to give the money to JAMAL AND KFC. i should have called the cops, since apparently they aren’t legally allowed to make you pay for anything if they’re still there on the private party and you show up.
STAY AWAY. BE AWARE. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
AND BECAUSE MY WIFE ONLY GOT TO SAY IT ONCE AND I DIDN’T: F YOU JAMAL! AND KFC! GET A REAL JOB, «BRO». HAVE FUN WITH MY MONEY FOR NOW. IT WON’T CHANGE YOUR SAD, MISERABLE LIFE IN THE END. TOMORROW YOU STILL HAVE TO WAKE UP AND BE YOU. WHICH ISN’T MUCH OF ANYTHING. CONGRATS!

Well I’m coming back because I needed my friendy and efficient tow truck driver Jamal. He took good care of me the first time I needed a tow and this time not only was he here hella fast but when I had to take my car to the repair shop, he even waited for me to do my biz with the mechanic then brought me back home… Thanks Phil and jamal

Why and how is this business not shut down? Shaddddddddddddddddy

I’m not really sure what just happened. I literally left my vehicle for 10min and had to pay $ 200 in CASH to avoid it being towed to who knows where for $ 500. I’ve never been towed in my life. They are predatory and they know it.

TERRIBLE BUSINESS. DO NOT PAY CASH. These guys are scammers and do shady business. Their credit machines are coincidentally always broken and will require cash. Get the police involved and refuse to pay cash.

Illegally towed my car while by Fruitvale Bart station (RIP Oscar Grant). Was gone for 10 minutes to come back to my car loaded on the back of a trashy old tow truck. The driver ask me for $ 200 cash or $ 325 via credit card or it would be towed 2 miles away. My first thoughts was to snatch my car back and call the cops but the idiot drove off in a hurry. When I got to the lot there was a group of old shady looking Neanderthal ape faces looking to intimidate. I have nothing good to say about this business or its practices.

On a bright sunny afternoon I visit a local plaza in Oakland for less than 15 minutes… Just to come back to seeing my car loaded on a tow truck! Not how I wanted that story to end.
If you’re looking at the review to decide if you want to use Family Tow for your towing needs, keep looking for another company. THIS COMPANY IS FULL OF CROOKS AND RUN SCAMS ON PEOPLE.
Now back to my story. I see my car lifted and I’m confused to why it’s up there. The signs in the parking lot read parking for the address i visited only. I had to sit there and prove to Jamal, the tow truck driver, that I did nothing wrong and I visited the site in which the parking lot states. After proving him wrong I walked him around to show exactly where I was. He tried telling me he walked into the businesses asking if it was anyone’s car before he lifted it… Which is a lie because 1) you didn’t know the shop existed 2) I was in the business 3) I was only gone 15 minutes !! Then he said that the pawn shop called him to tow. How is that possible if I was gone for so little time?
After proving Jamal wrong he told me that since he was called out and already lifted my car I had to pay him either $ 200 cash or hell tow it and I’ll be stuck with a minimum $ 400 bill. I ended up paying the $ 200 but I learned a lot after on what I should have done.
TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED LIKE ME DO THE FOLLOWING IF JAMAL OR ANY OTHER SHADY TOW TRUCK DRIVER TRIES TO STEAL YOUR CAR. Yes, I did say steal.
Call the police right away. They can’t take your car off private property if you are at the address listed on signs in the parking lot. Do not give in to these crooks and FIGHT FOR YOUR PROPERTY!
I’ve reported them to the BBB and they have a grade F. I’m not even surprised. I’ve also called and tried to speak with management several times. Every time I ask to speak with a manager they are «not available» but as soon as I voice why I’m calling the person on the phone is all of a sudden a manager… yeah, okay I believe that… Not!
DO NOT HAND OVER $ 200 cash. They are unethical and scammers. I do not want this to happen to anyone else.
Spread the word.

You made $ 325 in the two hours you had my car,
Are you a doctor?
Are you a lawyer?
Do you even have a high school diploma?
You are a crook, a thief. Dishonest to the core, your whole business is eligal.
How can you live with yourself? You screw honest hard working people!
I hope you enjoy my money because you will not be getting much calls anymore.
Oh, by the say… The tags on his one beat up tow truck are expire!!! Hahaha looser!

