Have not seen any mention of this yet but many Aggies paid $5 to park in the Israel Of God parking lot at the corner Jefferies and Martin Luther King and our vehicles were towed! It was a scam, what happened was after we parked the Church Pastor was seen nailing a no parking sign up to a tree, then called Elite Towing which was in on the scam with the church and had the cars towed. They then took the sign down and allowed a second group of cars to park in the lot and towed them as well and afterwards nailed the no parking sign up for all to see returning after the game. The Dallas PD said they deal with this type of thing all the time in that area and served as a taxi, getting all of us over to the towing company. However, they were unable to do anything about the situation, b/c they said it was a civil matter but they did stay at the towing company until we all got our vehicles back. At the towing company, it nearly turned into a riot with them releasing one car about every 30 minutes. The company had no insurance and caused extensive damage to one man's minivan as an eyewitness said they saw the tow truck "drop a minivan". I finally got my vehicle back at 6:30pm. It cost me $65 up front to get my vehicle back and I still have a remaining balance of $158. City of Dallas codes requires that a temporary towing sign be up for at least 24 hours before it can be enforced. They basically stole our vehicles! Well the news showed up to cover the story and they along with the Dallas PD told us not to let this go, this company has been getting away with this sort of thing for far too long. Well we all got together and we are going to fight this. We have a lady that got all of our names, phone numbers and emails, we are going to fight this together.If anybody was towed and left before we got your name and want to fight this, please leave your email or phone number and I will be in touch with you.

[This message has been edited by victory (edited 1/6/2005 4:33p).]

That sucks - we parked in a different church lot and had no problems - I guess it was just luck of the draw. Goodluck on fighting that.

ttt

wow that sucks. gl in your fight. I would definitely be doing the same thing.

I posted this on another thread but if it can be proven that the pastor put those signs up after all cars had been parked I would drive to Dallas and lead a one-man crusade to expose him.

If you parked on a lot on MLK you were lucky to get parts of your cars back. I am surprised any had wheels and other removable components. That's about what you can expect in the 3rd World.

Yea don't you know... it might be the nicest neighborhood in the city, but as soon you rename one street Martin Luther King you better RUN cause you bout to get shot at. /chris rock

Not to pour salt in any open wounds, but now you understand why some us insisted on paying $15 for a parking pass.

I was one of the ones that parked at that church. I got there at about 7:55 that morning and no sign was posted. I was the one that had the rental (truck) and the cop informed me that it was illegal to tow a rental. That in itself should be grounds for some legal actions. Anyway, I wasn't out any money on the deal, just time and agony. I'd be happy to join in on whatever legal actions you are planning. I'm a music minister and it really ticks me off that a church would pull that kind of stunt. Certainly they must worship a different god (lowercase) than mine.

cblanscet@hotmail.com

Doesnt sound like he's "right with God"

My tennessee g/f and I parked at the grocery store on MLK. It was only 2 blocks from the fair grounds and it was free. Nothing happened to our car. I guess we just lucked out.

[This message has been edited by PPAag06 (edited 1/2/2005 7:56p).]

It seems to me that it would be a good idea to file criminal charges against both the "pastor" and the towing company, based on the fact that it was not a legal sign. Essentially, they were stealing cars. Aside from civil damages, I think you might be able to send these folks to jail.

Another approach might be to find out whether either party owns or leases. Sometimes you can work wonders through banks and landlords.

[This message has been edited by BostonAg74 (edited 1/2/2005 7:43p).]

Might I suggest a molotov cocktail for their office space and perhaps a sledgehammer for their trucks/equipment?

I would, if it happened to me.

Lawsuit. Expense of towing, any damages, and punitive damages.

Man...take that MOFO pastor and beat his arse..

I would resperesent you guys if I was a lawyer...but I'm not..

Man..that sucks..

Oh..my dad and I tood the DART .. worked out well..

Call local tv channels to do a special report.

Racial charges, here we come...

