Smith George

NO GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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... Read 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. 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 r... Read 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.

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!

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. A friend had his car towed from a private lot last night. 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". This behavior will continue until enough people demand that he be held responsible. Perhaps the PPA could begin arbitr... Read more

Same experiance as everyone else. Car hijacked in the middle of the night. No notes, shady markings, cash required, added tax that does not make sense, no human interaction, third world Gitmo impound conditions. How many more complaints does it take? EVERYBODY has the same story and the same questions. Why hasn't the FBI or someone on a Federal level stepped in? It isn't only extortion, but it is down right dangerous. Somebody please help.

Got towed, had the badge in the car, it fell. They admitted they saw it but would not let my car go without cash. Has anyone tried taking them to small claims court?

The past thursday night that just went by, i got out of work around 11pm and dropped off food for my cousin at Drexel University, i was parked illegally for no longer than 5 mins, just to go in and out, i was not blocking any traffic at all, this jerkk tow truck that worked for George Smith tried to tow my car saying the " owner called my car in" total BS!!! besides all that! he didnt just TRY to tow my car, instead he backed in too far and HITT my car, when i told him he damaged my car, he tried to deny it when it was CLEAR that he smashed it... THIS COMPANY SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PUT IN CHECK!! SOMEONE PLEASE SHUT THIS COMPANY DOWN...

They towed my car from a lot on broad street for no reason at all. When I called them, the guy I spoke to was incredibly rude and told me it'd cost 150. I had to take a cab all the way to 61st street and the driver told me this place was bad news and "You don't wanna get mixed up with these guys." When I got up to the fully tinted window, they charged me 180 for my car. After I paid, they just opened the gate and let me find my car; I didn't see a single person the whole time! When I finally got in my car it smelled horrendously of burned rubber. Something seriously needs to be done about these guys. Do NOT go to this place alone! My cabby actually stayed and made sure I got my car safely; That says something.

This is the shadiest business out there. Even the cop that stopped us in my taxi ride over there said that they do shady business. I'm going to try to do whatever I can to help take them down. A bunch of bums that hide behind tinted glass at their place and in their vehicles. I was towed at Avenue North by Temple University like many others. Its no parking 3am to like 7am and the car was gone by 3. They take your car then you can't even get it back till they open back up.

Scum...steal your car...then require cash payment. Was parked in front of my own driveway, towed and held hostage. Stole my golf clubs out of my trunk.

This place is scary. They take your car, with or without just cause, to an unlit, unmarked storage yard in the armpit of Philadelphia. Seriously, do not go alone to pick up your car. Oh, and it is $180 . . . cash. I don't know of any reputable business that only accepts cash. The people are absolute jerks. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do because you need your car. This is the definition of extortion. The worst part is I see their signs all over the city, which means they are getting away with this and somehow doing it with impunity. My only advice . . . if you see their sign, park far away!

These people towed cars off a lot around 9th street today. By towing your car they have violated at least 5 sections of the Philadelphia code 9-605. The police did not put up the temporary police regulation sign. If you are one of the victims please call the district attorney's office.

My parents came down to visit me at my apartment at Avenue North at Temple's campus and parked in the lot directly behind the building. The ONLY signs related to illegal parking and possible towing say that illegally parked vehicles will be towed. There is not a word anywhere of what constitutes an illegally parked vehicle. Nobody knows and there's no official way to find out either. The people at George Smith don't know either, we've asked a driver. They conveniently don't have a web site either. My parents parked there for a few hours as we went downtown. When we came back the vehicle was gone. There is no logical reason why it should have been towed. This company and everything they do is a complete scam. They absolutely take advantage of people and extort money from them by towing their vehicles without any real reason. They trap as many people as possible and I'm sure they're doing very well for themselves over there on Shady Lane. If I could give them negative stars, ... Read more

Me and a few of my girlfriends were goin to the phillies game we parked at the cvs parking lot on broad and pattison and left to go to the game. We came back alittle tipsy to find our car missing we called george smith towing and they said it was there. They told me it will be 178.75 in cash because i parked and left the lot. I fully understand that i was wrong. They sent a tow truck to pick me up and drove me to get my car. When i arrived there I was in and out they also showed me great respect. Also the Italian guys in the office were hott as hell. These guys got a bad rap so if your wrong accept it and stop all the cryin... PS The phils ost witch made it even worse..

I attended a Phillies/Mets game at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2008. After the game my vehicle was gone from its parking space in the lot along Darien Street. The lot was signed for event parking and I paid $10.00 to park. A large Neanderthal type selling pretzels pretended he witness nothing but then I noticed the George Smith Towing sign that his larger than life frame was hiding. My guess is that he or someone else hanging out picks out the victims and is somehow rewarded. For those of you who are not wise to the world of vehicular storage in the City of Philadelphia; George Smith Towing has been around for over 30 years that I know of and the only thing that has changed is the price of their extortion. For this to continue for so many years only leads me to believe that the big story is not about towing, its about extortion, payoffs and protection money and obviously many people in city government must be involved. What better way to extort money out of businesses, cit... Read more

George Smith towing took advantage of me yesterday on Delancy Street in Philly. I went into Penn Vet hospital for an interview and was asked where I parked, when they told me I should go out and move my car cause it was not a good place to park I walked out the door and George Smith was about to tow my car. It wasnt even on the tow truck yet but they had trapped my car into it's spot. Before I could move my car to another place, I had to pay them $150 cash for them to move out of the way and not tow me. What the heck is that!!! No mercy, they didnt even tow me yet and wanted me to pay!! So.....I had to pay them cash! $150 becasue he threatened to impound me!! What a great day for an interview!!! This company is very unfair and in it to rip people off!

I was at Chickie and Pete's restaurant celebrating a birthday dinner. I arrived at the restaurant at 6:40 with my boyfriend. I had dinner with family and friends and were going to meet up for dessert afterwards. The time on our bill from Chickie's said 8:46. I go to the parking lot to get my car and it's gone. I thought it was stolen. Here George Smith Towing was stalking me when I parked and came to the wild conclusion I was going to the Phillies game, WRONG. I was then driven to a shady part of town in the "Chickie" bus to show the shady people our bill, so that they could release my BMW that wasn't towed on a flat bed. The saddest thing about this story is the person who rides the Chickie bus say's that they do it to tons of people on a daily basis. They unlawful/stole me car and that seems to be ok. What's wrong with this picture????

They will tow your car even though you have a parking permit in plain view on the dashboard. When I called and told them I had a permit, they denied it. They scammed me out of $200. I have heard from others that this is the way they operate. They hire low life and that is how they operate. REAL TRASH !!

Horrible. They towed my car that had the correct permit in it and I had to take a cab down to 3103 61st street (a very shady area) to get it back. I told they guy that my car had a permit in it, but he said that it didn't and that I had to pay almost $200 in cash to get it back. When I paid the guys he brought me to my car and I saw that he had stolen the permit! I talked to my friend who is a cop around here and he said that this company is known for doing things like this. I did a bit of research and found out that the University of Pennsylvania fired them as their towing service a few years ago because they were towing cars while drunk and towing cars with permits and then stealing the permits out of them.

This company is very frustrating to deal with. They are extremely unprofessional. The individuals whom I spoke with on the phone were rude and unhelpful. They only take CASH and CASH ONLY!!!! This is illegal and should be reported to the proper authorities. They billed me close to 200 dollars to tow my automobile 4 miles away. These people are jerks and scam artists. I hope their buisness goes under like the piece of "you know what" they are.