I think that in this particular case, it is difficult for us to compare our situations, like comparing apples versus oranges.  I cover 4 towns.  Without actually calculating it on a map, I think that the farthest that I can go in any direction from my shop is around 12 miles.  And at least 80% of the calls I do are within 5 miles.  I have read messages from some of you who are in Texas, Alaska, Florida, etc. where you have occasion to drive 50 miles to a car.  If you do, I hope that you are getting adequately paid for your effort.  Agero is constantly trying to send me way out of my area, like to Berwick, ME, Eliot, ME, both of which are around 50 miles away.  Obviously, it would be ridiculous for me to go 50 miles to do a lockout.  

I use SQUARE, and I have for a long time.  I have had very little problem with SQUARE.  But lately, I have been getting weird messages from them, making reference to people that have contested charges, etc.  Nothing ever came out of those claims.  And the dollar amounts that they made reference to didn't match any transactions that I have processed.  The problem that I have with SQUARE is I can never talk to a person.  I got a message from SQUARE today, contesting something.  So I clicked on a button to get more information.  Then I got a message from Microsoft Outlook, warning me that it is a bad idea to go any further with that site. 

I don't know what's going on with SQUARE.  But it's time to look elsewhere for credit card processing.  I would prefer a similar setup, with a device that plugs into the phone.  Any ideas?  Any suggestions? 

thtdon

I guess that USAC is gone.  I used to do a ton of calls for them.  Yet I did not do even one call for them in 2020.

As I expected, I did get suspended by Agero because I failed to prove to them that I have a million dollar insurance policy.  I contacted my insurance agent, and asked him how much it would cost to raise the limits.  He said that for me, it will be almost double.  Even with a rate increase that I negotiated.with Agero, it still isn't enough revenue to cover such a huge increase in insurance. 

I think that they are being a little short sighted.  Nationwide, they will lose a percentage of small operators like me who don't do enough volume to justify such a steep insurance cost.  And that will leave them with mostly bigger operators who are busy enough with everything else that they have going on.  Agero will not be a priority for them. 

I do have other motor club clients.  But maybe losing Agero at this time would be a good time to retire.  I just applied for Social Security this past week, although I want to keep working.  It has been my intention to keep going to at least July of 2022, a year and a half from now.  It was in July of 1972 that my father bought the first tow truck.  In July of 2022, I will have been doing this for 50 years. 

Enough is enough. 

I remember the day that I got called to tow a Ford GT.  I went to the car, and the spoiler was less than 1/2 inch from the ground.  I couldn't even slide my hand under the spoiler.  No amount of lumber that I carry would help.  Finally the customer told me to leave, because he wanted to tow it himself on his car trailer.  Sounded good to me.  I couldn't get out of there fast enough.  That night, I Googled the Ford GT.  I come to find out that the car was worth over $300,000.  And it was Agero's intention to pay me the same fee to tow a $300,000 Ford GT, as they would pay me to tow a $3000 Ford Focus.  What a joke.  I have avoided towing high-end expensive cars for Agero ever since. 

Today I received no calls from Agero.  Not even those annoying "out of area" calls in Maine.  Whether I have been suspended or not, I do not know.  If the drought continues, when they finally do call me, which they probably will, they'll be paying retail on the company credit card. 

One of my favorite Agero stories had nothing to do with me.  One of my friends owns a tow company, but is not an Agero provider.  He got a call from Agero to tow a motor home.  It wasn't too far away from him.  But he was busy and declined the tow.  They kept calling him every 15 minutes, until he finally accepted the call.  His price?  He charged them $3000 to tow the motor home.  And they paid it with the company credit card.  When my friend responded, the motor home was gone.  And he kept the whole $3000!  He's my hero!

When I read that form that Agero sent me, and I realized that they raised the level of insurance, I took the position that a change like that needs to be negotiated with all of us, and not shoved up our butts.  Evidently, they don't negotiate with terrorists (us), LOL!

Agero loves technology.  But most of the technology that they use is garbage.  I have responded to many calls at a specific residential address, only to find out that the car is on the highway.  They found the closest house, and that's the address they gave me.  So when I arrived at the residential address, I was actually nowhere near the car.  Obviously, they are using crappy mapping software.  It was never like that before.  I hate dealing with the Swoop app.  When they call, I get that "clang, clang, clang, swoosh".  Why I haven't launched my phone across the room at the wall, I do not know. 

