My E320 Was Held Hostage Today!
 

So, I was out on sales calls today in Chicago. I stop at a strip mall to introduce my product to a local vitamin store I found on the internet. So I parked and got out of my car I then walked to the supposed location in the strip mall. As it turns out the store went out of business and was no longer there,,, Oh well... So, I was about to get back in my vehicle and drive to my next call when I notice a restaurant about 50 feet outside the strip mall. So I walked over there and made a "pit stop". I walk out no more than three minutes later and see a guy attaching one of these to my rear wheel!

http://www.ansaikeji.com/UploadFiles...1104347215.jpg

I was like, "Excuse me! What the hell are you doing to my car!"
He told me that the parking lot was for patrons only and if I don't want my car towed and impounded I had to pay him $115.00!

Oh man, I was so pissed! I told him my story, he didn't care. He looked and dressed like a bum and had some old and rusty caddy. I kept arguing with him, BLA, BLA, BLA. Nothing worked. So I paid the guy with a bank card and left. Maybe I was wrong by not just leaving but I didn't know the parking lot was under surveillance by cons. If I knew they had a sign posted that I couldn't park there I wouldn't have. This just seems like total BS to me.

Your opinions, please.
Thanks!
Adam

I would have gotten the police involved in that one.

To what end? The area was for store patrons only. You may argue all you want till you are blue in the face but they have you on a technicality.

Your best course of action might be to talk to the restaurant about what happened to you......that you were unaware of the parking policy, and how upset you are about paying the $110 fee.

I'd explain that while you were not going to eat at that restaurant that day, that by holding "potential future customers" hostage with the tire handcuff, they are going to lose your patronage forever.

It was outside the strip mall though. Further to that, it is not the restaurant that gets the money. It is the company they contract to stop people from just parking there when they are not shopping

I disagree.

I think without a posted sign where you can see it, this guy had nothing on you!

If you weren't parked in a red or had lots of parking tickets, they wouldn't use those yellow boots.

I feel like it was a con. I'm sorry that happened to you. Next time call the cops!

Only question is whether there was a sign there or not. Now if they had a "Parking ONLY for store patrons" or words to that effect, he is in the wrong.

I don't know about IL but here they could lock it whether you had parking tickets or not.

I saw a thread a while back where a guy got his car booted, checked the law and found that in his area it is illegal to remove a company's boot from your car, however it's not illegal to remove the car with the boot still installed. He got it up on dollies and put it in his garage, then called the company and offered to let them take their boot back. After considerable back and forth, this is what they did. He paid nothing, but the hassle in time spent was probably more than just paying.

Yeah, it would be one thing if I parked there to use the restaurants facilities and tried to sneak something. BTW, both the strip mall and restaurants parking lots were basically empty, not that that should mean much but It's not like anyone else was really being deprived for my 3 minutes.

He had me on leaving the premises of the strip mall but I think for the time spent and the fact that I was actually planning on visiting a business there gives me some sort of benefit. I'm sure he gets some sort of commission for his victims.

The guy obviously saw the opportunity when I walked into the IHOP and figured he'd make a quick buck. What a S#!tty job, Wow! I'd hate to be that guy.

Oh well, Hopefully I don't have my card number sold on the black market.

Don't think that means much. As long as there is a rule there, empty or full is irrelevant. Was there any sign there that said only parking for patrons or words to that effect?

Yes you were planning on visiting a store. However, after that, you went to IHOP which was something else altogether.

Yes, I agree he was probably watching you and when you left the strip mall to go to IHOP he swooped in. All in all, I agree it was a crummy thing but he does have you on a technicality.

Why don't you give me your card numbers so I can check. :D

Oh, no doubt. I'm sure their was a sign. I unfortunately did not see it. So,,,, I admit I was wrong there.

On a side note,,, Their are lots of signs in Chicago. You'd have to drive at 2mph to read them all. I am a very alert driver but it's still impossible for me to take note of them all.

I have never even considered this could possibly take place. I guess I'll have to shudder in fear every time I park my car! :D

I would go to each and every store in that sorry mall, tell them what happened, and tell them that you will not ever, spend one red cent in that mall, since they are the ones who condone such actions.
Oh....before you visit them, call the property owner, and tell him the same thing. You may find out that it is the property owner making a few bucks on the side, or giving his retarded son in law a job - either way, he needs to be told that such low form of terrorism will not be tolerated. Hopefully a few hours later, he will get an earfull from the store owners as well.

Good Luck

You got off light.
A few yrs ago my SE was towed from the Chick-Fil-A parking lot on lower Greenville. I ate there earlier then walked across the road to a club to see a good friend perform.
Taxi driver who gave me a ride home tells me they watch you leave the lot on foot and radio the tow driver who's standing just around the corner. Big money maker.
Next day when I went to get the car I find all the gas gone and several nicks and scratches. Talking to the thugs there got me nowhere so, the next weekend I parked in the same spot and watched the action. As soon as I saw someone parking and walking off the lot I got their attention and informed them they would be towed. I made the conversation as obvious as possible to the "lookouts" while pointing them out. After a couple of hours a big black caddy pulls up across the street. Two lookouts walk up and talk to the big guy in the back seat and then come over to me and take my picture and ask what I'm doing. I told 'em I'm getting a very large chicken order together, may take me a while. ;) They ask if I was telling people not to park here. Maybe...
I must have cost them a couple of grand that night based on the number of 'tows' I prevented. :D

Thats freaking awesome! That guy rocks! I love it when people take the time to stick it right back at the man!

Well done sir! Its good to see people helping others not get swindled out of their hard earned money.