Smith George

I feel like I was avtarget of George Smoth towing today!! I parked my car in a lot on Temple campus next to Qdobas. There were no signs on the side were I parked my car about paying a kiosk machine or where the machine was located ( spot 50). I went into Qdobas and asked they told me it was hidden behind the trash dumpsters, so I went put to pay and within 17 minutes my car was gone!! My receipt said 1:04 from Qdobas and the pick up time on George Smith receipt was 1:21. They completely profiled me and didn't even give me a chance to find and pay the kiosk machine!! They are complete scammers!! I am definitely filing a complaint!! more

My fault knowing I parked in the wrong place but when I came last weekend to get my car\r I was suprised by how friendly Eric was\r he offered me and my dad fresh coffee and different kinds of doughnuts\r I can't remember the last time I walked away from a business\r happy and full!\r more

I work at the pizza place next to the walgreens on 18th and south st. sometimes the drivers pull into the walgreens parking lot and run back to the store to grab the deliveries and then they leave the parking lot after only a few minutes. therefore, the george smith towing sign that says you will be towed after 30 minutes shouldn't ever apply to the drivers. Well tonight one of the drivers was going the give me a ride home after he took the last delivery of the night. He ran in to grab the food, said ""meet me in the walgreens parking lot"" and went to his car. I grabbed my things and walked to the parking lot and didn't see the driver in the parking lot. what i did see was a huge tow truck slam on the gas and almost hit me. The driver was parked a block away and I hopped in. He told me that the tow truck was there to tow his car (even though he was there for literally 10 minutes) so he drove around the block. We drove for about 10 blocks when all of the sudden we here VROOM VROOM. It was the tow truck guy. CHASING US. TRYING TO RUN US OFF THE ROAD. FOR ABOUT 10 BLOCKS. Literally almost hitting us several times. TRYING TO KILL US. At one point we had to slam on the brakes when we arrived at a stop sign and he got in front of us, jumped out of the truck, AND TRIED TO TOW US WHILE WE WERE IN THE CAR. So we kicked it in reverse and slammed on the gas and reversed down the whole block and lost him. WHO DOES THAT? more

My friends car was parked in a private lot and was towed by George Smith towing (fair enough). She called and was told that she could pick it up today Saturday and they open at 9:00am ""but he usually dont get there till 9:30"". Ok, then why isnt the opening time 9:30am? We arrived at 9:30am. We walked up to the 4"" bullet proof glass window, but there were no instructions as to how to get someones attention. We went to the business next door and we were told ""just bang on the window"". She banged on the window from 9:30am until 10:15am while I banged on the metal gate and sat in my car honking for 10 minute intervals. A guy finally arrived, opened the gate to get to his office all the while refusing to acknowledge us. He then did her paperwork and ended up giving her a Philly Parking Authority ticket and paperwork for the burgandy Nissan Maxima...yeah, she owns the Altima. more

Yes things may b out of order w/ this company but if there is a sign or u pull into a parking lot thinking u dnt want 2 get towed on the street ur most likely getting towed in the parkin lot. Duh. This company has been open 4 YRS & should not change, its life. Admit that u were wrong 4 parking there n move on even if they will not admit there wrong b the bigger person n move on. ppl r always after other ppls money its life so thats somethin every1 needs 2 get over even me cuz this world will never change. more

My family and I visited Philadelphia over Thanksgiving weekend. We had tickets to the Eagles vs Patriots game. We parked in the CVS parking lot and when we returned after the game our vehicle was gone. According to CVS they tow around 11 vehicles per sporting event. While I can understand the my vehicle was towed I do not understand how George Smith's tow drivers access your vehicle illegally and steal the belongings inside. The ""General Manager"" that I spoke with was extremely rude and explained that if his employees were caught doing that they would be fired. After he cut me off several times he then told me that I made it up and then hung up on me. more

I've been through the Phily parking dance and have come to the conclusion. . . Just stay out of Philly. It's a nightmare every time I go there. more

Listen, it's very easy to rant about how awful something like this place is and how scummy these people are. This review is more to help anyone that's been in this situation. Be prepared to pay $205 if your car has been towed and stored over night. They won't make any exceptions for you either. Make sure you have your license and hope that your car is insured and registered. I didn't have my license today due to it being lost, I tried to present my situation, and the guy behind the dark window tried to get me to bribe him in some form. more