"It takes a man to be a father....."

channel 8, ABC affiliate, in Dallas sent a cameraman out to the tow yard and had a short report on the news last night.
there was alos a cameraman from Fox 4 at the church parking lot but they ran no story.

Call Becky Oliver with Channel 4 (Fox News).

She loves to take up this kind of stuff. Either her or Saul (Saa-oool) Garza. Both do the consumer advocacy thing.

Becky Oliver is who the Dallas PD told us to call and tell her this story. I plan on doing so tomorrow.

I would also find out who the city councilperson is from that district and write them. And the mayor.

This is NOT the way Dallas needs to welcome visitors--and it is bad for the economy even in the depressed areas.

Please write mayor Laura Miller a letter about this and definitely persue the matter. I saw this on the news last night and it was a sham. This should not be tolerated by the city of Dallas.

I think I'd go to church there next weekend. Sit in the back. When the collection plate comes around, just reach in for the refund you are owed.

Good Luck.

And isn't the Cotton Bowl and the City of Dallas trying to attract more games (ie: ATM v. itt) to play in the cotton bowl?

I would bet if you sent certified letters to the charipersons of the cotton bowl, mayor of Dallas, council and let them know what happened and that the news has been contacted and will be doing story on it, I bet some pressure may come down on the pastor and towing co to make things right. Otherwise, as this kind of crap gets out, they have zero chance of attracting anyone but tu and ou to play in that dump.

Keep it at Kyle.

BTW, Mrs. Texaggie90 and I took a cab from our hotel - expensive, but well worth it. Dropped off right at the gate! No worries at all!

AMEN, GiveUsRoom! I love that idea!!!! I am thinking that a whole bunch of Aggies walking in next week to their services and taking their money back would be awsome! Talk about making the news and exposing a fraud in a big way! I bet that preacher would hate to be exposed like that in front of his congregation!

ttt
keep us updated, and GOOD LUCK!

Exactly... call Fox 4 News... get it out... then hire an attorney... run the church out of business and take everything that the sorry POS towing company owner has ever worked for.

Work them over... get it on Fox 4 News... and have her to have everyone that experienced this to call in with their info... and then class action them...

For all those interested, Here is an email I received from our attorney

Also, Brett Shipp called me back this evening and wants to help us pound the Church and Elite Towing for their actions. He believes the story is very news worthy and timely given Mayor Millers efforts to renovate and upgrade the Cotton Bowl and hang on to key football games, etc. He is asking if any of us can be available on Tuesday late morning to go over to the church and towing company to do more filming for an update exclusive to be aired later this week on Channel 8. He says if several of us can be there and do it on location, it will have a much bigger impact. I will be there for sure, as well as make rounds to see the City officials and the City Attorney downtown tomorrow.

If any of you can join, please email me a telephone contact and I will call as soon as I hear from Brett in the morning, he said to expect his call around 8am or so.

Make sure all of you get me your Tow Hearing request form completed and attach any pictures you still have not sent me. I would like to file this request tomorrow while I am downtown if at all possible in person and speak to the Judge myself if he is around.

Thanks for your support and effort, I am quite sure we will have a positive outcome for us and a blackeye for those who did this to us.

go kick their arses!!!

we go to court on January 11, this is to get a refund of the $65 we paid to get our vehicles back and to clear the remaining balance of $158 we each still owe individually to Elite Towing. We have an Aggie Attorney out of Dallas working the case for us pro-bono. We are looking at filing a civil action lawsuit next week.

Unbelieveable. What kind of sorry trash has to resort to money that way? Post the name of the church and the pastor

Nm, the name is posted already

This is an epidemic scam that has run for years in Dallas, not just around Fair Park.

I'm glad to see that you guys are fighting back hard. You need to. These sleazebag tow companies need to be taught a very expensive lesson.

I've dealt with Elite Towing before. They are scumbags of colossal proportions. Give 'em hell.



[This message has been edited by Easy 8 (edited 1/6/2005 7:08p).]

If that happened to me, that church would be burned to the ground. It is obviously not being used as a "House of God".

I hope y'all take both the church and towing company for all they are worth!!!!!