I have to discuss a topic which is getting great deals of conservation, bashing and thoughts concerning pricing for recovery of vehicles involved in accidents.
There is an ongoing discussion on many towing forums, www.tow411.net and www.towconnections.yuku.com to name a few, along with Facebook concerning an $4500.00 bill to recover a vehicle from a ditch.
Here is the link to the story,
http://www.wgme.com/news/...ies/wgme_vid_10533.shtml
Now in fairness, I have to say that all the posters who have commented on this subject on any of the forums, was not there during the recovery and as such cannot comment on the actual job. Many know the area however and as such can talk about it in more factual terms. But to many, the issue is not the job or the fact that the company had problems getting the vehicle out and transported back to the storage yard, but it is in the price for the job and the invoicing of the job.
2000 for the rotator billed out at $500.00 per hour with a 4 hour minimum
$750 set up charge for rotator.
$500 for use of spreader bar.
$500 for a certified rigger
$500 for labor
$125 for a flatbed
$100 for loading fee's
$105 for mileage
This totals out to $4580.00 dollars for the recovery and towing of the vehicle, a 1997 Saturn in this case.
The creative billing of this invoice, (in the news video it shows the copy of the invoice and that there is a recovery write up) makes this into the issue that it has become on an national level. Now I know that there is a movement to billing what we are “worth” (for lack of better wording in these days of political correctness) and there are classes – seminars which teach the method of billing.
But what I have to point out, is that many of us will toss the tower under the bus in order to try and make yourselves look good. I am just as guilty as all the others at times, but I have also changed by stance and outlook a bit lately, due to the tow invoices which I have reviewed for other towers.
I do see a few issues in this pricing, as I see a few double dip charges, just like I have seen in Price Per Pound billing at times.
But the question is posed by many as to if this is overcharging, greed, or proper billing with a flawed billing model being used?
Who knows as this story is about a member of one of the towing forums, who has been strangely quiet about this issue. Is it possible they do not know about the story online or are they operation on a gag style order – practice. We will not know unless they discuss it, or respond.
I for one, will follow this story as much as possible and will try to keep abreast of the movement in creative billing as it is sometimes called.