Ummm, this ""company"" towed my car off of the 1800 block of Kater St, while I was at work last night. Came back at around 10 pm to go home and discovered that every car was there but mine. I wasn't sure if the city towed it, but then I saw a sign in the Walgreens lot next to the street I parked on and called them first. He informed me that they had my car and when I asked why it was towed he said because I was blocking a garage. I wasn't. Meanwhile, there were 3 other cars still there that were clearly blocking access to these garages. When I told him all of this he said, ""Look lady, I'm not here to argue wit ya, I'm just tellin' ya we got your car."" I asked him if I could get it that night since I had to be at work by 7:30 the next morning. He replied with a curt ""no"" and said they don't open til 8:30. I pleaded with him to let me get it tonight so I could get to work in the morning, to which he replied, ""You can get it tomorrow between 8 & 6. We're closed now and I'm not at the location."" Really? Then how did you answer the phone and how did you know you had my car, douchebag? more

Same story as everybody else, car wronfully towed, sign hidden, folded and covered in graffiti. However, THERE IS A SOLUTION. City of Philadelphia bill no. 100213 states that In order to legally tow a vehicle the tow company must have a sign in PLAIN VIEW TO THE PUBLIC that among other things gives the adress of the tow company, the place where the vehicle can be redeemed, the payment type accepted, and that any towing complaints should be reported to 3-1-1. His signs do not contain any of these facts, making his tows illegal. \r \r The 311 site for this ordinance states that any tow company violating these rules is subject to up to a $2,000 fine and can have their tow liscence suspended for 90 days upon first violation. \r \r I HIGHLY reccomend all of you call 3-1-1 and report this buisness ( I will). They will not be able to ignore the many complaints especially if you list the specific parts of the law he is breaking. more

George Smith Towing along with the PPA represent in microcosm everything that is wrong with parking in Philadelphia and how hostile it's citizens are becoming because of it. This isn't about parking that is illegal or is affecting anyone negatively...this is about making money and exploiting people in the process. These scumbags put out spotters at places like Chickie and Pete's where their signs are present but vague. Just the fact that they have spotters shows they aren't there to enforce parking but to line their greasy pockets. There is little accountability in the numerous cases where people have their cars towed when they are actually inside Chickie and Pete's are ""appear"" to leave the premises. What if someone has to walk down to CVS to get something? These guys are criminal scumbags and deserve to be dealt with like the parasites they are. Call the police...boycott Chickie and Pete's or any establishment that let's these a**holes police their lots. When you get your car back let them know what slimy dirtbags they are. Notice how no one never see a face in any of these complaints? Faceless, predatory cowards that suck money from good people have no part in our city. Metaphorically I am spitting in their face and will do so in person if ever I get the odious honor of meeting any of their piece of s**t employees or the owner. They can all go to h*ll. more

On Saturday October 23rd, I met a friend at Chickie's and Pete's in South Philadelphia on Packer Ave. I arrived at 6pm and stayed until 9pm. When I walked out I noticed my car was not there so I walked with my friend to his car and he dropped me back into the lot and my car was still not to be found. I called the tow number and they told me I didn't park at the time I did and that I left the premise. There is no sign that says what time you can or cannot park in the lot and also I never left the premise before my car was towed. RIDICULOUS. I am upset to hear many people being taken advantage of by this company. Chickie's and Pete's management is working with me but it is the next morning and I still do not have my car. Please anyone who has this same kind of complaint towards this company should speak up to the district attorney so that some action is taken! more

Today they towed my car from my assigned space in my condo building's parking lot with a tag showing it was assigned to that space. I will be sure my condo association cancels it's contract with Mr. Smith. Pros: High sensitivity Cons: Low specificity more

These guys have no conscience Cons: Extortion, illegality, dangerous, unsafe, crooked more

SOME FAT PIG TOWS CARS. THEY DO NOT EVEN HAVE SIGNS POSTED INFORMING PEOPLE THEY ARE THE TOW COMPANY. IN ADDITION, TOW SIGNS MUST HAVE ""TOWED AT OWNERS RISK"". THEIR PERSON JOHN WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE FOR THEM IS ILLITERATE. HE ONLY KNOWS HOW TO SAY MY NAME IS JOHN AND THE WORD OK. HE DOESNT KNOW WHO THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY IS & WHO HE WORKS FOR. HE WAS A JERK, THE FAT SLOB WHO TOWS THE CARS IS AN IDIOT AND ALSO CAME FROM THE SLUMS. Pros: FAT PIG TOWS CARS Cons: FAT PIG TOWS CARS more

