Phil’s Towing

Saw these guys towing someone’s AWD Subaru Outback (2000 – 2004) with the rear wheels on the ground this morning, plate MA 1AE566. Not cool. Hoping the owner can get compensated for damages.

You know what sucks?
When you leave from a long day of work and you go to open your car door, only to find out that it’s not your car and that your car has been towed.
O’ why o why didn’t I double check to see that it was street cleaning on this particular day? I’m slipping.
So why the 5 stars you ask? Because the company is around the corner walking distance from my job and they were so sweet and professional. It was a very hassle free process-​yes it cost $ 90, plus a street cleaning ticket charge, BUT, how else are they supposed to make money? Phil was actually apologetic.
So yes, it was a long day but, hey, I just need to be more careful of where I park next time, so there won’t be a next time.
Additional notes:
— They accept cash and cc.
-$ 90 charge before midnight on that same day.
–They don’t go through your car and steal your personal belongings like B&B
towing does.

Phil’s was helpful, prompt, friendly, and not out to scalp like other tow companies in the area (cough… Pat’s Towing).
The man who helped me put my spare tire on tonight was kind, did it quickly, and even gave me a tip for next time. As one who has unfortunately needed to call more than my share of tow trucks, these guys were superb. They helped make a stressful situation a lot more tolerable and for that, I very much recommend them over any other company in the area.

my car was towed for street cleaning, which sucked. the cambridge police said it was here, but it was actually across town in fresh pond. someone from phil’s drove me all the way over there and made me laugh the entire drive. by the time i had to pay the $ 90 towing fee, i didn’t really care that much. thanks!

Quick and easy, it’s just a shame that the city has to tow so many cars for street cleaning. I clean forgot that it was this week and parked in the wrong spot. Still, Phil’s made it clear and easy enough pick-​up process.

Cambridge should be ashamed this is their towing service. They towed my car and during the towing process my car sustained damage to the mirror, to the drivers side door and the side panel. Huge dents and scratches.
When I brought the car in, they were immediately defensive, saying this was not damage that was caused by towing. I asked to see the police report that lists damage to the car before towing, they said it was in a locked room. For two weeks I’ve been calling to get this police damage report, every time they are rude and offensive, and refuse to hand over the damage report.
IN SHORT: THEY WILL TOW AND DAMAGE YOUR CAR, INSULT YOU, WASTE YOUR TIME, AND DO NOTHING TO HELP YOU. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

I was out of town on a family emergency. Parked on my street in Medford. Medford decides its a good time to announce emergency tree work with 24 hour notice. My neighbor is kind enough to call and warn me that all cars on the street will be towed. Phil’s was the only tow company in town who was willing to take my CC over the phone and move my car to an open parking spot on an adjacent street. Everyone else was too worried about the liability or getting an in person signature and on and on. Phils was understanding and accommodating on the phone and helped me out for a reasonable price. City of medford couldnt care less about my situation. Not that I plan on needing towing service ever again, but if I find myself in that situation I will for sure call phils first.

Horrible people here. They also have poor community relations and are overpriced.

Did you know that many cities don’t tow for street cleaning? Just ticket? Instead of paying $ 30 to the city and $ 90 to line the pockets of these guys, why not forget the towing, up the ticket price to $ 60 or $ 90, and call it a day? I’d much rather give money to the city than the towers.
Are more than a few cars really going to park at that cost?
It does not matter much is the sweeper misses ~20 feet of street a week.
Really, it doesn’t.
Just ask Somerville. They don’t tow, but *somehow* they survive.
Write your city council:
{writing that address contacts all 9 council members}
All this said, and as much as towing for sweeping irks me, and as surly as one of the drivers was to me one time, Phil’s is not the worst company in town. They’ve never been dismissive or contemptuous to my face, which is more than can be said for some of the other local services.

The only reason these guys are in business is because of all their involuntary tow customers from Cambridge city street cleaning. These guys are only nice and professional to you if you’re ponying up the money. When I collected my car I noticed that they made a bunch of 4 inch vertical scratches on my bumper (impossible to get from another car tapping my bumper.) The company owner refused to even *look* at the scratches. All he cared about is whether you can prove it in court (court? what about customer service??). If you don’t happen to have a picture of the car moments before towing you are out of luck*. If you have a choice, please don’t give these guys your business!
*An officer inspects your car before towing, but if you have a single scratch already you get an ‘S’=scratch on the tow report— which apparently means Phil’s can add as much damage as they want and get away with it… unless you have that pre-​tow photo!

If you have the unfortunate experience of being towed here in Cambridge — because of street cleaning, no parking, etc. This is the tow company that you want towing your car. They were very professional, straight forward, and very easy to deal with. Their behavior actually made the bad situation as good as it could get.

