Walmart I10 Gulfport refund coming

Stay at WM at your own risk?

A problem with this thread is that it doesn't contain the whole story as told in the first thread (now closed). Link to history.

To sum up:

The tow truck didn't move the vehicle, three other overnighters got busted, too, and there's an existing City (Gulfport) ordinance against overnight RV parking on both public and private property.

If it's within the City limits, Walmart likely has no say over who gets towed off the property for violating that ordinance.

colliehauler wrote:
I think a campground would have been less then 513.90 and a lot less stress. It sounds like the tow company is extorting money from people.

Campground less is not the issue ... but I agree with the tow company extorting money here. If Walmart doesn't drag its dog into this fight, I'd take this tow company to court. Extorting is the issue here, and based on the information here (only, we don't know everything) the tow company probably makes this a regular practice and probably gets away with it often enough.

Not sure exactly what I'd do if someone chained my truck up like that, but of all the choices available, none would be pretty to a casual observer. :)

I do believe this one fact is true tho'... if a tow truck (or anyone else) moves a vehicle with a person in it without permission, that's kidnapping. Pretty sure that's a federal law.

I think a campground would have been less then 513.90 and a lot less stress. It sounds like the tow company is extorting money from people.

For crying out loud!

It all happend on Wal-Mart's owned and controlled property and if Wal-Mart didn't have anything to do with the tow company's actions, it would only seem right and common sense that Wal-Mart would go after the tow company for trespassing on their property and operating a for profit business without authorization or an agreed upon contract. WHO is Wal-Mart trying to fool anyway? Wal-Mart is the one and only directive authority on their own property and has total control and athority. Wal-Mart is simply lying or has an active part in the issue and does NOT want to admit it or force the proper action.

Once again, I will boycott all Wal-Marts and freely distribute the reason why to all RV'ers we meet and urge them to also until they (Wal-Mart) owns up and does the right thing! OP, please do NOT give up and hold your ground. You were mistreated severely on Wal-Mart's property and they MUST come to the plate!

Brenda41 wrote:
Well Wal-Mart now changing their story. Store manager states refund must come for tow company. Wal-Mart is working with tow company to get our refund. Three weeks now and we just want our money back. Manager now states Wal-Mart did not have a contract with the tow company. We wonder who contacted the tow company. Who were the police and the tow operators talking to on the phone the night of April 12 at 2am? We had to pay $513.90 just to have the tow company unchain our motor home and let us leave. We were in the motor home why didn't they just ask us to leave?

Have you considered contacting your auto insurance company and attempting to process it as a theft or extortion? You might get some legal help or they might be able to put some pressure on the tow company or even Wal-Mart. If you have any statements from the Wal-Mart’s management you might want to also contact the State DA's office and Travel/visitor's bureau and let them know you are elevating this as a warning to other RV’ers. Another option is spend the money to place a lien on the Tow Company’s property for the amount plus legal fees.

I feel for the original poster. He seems to have done everything and anything that the average person would have done in the same situation. He asked about staying and when confronted with the extortion, he tried to give the local law enforcement an opportunity to help and finally he avoided taking action he would have regretted (like physically harming the Tow Truck operator). My hat is off to him.

I would also sit down and contact Trailer Life Magazine on this one, they have a section on RV related conflict resolution and this might be something they are interested in. Plus, it will get some additional publicity and act as further warning to others.

Good luck, I hope you bring this to resolution soon. Personally I take this as a warning to avoid Mississippi. I already avoid Wal-Marts and realize this is the tow company causing the drama, but at this point I also blame Wal-Mart for not bring in the law or a lawyer to bring this to resolution quickly.

OJ

Amazing.

Like you said in your original post, the money's supposed to come from the tow company:

Brenda41 wrote:
Walmart I10 Gulfport, MS is refunding the money for the tow charge. The manager of the Walmart called Friday and today and stated the tow truck company was not authorized to tow our rv. The tow company was to supervise the parking lot for those who camp for days not for those who shop or stay over night. The money is to be refunded to Walmart then to us. We accept the apology of the manager of the Walmart store. We will post when we receive our money.

Sounds like the tow company's balking. I don't know what Walmart can do about that.

Well Walmart now changing their story. Store manager states refund must come for tow company. Walmart is working with tow company to get our refund. Three weeks now and we just want our money back. Manager now states Walmart did not have a contract with the tow company. We wonder who contacted the tow company. Who were the police and the tow operators talking to on the phone the night of April 12 at 2am? We had to pay $513.90 just to have the tow company unchain our motorhome and let us leave. We were in the motorhome why didn't they just ask us to leave?

pitch wrote:
Who has been told not to and did anyway? My parking in a private lot concerns me and the owner of the lot, no one else!

I learned years ago that when it says "No Parking", it means just that. But I have been given permission to park in lots that said "No Parking" when I had the courtesy of asking permission. It is amazing what can happen if you ask nicely. But you have to make sure that person that you ask has the proper authority to grant permission.