Truth behind towing company that left dozens of drivers stranded at Trump rally revealed after charging 'fishy' $380 fee

THE towing company that left several attendees of a Donald Trump rally without their cars was reportedly operating on a suspended license.

According to a new report, Gotcha towing — a company based in North Carolina — had towed the cars from a Charlotte Dunkin' Donuts parking lot during Trump's rally at the Bojangles Coliseum on July 25.

: Thousands of people turned up to hear the former president speak at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 25Credit: APMany drivers were left stranded when Gotcha Towing took their vehiclesCredit: WBTV

According to a document from the North Carolina Department of Revenue which was obtained by CBS affiliate WBTV, the towing company had its license yanked after it failed to pay taxes.

"Any act performed or attempted to be performed while the entity is suspended is invalid and of no effect until the entity is reinstated by the Department of Revenue."

An employee for the company later told WBTV that they were "called in to remove those vehicles that weren't permitted to park there."

"That wasn't free parking," added the employee.

Gotcha Towing declined The U.S Sun's request for comment.

The drama began when many rally-goers were forced to look elsewhere for parking when the lot around the Bojangles Coliseum became too congested.

Thousands of people across the state had driven in to hear presidential hopeful Donald Trump speak.

After the rally, hundreds of drivers returned to Dunkin only to find their vehicles gone.

Many were confused as they claimed that they had gotten permission to park there from the store's manager.

"The managers inside promised that they could park here," Zander DeSoto, a rally attendee, told the outlet.

My car disappeared from a lot after I got permission to park there - then I got a 'fishy' response about $380 tow bill

"Some of the people here even gave money to the people inside."

"Something very fishy [is] going on here," an anonymous driver told the station.

However, the manager later told WBTV that he had said the exact opposite.

"I told several people they cannot park here. We have a towing-enforced sign. That is my statement," the manager said to the outlet.

What to do if your car is towed

Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.

Steps to take when your car is towed:

Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

Be prompt - many states have a small window of time where it's acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

Unsure of what to do, a few drivers contacted the local police and asked them to come to the Dunkin' where everyone was stranded.

When officers arrived, however, they said that there wasn't much they could do except give the stranded drivers a lift to the towing company's office.

Some drivers revealed that they paid $380 to get their cars back.

One local interviewed by the station said he wasn't surprised by the towing.

"They don't care here, they will tow your car with no remorse," Kwabena Ekuban said.

According to the local, he has watched many drivers lose their vehicles.

"They will get their car towed here if they park here after hours," Ekuban added.

The drama began when many rally-goers were forced to look elsewhere for parking when the lot around the Bojangles Coliseum became too congestedCredit: APThings got out of hand when drivers returned to find their cars goneCredit: WBTV

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