I am on the forefront of my next battle with Agero.  It is certificate of insurance time again.  I noticed that they took it upon themselves to raise the insurance requirement to a million dollars of liability insurance, and $150,000 for on-hook coverage, without negotiating that with me.  Before I forwarded the certificate, I asked my insurance agent to price out the higher coverage.  The new rate would be almost exactly double what I am paying now.  Yet Agero is unwilling to provide a rate increase to cover that added cost.  So I forwarded the certificate with the previous coverage limits.  And that's all they're going to get from me.  If they are not willing to give me more calls at a higher rate, then we'll part company.  And when they call again, they'll be paying retail rates on their company credit card, like half the tow companies are already doing. 

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

I don't know how many of their clients are getting dispatched on the Swoop platform.  I believe that Audi and Nissan are.  And I believe that there is an insurance company that's on it.  I'm sure that there are others.  But I only submit a couple calls a week through the Swoop site.  The rest of the calls are submitted on the old Agero site. 

Anytime in the past that they have asked me to do an "out of area" call, they offer a few extra bucks to get me to go.  The problem is, when I submit the invoice for payment, they always scrape off the extra money.  When I complain, they always say that the extra money wasn't properly approved, and they won't pay it.  There's nothing that you can do.  You're not going to go back to the car, and put the flat tire back on, obviously.  After that happened several times, I refused to take one of those "out of area" calls.  Now, when they ask me to go out of my area for an extra fee, I want them to pay for that call in full by credit card.  And their response is, "CLICK"!

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

 Unbelievable.

Friday, September 4, 2020- The 146th running of the Kentucky Oaks- Coverage to be broadcast on NBCSN from 3:00pm to 6:00pm- @ Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.

Saturday, September 5, 2020- The 146th Running of The Kentucky Derby- Coverage to be broadcast on the NBC Network from 2:30pm - 7:30pm- @ Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.

The Kentucky Derby usually runs in May.  But the Covid-19 pandemic caused the race to be postponed until now.  The race will be run without fans in the stands. 

And Louisville, KY is the birthplace of our fearless leader, Ron Parrish.

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

I'll check into it.  Lowell is 10 miles up the road from me.  But this is the first I heard about it.

I don't believe that the customer is trying to scam anybody.  He's just trying to get reimbursed for what he shelled out.  The customer got scammed.  And not by me. 

I got a call on Thursday from a woman at AAA.  She was looking for a copy of a receipt for $82 for a tire change on I-93.  I told the woman that she had the wrong shop, as I haven't changed a tire on interstate highway 93 or 495 in 6 or 7 years.  Our company policy is a flat tire on the highway is a tow-only.  Today, I got a call from a guy who was looking for the same receipt.  His car was in a parking lot of a restaurant about 2 miles from my shop.  I remember that.  It was the same call.  So he wasn't on the highway at all.  Evidently, he called Agero.  And for some reason, he had no coverage with them.  So he ended up paying Agero $82 for the tire change.  He also has AAA.  So he wanted to get AAA to reimburse him for what he shelled out to Agero.  AAA refused to accept whatever documentation that Agero provided him.  AAA told the guy that he would have to get a receipt from me.  However, since no money changed hands, I will not provide him with a receipt. 

A few years ago, I got a call from an insurance company.  The person wanted me to send her a copy of a receipt, so she could compare it with the one that the customer gave her.  The tow was for $100.  So the guy got creative, and transformed the "1" to a "4".  Nice money if you can get it.  So I faxed her a clean copy of the original.  She called me back and told me that the customer was a fraud.  And she was denying his claim altogether.  A few minutes later, the customer called me in a total rage.  He said that I had no right to give the insurance company any information.  I told him that, not only do I have a right, but I also have an obligation to do so.  Not to mention the fact that if the insurance company turned the matter over to the DPU, that would bring trouble down on me that I didn't deserve.  The guy said that he was going to pay me a visit.  I told him to come right away.  I am still waiting!

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com

This data was obtained from NASCAR.com