Business & Tech
Drivers Towed on 4th of July Could Get Refunds
Equity Office Properties, owners of the MarketPlace/Metro Center, where 53 cars were towed on the 4th of July, are now offering some drivers refunds of their towing charges.
A whopping from the MarketPlace/Metro Center parking lot on the 4th of July.
Though the City of Foster City and representatives from the shopping center at Leo Ryan Park would be allowed on the 4th of July, and that parking would be limited to one hour, a significant number of complaints were made by angry drivers, including many to CBS' ConsumerWatch program.
Several of the 53 towed drivers say they are especially angry because they were not, in fact, parking in the lot and then walking over to for the festivities - they were actually patronizing restaurants and businesses within the shopping center, and did not know they could be towed.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
Others say, the supposedly "prominent signs" the shopping center placed around the lot warning drivers of the one-hour time limit .
Now, there may be some relief for those angry drivers.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
ConsumerWatch reported Friday that, due to the volume of complaints, Equity Office Properties (EOP) - the company that owns MarketPlace/Metro Center - has agreed to offer refunds to some of the drivers whose vehicles were towed.
EOP said that drivers that can show proof that they were patronizing MarketPlace/Metro Center businesses on that day should contact the company, and may be offered a refund.
Shawn Kung of Foster City told ConsumerWatch that he had been treating his family to lunch at one of the eateries in the shopping center on the 4th of July, and returned to the lot to find his car towed.
Kung said his car was towed all the way to Redwood City, and that it cost him $435 to get it back, because the towing company contracted by the shopping center added on extra holiday charges.
ConsumerWatch reports that those seeking a refund should send a written request, along with proof of having patronized a MarketPlace/Metro Center business at the time of tow, to: Allan Shapiro, Metro Center, c/o Equity Office, 2655 Campus Dr., San Mateo, CA 94403.
For the latest in hyperlocal news like this wherever you go, follow us!
Follow Foster City Patch on Twitter | Like Foster City Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the Foster City Patch daily newsletter | Blog for Foster City Patch
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
