Gastonia Towing Company Sued by City Amidst Predatory Practices Allegations
GASTONIA, N.C. — The city of Gastonia has filed a lawsuit against Jack’s Towing and Recovery Service following customer complaints of exorbitant charges and the discovery that the company was administratively dissolved. The legal action comes after a surge of criticism on social media, with customers alleging predatory towing practices during the Unite Gaston 2026 community event.
Customer Complaints and Congressional Scrutiny
Customers took to platforms like Reddit to share bills from Jack’s Towing, reporting charges as high as nearly $1,200 for a single tow. One user posted a bill showing a substantial fee charged to her teenage daughter.
The situation has drawn the attention of Congressman Tim Moore, who announced on Facebook that he is requesting a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Jack’s Towing for potential fraudulent and predatory towing practices.
City Lawsuit and Allegations
On March 20, Gastonia officials initiated a lawsuit against Jack’s Towing, alleging the company is operating while administratively dissolved and violating city ordinances by refusing to accept credit card payments from some customers. The city is seeking a court injunction to prevent further violations of its towing regulations.
Gastonia City Attorney Eric Edgerton stated the city has long advocated for greater state-level regulation of towing companies. “The City of Gastonia has consistently advocated for statutory changes to allow cities to regulate towing companies more substantively than they presently may under state law,” Edgerton said in an email to WBTV. “While we wait on those types of legislative changes, we will continue to enforce our own ordinances on towing practices, and make referrals to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office for further investigation when appropriate.”
Ongoing Issues with Towing Regulation in North Carolina
WBTV has previously reported on issues within the towing industry in North Carolina, including instances of car chases, alleged kidnappings, drug trafficking, and interstate theft linked to towing companies and their drivers. Despite several legislative attempts to regulate the industry, only one bill has been enacted into law, banning the booting or immobilizing of commercial motor vehicles.
WBTV contacted Jack’s Towing for comment on the lawsuit and allegations but received no response.
Read the full lawsuit
You can read the full lawsuit filed by the city of Gastonia here.
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