And Now A Message From Douche Dave O Posted on January 4, 2022 at 09:02:56 AM by Westport Loser Of Round Trip Shit Show
OK... Please pull up a chair, grab some popcorn and read about my night from hell and the SINGLE WORST "business" I've ever dealt with in my entire life. My hope in sharing this story is that somebody else will read this and NOT get conned by this slap dick, ham and egg, rummy of a local company that I'm about to tell you about. I also hope you'll spread the word.
But first, some background.
Upon getting off work tonight, I hopped on I-70 East bound to head home to Lee's Summit. Somewhere right around the T-Mobile Center, some sort of metal object got caught underneath my back left tire. I was dragging it for approximately 10 seconds before whatever it was flew off (it was dark, I couldn't see). The car then ran smoothly again.
I figured I was screwed but hoped for the best, so I proceeded on I-70 East. About 2 minutes later, my "tires dangerously low" predictably came up on my dash. At this point, I was a couple more miles down the road and in an area where you don't want to be at night. My goal was to make it to the stadiums and get off at one of those gas stations since I know that area.
This didn't work, however, as I could hear my tire was shredded and I knew driving wasn't safe (and quickly getting worse). I got off the first exit which I think was 31st Street or something like that.
There was literally no business, no gas station, nothing in site. I also clearly could no longer drive.
I pulled up on a side street in front of a house and parked.
I have no spare tire on this car so changing tires wasn't an option. So I called my insurance company (Progressive) to get a tow set up. They always farm you out to a different tow company - you get no choice in that matter - it's like Russian Roulette.
This is where the truly delightful portion of my night begins - my first introduction to "Rapid Response Road & Tow Service, LLC" (also possibly called Sands Tower Service).
I was told "Rapid Response Road & Tow Service" (oh, the irony in the name), would be there "within 90-150 minutes." This seemed like a long time but nothing to panic about. A minor inconvenience.
Now typically, whenever I've had tows my entire life, the tow company will call you within minutes of being assigned to you - both to verify your name, location and give you an update.
I sat there for around 30 minutes - hearing NOTHING - before I decided to try to find this company and reach out.
They have no official Facebook or website that I can find (PLEASE share below if you find it so they can be tagged) - but EVENTUALLY I found a phone #.
I called this phone # SIX. DIFFERENT. TIMES. With no answer. And this is over an hours span. No voice mail, no answer, nothing.
By now, the initial 150 minute "tow window" assigned by Progressive had expired with NO. CONTACT. AT. ALL. FROM. THESE. JOKERS.
So I called back Progressive and explained the situation - how my time window ran out, I hadn't heard a thing and couldn't contact them.
They themselves called them (said it took FOUR CALLS for an answer) at which point they were told it would be "one more hour."
I'm pissed at this point - but was given the choice - do I start over in the que and risk the next tow service being that long or longer - or just wait one more hour. I chose to wait (because I'm a moron).
Shortly after this, I decided to try them AGAIN by phone since Progressive said they had talked to someone from the business. A girl answered when I called and explained "it would be another hour like Progressive said." I said, "Well, can you tow my car without the key so I can peace out? I've been here 2.5 hours and its not a safe area, plus its cold. I've had my car towed before without a key so I can just leave, right? I want to make sure I can before leaving my car." She responded, "No, you have to be with the car or we can't tow it, it's our policy." "I said, OK, one more hour right?" She assured me this was true.
I'll let you guess what happened next. An hour passes. No call. No contact from "Rapid Response Towing." NOTHING. We are now at THREE and a HALF hours.
I called back Progressive - this time no longer quite as nice - and explained that I was in a BAD AREA OF TOWN. ALONE. IN 30 DEGREE TEMPS. And I'd been waiting THREE AND A HALF HOURS FOR A TOW.
They said they'd call "Rapid Response" and after TEN MINUTES on hold, they came back to let me know that on the NINTH CALL to "Rapid Response," they spoke to a "Zack" who said "it would be another hour." WHAT?????? So FOUR. AND. A. HALF. HOURS? Are you f&&&ing driving here from Nashville Zack?
So after 3.5 hours, I had enough. I had gotten NO CALL. NO CONTACT. While I'm SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. They've moved the deadline TWICE. And now I'm supposed to WAIT LONGER.
Look, stuff happens - but then don't take the order. If you can't do it, cancel and move on. At the LEAST - you can't call me ONE TIME in 3.5 hours??? No apology, no update, nothing???
I guarantee you I'd still be sitting there if I hadn't told Progressive to get me a new company - which they did. It was "Kidd's Towing" and they were there within 25 minutes with a call to me within 2 minutes of booking them. Great towing company.
While I was sitting on that street, I had two people knock on my window. One walk around my car and point to my tire. I FINALLY decided to call a friend (Joe Tyler) at the 3 hour mark because I didn't want to inconvenience anyone or put them out of their plans. I HATED having to do that. But Joe was there, like he always is. And also, so many of you were - THANK YOU. I just never want to ask for help - it's who I am.
I write all of this because it truly bothered me that a company would completely dick another human being around like that. Especially one in a business as time sensitive and important as towing.
I'm all about local business. I have N-E-V-E-R bashed a local business publicly. EVER.
But I don't believe "Rapid Response Road Service, LLC" should be allowed to be in business and deceive anyone else.
You don't even have the common courtesy to call me? To update me? To take responsibility? You just ignore me and leave me on the side of the road for 4.5 + hours like I don't matter?
You don't deserve to be in business.
You are slap dick as hell, "Rapid Response Road Service LLC (or "Sands Tow Service") - and I hope your logo is a box turtle with
a muzzle over his mouth because that's how "rapid" your service is and as "quiet" as your communication is.