Towing complaint in San Antonio parking lot goes viral on social media

After a towing situation that Kristina Richie says she was overcharged for, she posted about it on TikTok.

“Two of my vehicles got towed on the exact same night from a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas, downtown,” Richie said in the TikTok.

In an interview with Richie, she told KSAT she did not see the pay-to-park signs because it was dark and the one in front of where her car was had been knocked down.

Richie said she understands why her two vehicles were towed, but she was not happy with the amount she was charged.

“As soon as you walk up, there’s a big sign, the bottom right-hand corner says a copy of a non-consent tow fee schedule is available upon request, so of course I requested it,” Richie said.

“She tells me my total is $358 per vehicle,” Richie said. “I’m like, ‘Can I see an itemized list of what you’re charging me for?’ And she says, ‘It’s pulled up on the screen, I can’t do that, you’re just going to have to pay if you want to get your cars back.’”

Richie paid for both vehicles then posted about it on social media, where she says several people reached out to her with a similar situation.

KSAT emailed the towing company. It is listed as Creswell Towing on the sign in the parking lot Richie was parked in but labeled Vehicle Management Solutions on the sign of the building’s address.

A person working at the window provided a cost breakdown for non-consent towing. The “Dispatch Tow Fee Reference” says a non-consent tow costs $272 with additional fees for impounding, daily storage and an admin fee.

“It was about $717 to get both vehicles out,” Richie said. “It was damaged on the bottom. It was scuffed on the top of my bumper, and my bumper was actually pulling away from the rest of my car.”

A woman who was at the tow yard trying to get her car showed a $314 receipt.

“The amount to get my car out was insane when I have no money,” the woman said. “I can’t afford food, and I can barely afford gas.”

The tow company emailed KSAT back in the afternoon and said in part, “Our company recently adjusted its private-property towing rates following the City of San Antonio’s approval of fee changes associated with its Fiscal Year 2027 budget effective October 1, 2026.”

The City of San Antonio’s Revenue Detail report shows that law enforcement-initiated tow fees increased from $210 to $272, but Richie’s cars were not towed by police.

Another section of the city’s revenue detail report, under “General Fund” and then under “Police,” says “this also increases the private light tow free from $179 to $272.” However, that cost does not align with the city’s current code of ordinances last updated on Oct. 26.

“There were people in line that were very visibly upset, crying, because their vehicles got towed and this is their daycare money, this is the grocery money,” Richie said.

A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said it has received four complaints about Creswell Towing overcharging and one complaint against Bexar.

A District 1 City Council spokesperson said they are not aware of any changes to the ordinance about maximum pricing for towing.

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