About this user
Mommy's Little Girl
Chapter One
George Anthony stopped by the post office to pick up a certified letter just before noon on July 15, 2008. White hair flowed straight back from his forehead, leaving a pronounced widows peak. Still-dark eyebrows predominated his face making his eyes appear sunken over his sharp nose.
Considering the way the mail was sent, and his recent financial problems, George thought it was bound to be bad news inside the envelope. He was right. It was a notification from Johnsons Wrecker Service. It made no sense. According to the company, they had possession of his family Pontiac. His daughter Casey drove this car and she was in Jacksonville. He didnt understand how the 1998 Pontiac Sunfire ended up in a impound lot in Orlando.
He called his wife Cindy. She was equally puzzled by the situation. George headed to the Narcoossee Road address to ask questions and pick up the car. At the front counter, Nicole Lett surprised him when she said that Johnsons Wreckers towed the Pontiac at the end of June at the request of Amscot, a payday loan company, on the corner of East Colonial Drive and Goldenrod Road in Orlando. To retrieve the vehicle, he needed to show proof of ownership and pay $466.78 in cash for the towing and storage charges.
George called Cindy again. Then, he called Amscot and asked why they ordered the car removed from their lot. They told him the car sat in the spot for three days before they called Johnsons Wreckers. They thought it had been abandoned.
Cindy and George met at home, picked up the title, stopped at the bank to withdraw $500 and two hours after the first visit, George returned to the towing company with his wife.
The couple walked up to the counter and greeted Nicole. Cindy, in a cute, short blonde cut with youthful bangs, was in obvious ire. She demanded an explanation of the companys process for sending a certified letter, expressing her annoyance at the number of days that passed before they received notification in the mail. We thought the car was in Jacksonville. How were we supposed to know it was here?
Nicole attempted to explain the situation but Cindy wasnt listening. She launched instead into a long complaint about having to pay the high charges, particularly the $35 administrative fee for sending the certified letter. She also balked at paying all of the accumulated storage charges, blaming the company for the notification delay.
Nicole was used to dealing with disgruntled customers. No one was ever pleased to come to the lot to recover their car and usually, they took it out on her. The difference with this couple was their surprise and confusion. They could not understand why the car was here instead of up north where their daughter said shed driven it. They fretted vocally about not seeing her or their granddaughter for a month or more. Nicole had no answers to that question. She called her supervisor, Simon Burch, to address their other concerns.
When he approached the counter, Cindy asked, Why is the bill so expensive? Why did it take eleven days to notify me that you had my car?
Per Florida Statutes, on the fourth day, were required by law to send out a certified letter to the registered owner of the vehicle. Our computer system automatically generates those letters, he answered. He spread out a calendar and together they looked at the dates. Four days after your car arrived was the Fourth of July. Due to the holiday and the weekend that followed, thats probably why it took so long for the letter to get to you. We cant control the post office.
Okay, Cindy said. I understand and I appreciate it. She then turned to George and they exchanged terse comments. She obviously was still dissatisfied and a bit disgruntled that George was not taking a strong stand. Cindy turned back to Simon and asked for a discount.
Im sorry, Maam. Im not at liberty to do that. You know, unfortunately, this is a business. Its not a particularly pleasant job sometimes, but it is a business, you know, thats in business to make money and we dont give discounts.
Unhappy, but seeing no other alternative, Cindy agreed to pay. Nicole filled out the paperwork, got verification of ownership on line, accepted payment and issued a receipt. Simon asked, Do you have the keys?
George said he did.
Okay, no problem, then. Ill come around and get you.
As Simon and George walked to the vehicle in the pouring rain, George apologized for his wifes aggressive manner. Well probably get divorced over this. The daughter is telling us crap, a bunch of lies.
Im sorry about your situation, Simon empathized.
I just need to see my granddaughter. You know, she wont let us see our granddaughter, George complained.
Im sorry about your situation, sir. You know, Im sorry your car got impounded, but this is what it is, Simon said.
When they got within three feet of the white Pontiac, George smelled a distinctive
Age
29
Hometown
Orlando
Country
United States
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