Update: October 18, 2006
Oil Express has accepted fault in this matter. Oil Express's insurance adjuster has contacted Orland Park Toyota about this car. Oil Express will assume all payments to full restoration of this car. Area Towing has not relinquished a receipt for the services provided to this car. I am filing a formal complaint to AAA about Area Towing. Also, I informed AAA Area Towing does not have USDOT and ICC numbers, which all towing trucks must have to operate in Illinois.
Update: October 15, 2006
I talked to Frank of Area Towing on October 15, 2006 who reports he is a dispatcher. Frank was belligerent and very disrespectful stating he would not give me a receipt or any documentation on the service Area Towing gave me on October 14, 2006. Frank went on to say he does not know why I am involving Area Towing in my mess. Frank also stated "who told you to go Oil Express to get your oil change anyway." I asked Frank for the manager's name. Frank told me David. I asked did he have a last name fro David so I can write a letter to him. Frank told me I could not have David's last name. I asked Frank for Area Towing's corporate address. Frank told me he could not give the address of Area Towing. Frank told me Area Towing corporate office address is located in Chicago. I asked Frank for the President & CEO's name. Frank told me he could not give me the President & CEO's name. Frank refused to give me any information about his company.
I called AAA. I filed a complaint against Area Towing with AAA. The complaint number is 20415. A supervisor named Sarah took my complaint. I informed Sarah I would call AAA's Membership Relations department and the Field Contractor's office on Monday, October 16, 2006.
Sarah informed me when talking to Frank on the phone, he reports he is one of the owners of Area Towing. Sarah suggested I mark Area Towing as a contractor who should not service any vehicle of mine when I call for service. I suggested to Sarah I would post Frank's comments to me on my website. I informed Sarah I told Frank I would post his comments on my website. I informed Sarah I told Frank I would post his comments on my website, and Frank told me he does not care what I post on website. I informed Sarah I would suggest to any AAA member to discount and refuse any services from Area Towing, unless they would like to be treated like dirt and disrespected.
October 15, 2006
Orland Toyota
8505 West 159th Street
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
Re: 2006 Toyota Camry
Orland Toyota Service Department Manager:
Please be advised: I, Darlene Bouyer-Nance, leased this car from this location on or about February 13, 2006. Fred L Nance Jr., my husband, reports and writes the following. Please contact my husband regarding this matter. This writing will be posted on my husband’s website at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/.
On October 14, 2006 at approximately 3:30 pm I received an oil change from Oil Express, located at 235 West 162nd Street, South Holland, Illinois. At approximately 6:55 pm on October 14, 2006 attempting to return home after shopping at Burlington Coat Factory located in Lansing and getting take-out dinner at SHARKS in South Holland, this car stalled at 162nd Street and South Park Avenue.
On October 14, 2006 at approximately 6:55 pm I called AAA speaking to Ms. Janice requesting a tow. Ms. Janice decided I needed a jump-start and possible tow. At approximately 7:05 pm I requested to speak to a supervisor because of the difficulty I was having with Janice. At approximately 7:10 pm supervisor Steve took over the call. Steve verified my information and gave me claim number 96102.
At approximately 7:20 pm, AAA representative “Area Towing”, located at Cottage and Glenwood Dyer Road (Glenwood) and/or Michigan City Road and Burnham (Lansing) phone number 708-868-4501, responded to the call to jump-start the car. For some reason AAA and Area Towing decided to send only jump-start assistance.
The Area Towing representative determined, on the scene, the oil stick was completely dry. The Area Towing representative took his fingers over the oil stick to demonstrate to me there was no oil on the stick. The Area Towing representative went under the car getting oil all over his hand demonstrating to me oil had been released from the car. The Area Towing representative reported to me and assumed the lack of oil may have locked the engine because this car’s energy level was appropriate to start the car. The Area Towing representative attempting to jump-start the car noticed and pointed out to me there was smoke coming from the area where the starter is located on the car. We had attempted to start the car numerous times before the car went completely dead. This car’s engine cut-off 3 times, in traffic, before it stopped completely. The Area Towing representative informed me he would give me a receipt stating the demonstration he performed. The Area Towing representative left me and my car after he could not get it jump-started.
At approximately 7:35 pm I received a call back from AAA. I informed them Area Towing only sent someone to jump-start my car. The woman stated she would look into the matter. At 7:50 pm I called AAA back talking to Janice requesting a tow and requesting to file a complaint. Janice informed me she would file the complaint for me. My complaint number is 20408. Janice informed me Area Towing would be sending someone back out to assist me with a tow. At approximately 8:15 pm I received a tow from Area Towing to my home.
On Monday, October 16, 2006 at approximately 12:00 pm, I will have this car towed to Orland Toyota for service. Please reserve service for me. My husband will accompany the tow truck to this location. I work on the Westside of Chicago as a school teacher. I will not be able to accompany the car. I have been off work since approximately October 2, 2006 through October 10, 2006. I just returned to work. I cannot afford to take off to bring this car in for service. Your immediate attention is desired for this service so I can get to work on Tuesday, October 17, 2006. This is a request and nothing more. If this car is unavailable because of the damage, will I be able to get a loaner vehicle until this car is repaired? Please contact my husband.
The information above will be shared with AAA, Oil Express and Area Towing. It will be shared with Oil Express because they may be liable for the damage to my car and for the expense to my AAA account. It will be shared with AAA’s Customer Resolution department because I need my AAA account adjusted due to the liability of Oil Express. It will be shared with Area Towing because I will request receipts and statements of damage assumed. I will attach my Oil Express receipts to this letter. When I receive receipts from Area Towing I will attach those receipts, if necessary. I will send whatever other statements needed, if requested by Orland Toyota.
Therefore, I want to thank you Orland Toyota, in advance, for your discernment and cooperation in this matter of getting the appropriate service needed for this car.
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene Bouyer-Nance
cc: Area Towing (fax only)
AAA Customer Resolution (fax only)
Oil Express (fax only)
