De Yu Hu Dba Act Towing

Be careful with this company. They drive around at apartments complex looking for cars to tow without no authorization. They over charged me and they gave it me a fake authorization form from the manager apartment. I talked to the manager and she told me that she didn’t called them. I complained already to the business bureau. I’m also planning to take them to court. My car was only there from 11pm to 3:30 pm. Not even 24hrs. The guy name Doug is a crook and the owner also. He told me it was going to be $ 390 when I talked to him. Later He called a few minutes later and told me the credit machine is down that he only accepting cash. From reading the previous reviews it seems like I’m not the only victim of them. De Yu Hu I’m coming after you, Doug and your company. You violated the California law. Vehicle Code 22 658.

I returned from SF to find my car had been towed. I can get into a long discussion about whether or not the tow was legal or not, but for this review, let’s assume it was.
I have never, EVER, been treated more poorly in my life, and I am considering my legal recourse.
First, I called the number on the sign and the guy told me that he had my car. I was fortunately able to flag down a cab at West Oakland BART and he took me to the impound lot. First, I couldn’t get a hold of the guy, and finally I was able to call him and he barely cracked open the gate wide enough for me to squeeze through.
At that point he told me that I owed him $ 390! For a tow and a few hours. Highway robbery. Then, he refused to accept my credit card because he said, «The credit card company are being dicks and won’t pay us.» I told him that’s hardly my problem, and that I don’t have $ 390 in cash on me, and that he should have told me that on the phone when I called. He refused to budge. So the cab driver drove me all over East Oakland looking for an ATM that would give me cash, and in that part of town it was impossible. Literally 4 ATM’s and none had money in them.
I was creating now a huge taxi bill, and when I returned to the lot empty handed, I begged the guy to either take my credit card, or take a check, as I had my checkbook in the car. He flat out refused. I offered him $ 60 in cash and a check, just so I didn’t have to spend hundreds on my taxi to take me home to Marin County, and he refused. He told me to write a check to myself and go to a check cashing place up the road. I was not about to do that, and ended up paying $ 280 to the cab driver for his services and a ride home to Marin.
The next day I went with my wife to the car lot, but let her do the negotiations without me. She asked if she could pay the $ 390 with a credit card and he said, «Sure, no problem!» She asked him why he wouldn’t take my card the night before and he said, «Well, I towed a lot of cars last night and the credit card company shut us down.» What?! That’s not what he told me the night before, and that makes no sense to begin with. CC companies don’t shut you down for charging too much… that is ridiculous.
Anyway. I will be pursuing legal action against this company, and reading the other reviews makes me feel even stronger that the guy working there is a crook, and was out to extort money from me in a time of need… and he is dangerous.

They were called to tow my car which was blocking someone, due to construction at my apartment building. Long story. Their price was rather steep, but I was treated well enough when retrieving my car the next day.

They towed my car off the street on their own. They put down I was on private property, even though my car are parallel parked on a public street. It turns out you can’t report a car stolen if it’s in possession of a tow company (it’s a loop hole in the law), so you’re forced to pay them to get your car back, then sue them in civil court.
All this «company» does is tow cars like this, betting most people won’t fight them in court.
When I went to get my car, the owner TRIED TO ROB ME. I called 911 and ran out of his lot, when he had a buddy come after me on a bike. Being in East Oakland in one of the worst parts of town, I was scared for my life as I ran towards a nearby market. I was waiting to hear a POP from a gun, or to feel a bullet in my back. All I could think about was my two young kids at home, and how I’d never see them again.
Lucky for me, I reached the market and got inside to wait for the police.
When the 4 cop cars showed up, they ended up sealing off the street and surrounding ACT Towing’s lot, with several officers having guns drawn.
The owner refused to let the cops come on his property and refused to return my car. I had to pay him $ 400 IN CASH (he refused to run my credit card, and he refused to accept my license or passport as ID) to finally get my car back, but I now had a headlight out and 2 flat tires. And to get my car, the police had to threaten to report him to the city, as they couldn’t legally go onto his property to get my car.
Currently I’m awaiting my court date as I’ve taken him to court.

Under Assembly Bill 2210 (Goldberg, Chapter 609, Statutes of 2006) protects consumers against the worst of illegal towing. Under AB 2210, if you spot a tow truck driver taking your car, and the tow truck is still on private property, the driver must release your car to you unconditionally.
A tow truck operator who violates this law is subject to a civil misdemeanor, a fine of $ 2,500, and/​or three months in jail. Also, consumers who can prove they have been charged illegal or excessive towing or storage fees are entitled to recover four times the amount of those fees in small claims court.
This company came into a gated private property and when confronted the operator said he will only drop the car if we paid him $ 100 or else he will take it and we would have to pay $ 380 at his facility.
The worse thing is that he made the manager of the property call his supervisor and say that he «didn’t show up» so he could make a quick buck…
Please be aware of your rights, this matter will be pursued legally.