13 Investigates: U-Haul customer jailed over company's mistake

[Kat]

All was looking up for a young Las Vegas couple until they rented a U-Haul truck. 13 Investigates exposes how corporate negligence landed an unsuspecting customer behind bars.

 

 

[EdsTowing]

Doesn't make sense to me? So you get stopped for a stolen plate. You have a legal, recent, valid contract for the truck which lists the VIN, License plate & truck number. It's obvious that the plate was present when you rented it. How did it snowball to this extent? Was their other "stuff" on these guys that set the stage for this?  

[TowZone]

We get these from uhaul from time to time. Generally after hours there is not a number that is answered. As long as the rental agreement is correct, the officer will take down the information. That officer will then advise those in the Uhaul to find alternative transportation and impound the Uhaul Vehicle. 

 

In this case it is a stolen plate, so the officers would likely have taken the plate and advised the renter to part the Uhaul Vehicle until they could contact the company. Uhaul doesn't seem good at keeping up with their vehicles or making sure the plate matches. We have gotten them that the plate came back to Uhaul just a different VIN. It's the same with any rental vehicle, though it is not common. Just as car theives switching License Plates on a Stolen Vehicle. Got one that the driver was arrested on other charges. The Officer took down the plate ad didn't check the VIN as it was the same type vehicle (Ford Fusion) only a year difference. That's is why we check the VIN on every impound.