Hundreds of people could be in line to have Towing Services fees reimbursed after accusation a Wellington company has been removing cars without authority.
Petone-based City Towing was ordered by the Disputes Tribunal to pay back Catherine Chapman her $250 tow fee from March, after it produced its towing authority paperwork under the name Harbour City Tow and Salvage, Fair Go report last night.
City Towing company owner, Stephen Okeby, was the director of Harbour City Tow and Salvage before it went into receivership in February. City Towing was registered 10 days later. As of June 19, City Towing did not have the New Zealand Transport Agency vehicle recovery license it needed to remove cars.
Further information provided by NZTA under the Official Information Act shows Mr. Okeby did not have the required support to be towing. The company had been towing for more than 4 months and up to 300 vehicles in Wellington were taken unlawfully, Fair Go reported. The maximum fine for towing without a license is a fine of $10,000.
NZTA spokesman Anthony Frith said it was at current investigate concerns about City Towing licensing. He said he could not provide any more detail as the question was ongoing. He also could not say if Mr. Okeby had received a towing license after June 19.Mr Okeby refused to comment when approach by The Dominion Post yesterday.
Mt Cook resident Courtney Coughlin had her car towed by City Towing yesterday from a retail car park in central Wellington. She paid the $250 fee, but was angry at the option the company could be in service without authority. She said she would challenge the tow cost if it was found City Towing had taken her car without a proper license.
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