Breakdown bandits accused of rip-off
MOTORISTS have been overcharged by millions of pounds after their broken-down vehicles were towed by recovery firms.
Police Scotland said they arranged for 31,014 roadside recoveries between January 16, 2016 and March 12, 2018.
By law, firms making these pick-ups should not charge drivers more than £150.
Police figures show £4.86million was properly collected during this period to satisfy the legislation.
But they also showed motorists were hit with bills totalling £12.72million between February 2, 2015 and March 12 this year.
That suggests recovery firms are demanding an average of £353,000 a month from vehicle owners when they should only be netting about £178,000. The figures were released to the Association of Vehicle BY ALAN McEWEN a.mcewen@dailyrecord.co.uk Recovery Operators (Avro) by police under freedom of information laws.
The trade association are suing the force, accusing police of “turning a blind eye” to recovery firms ripping off drivers.
Police Scotland have contracts with various recovery companies to pick up vehicles, run by a third party company.
Avro say some operators add hundreds to the £150 bills in extra charges, claiming specialist equipment had to be used.
A spokesman said: “Police Scotland are complicit in allowing motorists to be defrauded. We can’t understand why they don’t take measures to stop it.”
Police said: “This case is still going through court, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment.”