McCracken Towing Inc.

After one of their tow truck drivers, Zachary McBride, towed my car, I tried to find out where it was that he towed it. You would think this is information I should know, but instead, he called the police and LIED to them, saying that I assaulted him. The owner posted the link with the details below. The strange truth is that I didn't come anywhere close to assaulting this man. I wasn't angry with him. I wasn't yelling at him (which COULD possibly be considered an assault by some people)... I didn't even furrow my brow. But after reading some of the other reviews it seems to make more sense due to their excellent albeit unethical relationship with the local police. Anyway... I'm going to university and haven't even started my life yet, but these people decided its OK to jeopardize my future before it has even started. Not sure what I could have done differently, besides completely avoiding these people altogether. My advise is that if you need to conduct your business with them, protect yourself. RECORD THE ENTIRE INTERACTION. I am living proof that any sort of ridiculous accusation could be made against you, especially by their employees.

I called for helping getting vehicles who parked illegally on my property and was yelled at “told that we don’t do that - despite them doing just that a month ago. Won’t be calling them again.

This company is an absolte joke. Horrible customer service, rude and biligerant people. Unfortunately I LOCKED MY KEYS in my minivan one night near Roseneath end of June 2018. Called 24 hr Roadside Assistance through Dodge Chrysler. They advised they had no one available in my area and should call anyone local with $100 to be vouchered ti ne for the expense. I called McCracken towing at approx 1030pm and got Greg McCracken. He dispatched a young lad. After opening my car door with what looked like a rusty wire through the window seals. In proceeded to get my wallet to pay him. Unfortunately, it was not there. After explaining to the young man that I couldnt pay him but wanted to he said he would call his Boss Greg. Well Greg thinks its ok to treat people like enemies before friends or merely equals.. and threatened to call OPP if I didnt pay. I explained to the young one I could not. We then proceeded to waste 2 HOURS waiting on the police (in which time I cleaned the van and found 25$). The wonderful OPP officers agreed with me that NO THEY MAY NOT TOW my car and hold it over a 40$ bill owing. They agreed that I should in good faith pay what I could and return home 50km away with a bill to pay the rest. Communications with these people have only deteriorated further. Dont use this company... look elsewhere and even pay a bit moee for a company that treats you with respect and dignity... and maybe even compassion if u seem to be having a bad day like I was the day I called McCracken towing. Take care all, and stay cool

Don't know young man's name, but he arrived promptly to the parking lot where my car would not start last night. He was polite and knowledgeable, and saved me a 100 km tow. Thank-you!

This is a long one, but the story has many details, so sorry for that... I had a bad experience with this poorly managed company yesterday. My little RSX was stuck on an unmaintained back road. I'd driven down this road the day before, but a snowfall the night before created some small snow banks on the trail. My dog was with me (was out in the bush taking him for a walk), and after attempting for a couple of hours to get the car out, I called CAA. They sent McCrakens out, and told me the driver would call ten minutes before arrival, so I could get to the main road to meet him. The driver called me a half-hour or so later and said he'd been driving up and down the road looking for me -- rather than doing what CAA had promised and calling ahead. He came to within 1/8 mile of my location and insisted on walking down the road to inspect the situation. The trail had 3 inches of snow and he was concerned his "dually" wouldn't be able to make it down. As a country boy, I've been in, and seen these situations all the time. There's no way his truck would have got stuck; it has 10" clearance. He was kicking at the snow on the side of the trail and saying he'd be "F'd" - blah, blah. I call BS on this. This guy was a professional excuse-maker... I asked him if I could get a ride to town with my dog, if he was so unsure about pulling me out (we were 40 km from home, in the cold). He hmm'd and hawed, then told me "I'll be back" and walked back up to his truck. After seeing him get into his truck, he called my phone, told me he couldn't do it and that I should call a local farmer or the snowmobile club (?) to pull me out, as no tow truck was ever going to get to it. *40 minutes later, he was winching a transport off the road in my hometown, which also raises suspicions as to why he refused my "small" CAA job. I gave up and called for a ride home, and arranged to have a friend pull me out with his half-ton truck the next day. The OPP kindly came to my home the next morning and said 'McCrackens" had been dispatched to remove the car. Seems these guys have no problem driving a flatbed down a road that a regular tow truck can't navigate... They pulled it no problem and towed my car to their yard, instead of a "safe" place at the end of the road, as I'd requested on the CAA call. Cost me $250 cash (I could have paid $300 + tax by credit card -- CRA, you reading this?) The dispatcher was kind throughout, and is obviously nice. However, I had to make several phone calls to locate my car, then had to wait half the day for "Greg" the boss to arrive and tell her how much to charge me. This guy's running a multi-million dollar towing company and his dispatch isn't empowered to handle billing? I saw at least 20 people walking about the property with uniforms on. Ever heard how micromanagement actually hurts a business, guy? Not only that, obviously all his employees are instructed not to say anything to customers about how they do ANYTHING. I asked if they would have taken the emergency brake off on my manual car before moving it ("I don't know"). And, it was still on when I got in, which as most of you might know, can damage the rear brakes. I asked why there was a 1ft pile of dirt mounded up in front of my car parked in their yard ("I don't know). This owner has a reputation for being a slave driving (you know what) and it shows in how his business runs, and how his employees are instructed to act. Greg: Why is it when CAA is paying the bill your guys are afraid of a little snow, yet you jump all over it when the cops call and you can tow my car at full rates? I'd say it's hit or miss if you get good service here: I've never met a tow truck driver who would have been the least bit intimidated by the situation I was in... ... Never met one who'd leave a man and his dog out in the cold, a half-hour's drive from the nearest major town... ... Never met a dispatcher who wasn't allowed to determine towing fees without the owners approval (even in smaller outfits).