Under Assembly Bill 2210 (Goldberg, Chapter 609, Statutes of 2006) protects consumers against the worst of illegal towing. Under AB 2210, if you spot a tow truck driver taking your car, and the tow truck is still on private property, the driver must release your car to you unconditionally.
A tow truck operator who violates this law is subject to a civil misdemeanor, a fine of $ 2,500, and/​or three months in jail. Also, consumers who can prove they have been charged illegal or excessive towing or storage fees are entitled to recover four times the amount of those fees in small claims court.
…
Please be aware of your rights

I had an awful experience with Family Towing. My car broke down and needed to be towed to the dealer. Luckily I was able to get it to make it home, gasping and wheezing. My insurance company arranged for a tow from my house to the dealer the next morning. I read the poor reviews for this company but since my insurance was paying for it, figured I would take my chances. Mistake! The tow truck showed up a bit late so I was calling to make certain I would have a ride. I went outside when he showed up, he never left his cab, windows rolled up. Very odd. I couldn’t talk to him through a closed window so waved at the driver to let him know I was grabbing my purse and papers and putting my phone back. I ran back outside to see him driving away. I couldn’t believe it so I called the company to figure out what was going on. They put me on hold immediately and then simply transferred the call to the driver. No discussion at all. The driver told me that dispatch had cancelled my tow. When I asked why, the conversation took a bizarre turn. He started yelling at me over the phone,. He told me «I saw you waving at me and then run back into your house-​you should know better than to do that. Your job here was to walk up to my truck window and wait for me to get out of my truck. You wait for me at my window, understand? Your needing a tow is not my problem.» Click. A second call to the company showed that dispatch had not, in fact, cancelled the tow. No surprise about the driver. A call to my insurance company and a discussion of my experience ensures that this company will be removed from their list of vendors to use. If one has a choice of tow truck companies, I would strongly suggest avoiding this one for your peace of mind. On further reflection, I am more than a little relieved that I did NOT go with this angry driver.

If I could give negative stars I would. This evening my boyfriend and I went over to piedmont. Parking in that area was non existent as expected on a Saturday night so we decided we would get KFC.
We are gone literally no more than fifteen minutes while I look for my food at a hamburger place next door because I don’t like KFC but my bf does and was intending on getting something right after. We walk back around the corner and I see his car half way about to be towed! Luckily we got there just in the nick of time.
A sketchy looking guy said that we were just unlucky and that he was making his rounds and could tell when people don’t go into KFC right away, then they are going to go other places, which is untrue. I wasn’t aware there needed to be a second by second escorted travel procedure from the parking lot to the door.
We said that we were just going to get KFC but the guy could care a less. THEN he tells my boyfriend he needs to pay two hundred dollars and that they only take cash. This immediately gave me red flags. My bf who really didn’t have a choice since his car was more or less being held hostage went to get the cash. I stood by so that this guy wouldn’t steal the car because I didn’t trust him. He gives us some paper work and then unlatches the car. The guy almost had a disappointed look that we caught him just in time so he wouldn’t take the car out of the lot.
I’m fuming because this whole thing was ludicrous and felt like a scam! I went online to check the BBB if this place was accredited because surely one that KFC in Piedmont across from Grand Lake theatre would go with someone who’s accredited. Not only are they NOT accredited, they have an F rating and several people have filed formal complaints!!! As I am a big Unilocaler I immediately went to the reviews and if you are reading this you see nothing but one stars and there is a reason for that!!! The «cash only» baloney just is the icing on this scam cake.
I intend to take this matter further and hopefully get his hard earned money back from these heartless thieves. I don’t write
things in this context often but if the shoe fits they have to wear it! In the morning I will also alert the Oakland police and file a formal complaint with the BBB myself.
As far as that KFC is concerned, it’s probably in cahoots, and deserves a one star and blame just as much.

Phil did a good repair job on my scion. Got FTT through EasyCare where I had some difficulties finding any towing service willing to pull me out of garage but Phil showed up and it was on time too.

