The City of Rochester gets more complaints about EMS Towing than any other tow company. That may be due to the volume of cars it tows.

I-Team 10 has heard the complaints as well -- especially about the extras they're adding to the bill.

So, since mid-July I-Team 10 has been watching them periodically with a hidden camera to find out how they operate.

The owners of Nathaniel’s Pub in Rochester don't want you parking there if you aren't a customer. The lot is clearly marked with signs warning motorists they'll be towed and towing your car means a big payday to someone.

Debra Leatzow’s car was towed. She said, “The reality was it was over $180 just to pick up the car."

An I-Team 10 hidden camera investigation into the tow company's billing practices shows it raking in money but it may be abusing the fee structure in doing so.

The tow company that prowls the lot is EMS Towing.

City Councilwoman Carolee Conklin said, “They probably garner the majority of the complaints that I receive on towing."

This maximum amounts allowable for vehicle towing in the city is a standard fee of $99 but every single person I-Team 10 has interviewed who had their car towed from the Nathaniel’s Pub lot paid much more to get it back.

I-Team 10 watched on several occasions as cars were towed from the lots surrounding Nathaniel’s Pub.

The people either ignored the signs or just didn't see them. In many cases the drivers were going to the Hall of Justice or Public Safety Building just down Exchange Boulevard. Within minutes of their cars being left behind, an EMS tow truck would sweep in. From observation, it appears the EMS driver is stationed at Nathaniel’s and uses video surveillance from the pub to watch who's illegally parking.
 
“There were like two other cars parked there so I thought it was okay to park there." I-Team 10 watched Milagros Lopez return to find her red Pontiac had been towed away. When she picked up the car at the tow company's fenced-in impound lot on Saint Paul Street, she was told it would cost an astounding $184.50. “I thought that was just unbelievable."

Why the inflated price? Lopez said, “It says here an extra person. So they charged me for an extra person, I guess, towing the car or helping them tow the car."

According to the rate sheet, the towing company can tack on an additional $72 if a "necessary extra man" is needed. But the hidden camera was rolling when Lopez's car was towed and there was no extra man.

I-Team 10 informed Lopez that the videotape of her car being towed only showed one person towing the vehicle and that she was charged for an extra person. Lopez told I-Team 10 “That's fraud, I think that's fraud."

I-Team 10 watched time and again as cars got towed by a single truck operator. The owners of a green Taurus and a silver Toyota both said they were charged for the extra person.

I-Team 10 showed the hidden camera footage to City Councilwoman Carolee Conklin. “There's only a couple of instances where you really need two people to tow -- if you have a large van or maybe a pick up truck."

Debra Leatzaw also got towed. She showed I-Team 10 her receipt after she picked up her car. She said, “There's an additional $72 they call 'extra person'."
 
Again, I-Team 10 was there with the camera to document her car being towed. In her case, a man from the restaurant did come out and assist -- putting the brake lights on the roof of the car but his work hardly appeared necessary. Leatzow said, “You know, I'm not surprised, but it's ridiculous."

Recently, City Council enacted changes in the towing regulations that required, among other things, that tow companies accept credit cards but the changes did not address the extra fees.
  
“That's obviously something we should be looking at,” said Conklin.

I-Team 10 wanted to speak with EMS owner Ed Schram and left multiple messages at Nathaniel’s, at the impound lot and at other businesses he owns. Schram has not returned any of I-Team 10’s calls.

Within the past week, EMS has begun using two man crews. Whether that's a result of I-Team 10 asking questions, we aren't sure but we do know the tow company is currently trying to renew it's license with the city.

City council has put together a panel to look at additional reforms to its towing regulations. Those recommendations are expected next month. One of those likely to be discussed is setting a flat fee for all towing jobs.

If you think you have been overcharged by EMS Towing, you can go to small claims court but you can also file complaints with the City Clerk’s officer or the Rochester Police Department which handles the licensing of the tow companies.