International student says Perth company ‘pressured’ her to have driveable car towed – ABC News
An international student in Perth says she was “pressured” to sign release papers by a tow truck driver who towed her car even though it was driveable after a hit-and-run prang.
Key points:
- Acting Transport Minister John Carey said the company’s behaviour was “appalling”
- He encouraged people who felt they had been wronged to lodge official complaints
- The WA government is looking to implement further industry reforms this year
Brazilian Bruna Azevedo said she was stressed and confused after the January 4 crash on Windan Bridge in East Perth when she signed the forms presented to her.
“I thought these guys were part of the police and [authorities],” she told ABC Radio Perth.
“I didn’t know they were a private company at all.”
Despite the fact her car was not badly damaged and was still able to be driven, Ms Azevedo said she was “rushed” into signing forms to have the car towed and had to pay $1,250 for the vehicle to be released.
Ms Azevedo says she was stressed out when she was approached minutes after the crash.(Supplied: Bruna Azevedo)
According to the state government’s 2022 Towing Industry Consultation Report, it is common for WA tow truck operators to wait on busy highways for accidents, or use spotters to attend a crash before competing companies can get there.
“These tow trucks were just waiting and then they rushed me to sign a paper literally like two minutes after the crash,” Ms Azevedo said.
“So I was not thinking clearly, of course — they were pushing me.
“I had to pay $1,250 — the car stayed there for one day, and the car was driveable.
“So I could have driven home, because the hit was not too intense, so the car was not [badly] damaged.”
John Carey says people need to tell authorities when operators behave unethically.(<span class="YtLlr _3KUwV eASP4 …….
