Woman’s car towed ‘as soon as she walked into Walmart’ over handicapped card – then she’s told she has to pay $300 cash

A DISABLED shopper whose car was heartlessly towed the second she went into Walmart for groceries has claimed the operator preys on senior citizens. Joanne Ramseur had to shell out a massive $300 in cash after she pulled into a handicapped space at the Virginia superstore. In November, Ramseur went shopping at Walmart in Portsmouth, a suburb of Norfolk, she told CBS affiliate WTKR .

The driver, who is disabled, went to park her car in the handicapped spot but saw the car next to it had pulled over the dividing line. Ramseur figured it wasn't a big issue to do the same, so she parked slightly into the fire lane to squeeze into the space. Little did she know, a tow truck operator was watching the entire situation take place and swooped in as soon as she left.



read more towing stories While she was hopelessly searching for her car, a bystander approached her and said he watched in horror as the operator snatched the ride moments after she parked. The incident shook Ramseur, as she thought her car was stolen or disappeared as a ploy to rob her. She learned that Always Swift Towing had taken the ride, so she went there with a relative to see what had happened.

At first, the operator told her that she was parked in a handicapped space, but Ramseur pointed out she had a handicapped license plate. Most read in Motors Then, the operator noted she was parked in the fire lane, which is why she was towed. Ramseur tried to explain her parking job, but the operator said that Walmart made the rules, and it was just their job to enforce them.

The company demanded she pay them $300 in cash, but the unlucky driver didn't have the money. "I'm on a fixed income," she said. "I said, 'I don't have $300, you might have to keep my car.

'" This isn't the first time that Always Swift has made the news. In early December, NBC affiliate WAVY spoke to several other disabled drivers who felt they were wrongfully targeted. "They're preying on senior citizens and disabled people," said Ramseur.

"I haven't heard of anybody else being towed, except for senior citizens." 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 WTKR chatted with Walmart, and a spokesperson said the company was severing its relationship with Always Swift.

However, Mr. Blue, who spoke for the towing company, defended his actions and said he was honoring his contract with the supermarket. "If you don't have no handicapped placards for us to see or display, and it's in violation, it will be towed," said Mr.

Blue. Read More on The US Sun "If it's over the line, if it was crooked, if it was sideways or flipped or however it was over the line, you will be towed." The U.

S. Sun has reached out to Always Swift for further comment..