A while back a close relative of mine wrecked their vehicle. As a member of AAA, they called AAA to get the car towed home. The tow truck from Weavers Auto Body shop in Reading, PA arrived on the scene. First they asked if the car was insured, of course the reply was 'yes', then the tow truck driver stated that the towing fee would have to be paid up front by them and then reimbursed from the insurance company. The owner replied correctly that AAA was the one that contacted them, and that AAA is responsible for paying towing costs, not the owner of the vehicle. So the driver states that the owner has to pay $50 for refusing the tow, he even gets on the radio to one of the shop owners and confirms what the driver has said. I can only assume that they get reimbursed more money from the insurance company than from AAA, so they were trying to make more money then the AAA allowance, which I believe to be fraud(maybe there is a better word). Either that or they were trying to get reimbursed from the insurance company and from AAA at the same time, double dipping the system, again looks like fraud to me.
What I believe to be fraud attempted by Weavers Auto Body of Reading, PA really pisses me off as a lot of people would have taken their word for it, paid up front, and then proceed to get reimbursed from the insurance company without even thinking twice about it. If this happens to you, please call AAA and your insurance fraud line to let them know what happened. Hopefully any fraudulent and or abusive companies can be cut from the AAA referral program and perhaps even have fraud charges pressed. When you call AAA to get your vehicle towed, AAA pays them directly, do NOT pay out of your pocket.
