Pissed at Wawa

In the process of trying to find out just who is running for what in the election on November 8th, I came across this from Dan Quinn's web site: HELEN AND RICHARD D. GREENWALD, SR. 8 COLUMBUS AVENUE HAVERTOWN, PA 19083 E-MAIL: POP19083 @AOL.COM October 13, 2005 My bride of 40 years and I have been residents of Haverford Township for 35 years now. We moved here many years ago so that our three(3) children could benefit from the excellent schools and the family atmosphere that existed at that time. Our children are now grown, but in their place, many of our ten(10) grandchildren still reside in Havertown and still attend the same excellent schools. Yes, we all love our community! However, something happened recently that bothers us greatly since we are people of principle and don't like the fashion in which we have been treated by either WAWA or their authorized agent. On Saturday October 1st (Havertown Day) we parked in the WAWA located at Darby and Manoa Roads and our automobile was subsequently towed. Note that we were wrong and deserved to be punished. We were more than willing to pay the $200 towing charge and this issue would have ended there. However, WAWA's agent (shown below) refused to give us our car back on Saturday and told us to come back on Monday- when, naturally, additional storage charges would also be tacked on to the original $200 towing charge! TOW SQUAD, INC. 6702 MARKET STREET UPPER DARBY, PA 19082 We have both been treated in an extremely rude and calloused fashion to the point that (forget me) I was concerned that my wife was going to have a heart attack. (Having personally had a heart attack and quadruple by-pass surgery, I guess you might consider me to be somewhat of an expert on heart attacks.) When I say she was near having a heart attack, let me tell you that she continues to shake at the mere mention of the words "WAWA or Tow Squad"! As an example of WAWA's attitude, when my wife demanded to pay the $200 towing charge and get her car back on Saturday, WAWA's agent (in front of a Haverford Police Officer in the WAWA parking lot), snapped his fingers in the air in an extremely belligerent and aggressive manner and said "Sure lady-just like that you'll get your car back-You'll get it back on Monday morning and not before!" I immediately went to the WAWA agent's above location, where the car was being held, and called the Upper Darby Police. Their incident report will document that at that time, the owner was on the premises, another employee was on the premises and in addition they released a previously towed car to a young woman that arrived "AFTER" me. (because she paid them an additional $100 that I did not have!) In addition, his tow truck had another car in the process of being put on his lot when I arrived. WAWA's agent refused to give me our car indicating that his office was closed until Monday. Let me reiterate: -The owner was present -Another employee was also on-site -They were in the process of releasing a car to a person that arrived after me -They were continuing to tow cars -All they had to do to release my car was to open the gate- there were no cars blocking us in. THUS, THEY WERE "NOT CLOSED", THEY WERE OPEN AND WERE CONDUCTING BUSINESS!!! PETITION TO ALL LEGISLATORS IN HAVERFORD AND UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP AND ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA Our signature below signifies that we agree with the Greenwald's open communication dated October 13, 2005 that spells out in detail the need for new and enhanced legislation to address the obvious deficiencies in our current Towing Regulations. We request that new legislation be passed AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME to protect the citizens of our communities. Some specific issues and recommendations follow: -Towing Charges- it is requested that a towing company's charges be tied to a specific index. As an example, "a towing company's fees can not exceed the charges levied by the police department of the township from which the vehicle is towed for similar services". If there is a need to further punish the owners of towed cars, it is acceptable to add to this amount an additional reasonable "specified" penalty fee. - Towing Destination- to ensure that vehicles are not towed across the country and further to ensure that the Township from which the vehicle is towed does not lose its legal jurisdiction, we request that a new regulation be passed that specifies that a towed vehicle can not be towed outside the township from which the towing commences. - Vehicle Protection- the current regulations that indicate that towing companies are not responsible for damage to, loss, or theft from towed vehicles must be closely re-examined. - Recovery of Towed Vehicles- A towing company can not be allowed to pick and chose when they will allow the return of personal property of other people. All towing companies should have to adhere to the same schedule in the respective township! Further, a specific new section should be added that indicates that any towing company that tows a vehicle after the prescribed time schedule is deemed to be open for business and must accommodate the owners of towed vehicles that desire to retrieve their vehicles on the day towed. It is noted that one of the Tow Squad's signs indicates that that recovery is by "appointment only". Since the Tow Squad was "not" open when the owner and another employee were on-site and when they were both towing and releasing vehicles from their lot, we wonder how anyone could possibly make an appointment! . -Towing Authority- The legal rights of a towing company (and naturally the owner of the vehicle) must be thoroughly examined. After a vehicle leaves the property of a business (such as the WAWA) by what right does the towing company have to tow the vehicle further, charge whatever fees it desires, and decide when it will release the personal property to the owner, while at the same time hiding under an umbrella of section 3353 of the PA Motor Vehicle Code that apparently says they are not liable for any damage to the vehicle or other loss or theft therefrom? It is further important to distinguish between the actions of the towing company in the actual towing of the vehicle and subsequent damage, loss or theft that arises after the initial towing action is complete (the vehicle is placed in the lot of the towing company). It is further suggested that all towed cars be immediately towed to the applicable local police department's towing lot and that the local police take ownership of the matter immediately. - Parking Meters- Authority should be granted to all Police Department's to tow all vehicles that are parked in front of expired parking meters. - Expired Registration Stickers- The posted WAWA sign indicates that vehicles with expired registrations will be towed. WAWA and their agents are not the local police enforcement agency- what right do they have to tow the vehicle of a customer of WAWA that is doing business in their store? WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE! I hereby support the need for the above new towing regulations and ask that all legislators immediately address the deficiencies that are highlighted in this petition and the Greenwald's communication dated October 13, 2005, a copy of which will be made a part of the formal petition. Click here for the petition What amazes me is that Wawa would even think of pulling a stunt like this. I always have felt good when going to area Wawas, the people who work there perform multiple tasks, like fixing you a sandwich or hoagie, "Deli Worker", ringing you up"Cashier", in addition to deal with product "Stock Person". Even cleaning the rest rooms, and store! At "MY WAWA"(s) the workers and managers are extremely nice and a few I even would consider friends. So that to say that the above had me shocked is beyond belief. But shocked I am. I hope that Mr. & Mrs. Greenwald achieve two things. One, a sincere and public apology from Wawa, and Tow Squad Inc; and Two, the people in power in Haverford Township take notice of this and deal with it accordingly. Better yet, how about all of Delco's community leaders look into this?