Terrible, terrible, terrible customer service.
After being over 45 minutes late, the driver tells me «he doesn’t do unattended tows”(tows where the owner will not be accompanying the vehicle), and «can’t pull my vehicle out”(even though there is a 15 foot gap in front of the vehicle), and that I need to start it to pull it out (even though the shop I am having it towed to specifically told me NOT to start the car, since it is running hot. I explain to him these are all things that I need, and that I made very clear in my service call.
He then became very combative, and argued that he is «a mechanic, and knows everything there is to know about cars». I ask him is is familiar with the engine in my vehicle, and he replies, «yeah, it’s a Saab b engine». Riiiight. Except, I drive a Saab 9−2x, which is about as Swedish as Sushi — my car is actually made by Subaru, and those little boxer engines are very temperamental when run hot.
He proceeds to get more angry, and I let him know I will contact his dispatch, who is also next to useless. Never again!

Horrible company. The entire staff is unprofessional and seems to be criminals. They don’t answer calls, their rude, and they lie in order to get business by towing cars on private property. The tow trucks are raggedy and they messed up my car during a ILLEGAL tow they conducted. Luckily I called the police and filed a report against them. This place should be investigated and shut down immediately.

Owing to the circumstances under which you have to use them, I bet no one usually has very nice things to say about towing companies. But my interaction with Family Towing was surprisingly pleasant.
When my car was stolen and abandoned while I was out of the country, they were called to haul it away from the parking lot where it was causing a nuisance. Even though having to pay for that kind of service when you’re already a crime victim sucks, I didn’t feel I was overcharged for it by Family Towing.
I dealt with Phil, one of the owners, who was guarded but impressively professional, polite, and honest.
I can’t give them five stars because when I had them RE-​tow it to a tire store — my tires were slashed in the theft — he was about an hour late. Still, I wasn’t overcharged.
The experience could have been a lot worse!

I met two dudes from this company in Oakland a while ago while my car got flat tire. They were not willing to help me at all and they just told me they are busy. I really need a car jack because my own one was broken. I asked again and they said it’s okay but you need to pay me $ 50 bucks. Well, I had no choice but taking their offer. My backup tired was obviously lack of air in it before they help me to swap the flat tire out. I asked whether it is okay to put that backup tire on and they told me it is fine. Well, when my flat tire was swapped with the spare tire and my car suddenly dropped after they put my spare tire on. The spare tire got no air in it after all. They just stared at me, and then left. I was like WTF.
Well, I really would not recommend this type of service!

dont use this company. this guys lie to
truck was tow away for no reason these guys just want to make money.325 its alot of money to pay for a sh*ty company. I already called the oakland police department to make a report against this company. stay away from this company.

My wife and baby were stranded with a flat tire. I was stuck at work and couldn’t go help.
Family Towing told my wife they’d have a guy out in 20 minutes to change the flat.
Over ONE HOUR later, and after about FIFTEEN unanswered calls, they finally called me back.
Me: «Where are you guys!!! My wife and baby have been stranded for over an hour.»
FT: «Oh yeah, we’ve been real busy, everybody wants a tow right now, we got your job on the white board but we must have forgot about it. We can get a guy out there in about 15 minutes.»
Me: «Fifteen minutes? I guess that’s OK, but we need a discount or something. My wife and baby have been waiting for over an hour.»
FT: «How much you want off?»
Me: «At least 50% — this is crazy.»
FT: «50%? No way bro. We don’t do 50% just ’cause the driver’s late. Call someone else.»
CLICK!!! Dial tone…
«Family??» No, my friends … there is no «Family» in «Family Towing and Transport.» It’s more like: «We’re going to strand Your Family on the mean streets of Oakland and then hang up on your a – , Transport.»
STAY AWAY!
Update 8÷27÷2012: I just got a message through Unilocal from a guy named Mike F., who said, in full: «you are a liar[,] ‘bitch[.]’» As of this writing, Mike F.‘s only review is a (poorly written) positive review of Family Towing & Transport. Anybody think he’s associated with this company!!!