THIS IS THE WORST COMPANY IN THE WORLD NEXT TO THE PHILADELPHIA PARKING AUTHORITY THEY ARE VERY RUDE THEY HUNG UP ON ME WHEN I WAS TELLING THEM HOW COULD THEY TOW MY CAR. I WAS PARKED AT 16TH STREET NEAR TEMPLE UNIVERSITY I WAS COMING FROM THE DAMN BANK AND MY CAR WAS GONE. WHEN I DIDNT SEE (AFTER THE FACT) ANY SIGNS WHICH WERE HIDDEN SO YOU REALLY COULDNT SEE THEM. THEN THEY HAD A NERVE TO CHARGE ME $180.00 WHEN ITS REALLY $150.00 TALKING ABOUT TOWING FEES WHEN THEY ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR TWO HOURS I DONT KNOW HOW THEY GET AWAY WITH STEALING PEOPLE MONEY.THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO REPORT THEM THEN THEY TELL ME I HAVE TO PAY $2.00 FOR TAX WHAT TYPE OF SH*T IS THAT!!!!! THEN I HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO A DAMN ATM MACHINE BECAUSE THEY ONLY TAKE CASH THEN I GO BACK TO THE PLACE THEN I COULDNT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE SAYING BECAUSE YOU CANT SEE THERE FACE HELL YOU BEARLY KNOW IF IT'S OPENED OR CLOSED. I HAD TO GO GET MY OWN CAR NO WHEN THEY LIFT UP THAT MEDAL GATE AND YOU NEVER SEE A PERSON COME OUT THE WHOLE TIME THEY ARE SOME A$$$ESS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PEOPLE WHO STEAL PEOPLE CARS AND MAKE UP FAKE CHARGES....ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM WHO DO WE REPORT THESE PEOPLE TO MAY FOX 29 NEWS Pros: someone needs to investigate them Cons: they need to be shut down more

We took our daughter to the Temple open house on 11/21/09. Parked behind the stores near the Liacouras Center. Payed to park but came back 20 minutes late.\r Extremely rude person answers phone and tells us it will be 180.00 to get car back. Didn't mention that it was cash only. Also wouldn't confirm if the car was even in their possession. Get in a disgusting cab and went to the even more disgusting impound lot. A faceless voice rudely yelled that it was cash only and still wouldn't confirm that the car was on the lot. Got back in the cab to find an ATM machine which took forever. Cab ended up costing about 40.00. Gave the faceless thug behind the tinted glass the 180.00 and magically the huge steel door opened. Had to walk to the back of the lot to find the car. Kept expecting to be attacked by a junk yard dog but luckily that didn't happen. Drove off and the steel door magically opened to let us out. Never saw a person during the entire process. They are literally getting away with robbery. I plan to report this to one of the local news stations but from the sounds of it nothing will happen as this towing company seems to have some kind of hold over authority in this city. Pros: There were no gunshots during the robbery Cons: They are rip off artists more

My car was high jacked by these thieves yesterday. My car was in the shopping plaza on 1501 N. Broad St. I went shopping in the plaza at about 6p.m. I then left and went window shopping on Temple's Campus while I waited for my friend to show up. I came back, parked my car, and met up with my friend in this same lot at 9:50 p.m. We parked our cars and head across the street for some food and fun. We come back after a few of hours of spending time and revenue in the city. Only to find our cars missing! We gather our thoughts and realize there is a sign that says something about cars being illegally parked. Illegally Parked! Never did I imagine having to pay $180 for willingly patronizing legal business's and consequently be unwillingly towed by an illegal business. Cons: all of them at George Smith Towing more

Same story as everybody else. Car was towed one evening for supposedly illegal parking. I ended up being charged 235 bucks to get my car back. They picked my car up at like 9:30 pm, by 10 the next morning they charged me for two days storage when they hadn't stored my car even 24 hrs. There are several charges listed that dont make any sense, but when I tried to discuss the charges they tacked on 25 bucks more for ""getting short with him"". Totally a shady run operation!! As is no surprise they have several late model tow trucks that are very nice. As the other reviews say, you never see anybody. You hand over however much cash they demand, along with your drivers license and they raise the garage door so you can find your own vehicle. There has to be something illegal about the way the place is run! Pros: pros?? they are pros at taking honest peoples $$$$$ Cons: unending list of cons! more

There must be a good reason why this guy continues to illegally tow cars from lots where there is clear documentation verifying the vehicle is legally parked. With the rates that are charged for towing and storage, perhaps there is some ""sharing"" relationship with the authorities who are responsible for ensuring peoples' rights are not violated. Why else would he be allowed to continue to exploit people.\r A friend had his car towed from a private lot last night. \r The parking permit was visibly displayed. When my friend tried to report the car as stolen at the local police substation on South Street, the officer was obvioulsy frustrated that he had been interrupted from the computer game he was playing. When my friend explained that he wanted to report his car stolen, the officer replied that it wouldn't be worth the effort. He stated the report would just be ""filed"". \r This behavior will continue until enough people demand that he be held responsible. \r Perhaps the PPA could begin arbitraily booting and towing his wreckers. I am sure he would be greeted with the same warmth and consideration he has bestowed on his many victims!\r Cons: Look the Other Way more