My car was towed due to street cleaning (in December the week of Xmas, really Cambridge, Street Cleaning?). PS while the city of cambridge said this was the last week they street clean, the towing company said they tow until the first big snow storm (so watch out), and when i mentioned the one in October… i just got a cold stare.
In any case, Phil’s did the towing and damaged my car in the process, the front part of my spashguard behind my bumper was hanging down.
Yes i looked at my car quick in the lot b4 picking it up, but no i didn’t lie down on the ground to see this piece had been ripped away. I pulled out and turned on Cambridge St and immediately heard something dragging. I pulled over, noticed the splash guard was hanging down, and called Phil’s. The woman said while they were open 24 hours, the manager had just called in w/​the flu and would be out till the next week. I told her i had to get this fixed tonight b/​c i had to drive home to see my family for the holidays.
I dropped my car off the same night for the repair, picked it up the next day, and dropped off the invoice w/​Phils in the morning, at which time i was told the manager was in Florida.
He called me the same morning to say, he was back in Cambridge (crazy huh?) and they wouldn’t pay the $ 50 charge b/​c i left the lot w/​o him seeing the damage… even though he had the flu… or was in florida… or both, poor guy.
Then he said that the damage was not critical to the car’s running (um it protects the engine and expensive parts from being splashed w/​salt and crap from cambridge streets, plus should i drive 300 miles with it dragging the whole way, until my wheel well rips out???), and that he couldn’t believe me b/​c i left the lot. I did what i could, i called them immediately about the damage, had it fixed w/​in 24 hours of it being identified, and dropped off the invoice. I would have waited for himt o look at it that night, but like i said, the told me he was unavailable for the next 7 days… and if i waited, u can bet they would say, how do i know it didn’t happen this past week.
I told him in the future, please just keep in mind next time to try not to do damage to people’s cars in the towing process.

This place is horrible. Called specifically to ask about pricing after they towed my car and they mentioned nothing about their exorbitant storage fees of close to 30 dollars a day. Avoid them like the plague and take your business elsewhere if at all possible.

These guys got me towed when my car was busted, twice. Reliable, picked up the car at the correct time early morning and dropped it off at the shop no hassles. I called a few places at the time and these guys were always the best price.

My insurance company sent Phil’s Towing out to get our car, after Pat’s Tow was unable to properly or professionally tow our car.
Two tires and rims had just been stolen off of our car, and so this could not have been an easy tow for Phil’s to do. When they showed up, they were aware of Pat’s previous attempt to tow us, and took extra care to work efficiently, safely, and quickly. Rather than dragging our car against the pavement (ahem – Pat’s!), the two gentleman from Phil’s took time to assess the situation, and then jack up the spaces where our tires were missing, and place supports underneath each one. When it came time for them to pull the car up, they started it and kept it in neutral, steadily putting it up on the flatbed (whereas Pat’s had not bothered to start our car or jack up the tires in any way — they simply placed two 4×4’s near the front of our car and started to drag it after chaining it to their flatbed).
We so appreciated how nice, professional, and careful Phil’s Towing was, especially after our experience with Pat’s. If you have any choice in who tows your car, be sure to go with Phil’s!

Nobody likes towing companies. You deal with them in the worst possible circumstances (you got ticketed and jacked; you missed a hidden NO PARKING sign; your car got totaled; etc). But when I had to get my car back from Phil’s, the guy on the phone was cordial. He spelled out what I’d have to pay in detail, gave me good directions and let me know which cards they took. Once I got there, I was in and out of the lot in 5 minutes.
So congrats at being nice about a terrible job. 90% of the stars in my reviews come from customer service, so that’s why you get a 3-​star review. The other 10% come from free food. A Styrofoam bowl of Combos on the counter might get you that fourth star, Phil — I’m just sayin’.
UPDATE: I just realized this was my 100^th review. Fourth star for free.

They cost a bit more than Pat’s, so I went with Pat’s, until they arrived an hour late and with the wrong kind of truck. Then I called Phil’s, and they were great. Having to tow your car is never fun, but these guys did a fine job.

I am not surprised at all that a towing company has very negative reviews, but I have no sympathy for Phil’s Towing.
My car with a valid parking permit was towed out of my building’s parking lot recently. I am a very easy going person and nothing like this ever bothers me. However, what does bother me is that even after I walked the 40 minutes to pick it up, not once did anyone show any type of consideration or apologize in any way.
A simple «my bad» would have sufficed. Not very nice, Phil’s Towing.

Do not park anywhere in Cambridge where you think you might get towed, which is 99% of Cantabridgia land. Phil’s towing got me on Winthrop Street (I ran into a restaurant for literally 4 seconds). When the employee stated very matter of factly, «YOUR car is getting TOWED.» It sounded like he makes said statement a lot. Anywhoo, Phil’s towing came, saw, and conquered my lil car. But, I fought the Phil and won. He released my car. So, I’d give him five stars… but I think if he just waited 45 seconds I would have been out of the restaurant (pizza boxes in hand) and on my merry way. I think the tow company should give cars the benefit of the doubt and wait a mintue. No need to get all gestapo on us.

This is the MAFIA in CAMBRIDGE!!! Did you ever park at at 75 Winthrop Street ??
There are no official signs that parking is forbidden. Also, there is no emergency or car entrance you would block by parking here, so i just left my car there, very confident, cause other cars were also parking here and no signs indicated this would be not allowed. But 15 minutes later my car was GONE!!! I realized later there is a private sign from Phils Towing at the wall of the house (!!!), saying you would be towed but who the heck would read a private (non official) sign on the WALL OF THE HOUSE WHERE TAMARIND BAY IS IN!!!
I think this is a secret deal with Phils Towing and the Tamarind Bay, and the restaurant gets a percentage of the revenue made by towing from that street! Seriously, i cant explain such a malicious behaviour.
I had to pay 110 dollars to get my car back, not speaking of the cab bill to get there!!! How ridiculous is that???
Obviously i was not the only one, getting involved in this very ominous event :
As i dont even have a official ticket, i have no idea how to fight this.
If anybody has an idea how to dispute this, i appreciate every help!