OAK LAWN, Ill. — When a big rig got wedged under a Chicago viaduct in early April, a tow truck arrived in minutes. Then the trouble began.

Tim Smith said the towing firm quoted his company, DPW Trucking, a few thousand dollars over the phone and he agreed. But when he went to pick up the trailer, the price had surged to $46,000. “It was like: ‘You have to be kidding me! How do you come up with $46,000!” Smith recalled thinking.

“They don’t want to talk to you on the phone,” DPW Trucking owner Kristin Crawford said. “They literally hang up on you. And then they, it says on their email, they will not negotiate the rate.”

Crawford said she did a quick internet search for the name of company that they felt was holding their truck hostage, Official Towing. She found a 2024 WGN Investigates story that included a differing trucking firm that had faced a similar scenario involving Official Towing.

“I actually called that company and talked to them and asked them how they got through this and they said the only way that they got through was when you guys showed up,” Crawford said.

WGN ARRIVES ON SCENE

WGN Investigates arrived at Official Towing’s yard, located in the 9200 block of South Kilpatrick in Oak Lawn, and found Smith and his colleague outside trying to get the rig back.

An employee of Official Towing came outside and told Smith the owner wanted to talk to him. The call ended abruptly when the owner did not want to talk on speakerphone, but shortly later another message was delivered.

Instead of $46,000, DPW could get their truck back for $5,000.

While Smith was inside trying to get it back, Crawford called Oak Lawn police and several officers responded to the scene.

They eventually got their trailer back for the $5,000 and drove back to Wisconsin.

TOWING COMPANY’S RESPONSE

“Conflict with customers, and with other towing companies, is also bad for business. Official Towing values its ability to serve the public in Chicago above its right to collect every penny it is owed on every tow,” Official Towing said in an email to WGN Investigates.

While Official Towing is licensed by State of Illinois, Chicago’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection office says the company is not currently licensed to tow vehicles inside city limits.

The company’s president is listed in state records as Ahmed Shalabi. He declined repeated requests for an interview and his story shifted.

First he claimed to be licensed to operate in the City of Chicago and then said the law was unclear about whether he needed a separate license. He then followed up and stated that the Chicago’s Business Affairs and Consumer Protection office is “notorious for how difficult, time-consuming and expensive it is even to get a basic city license.”

Official Towing has faced complaints for inflated bills and failing to give customers a report detailing the cost of the tow before a vehicle is hooked up.

‘THEY’RE LIKE BUGS‘

“They’re like bugs,” Crawford said. “They scurry when the police or the news to come.” 

The Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates towing in 5 counties outside of Chicago says strengthened laws, increased fines and a crackdown on “bad actors” has led to a decrease in complaints in recent years. 

State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-12th District) has passed legislation to crack down on predatory towing practices, but some operators change names or appear not to fear fines.

“People are not aware of the consumer protection portion of things or that there’s even agencies that are doing that type of work in terms of regulation,” Villaneuva said. “…I think that we’re constantly looking on the books to see what else we could be doing to hold these people accountable. That shouldn’t be happening. Like, that’s highway robbery and that’s wrong.”

Crawford for thankful after getting their truck back.

“We wouldn’t have our truck if it wasn’t for you,” Crawford said. “We would not have it back. It would still be sitting there and we would still be fighting with them and losing sleep.”

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