THE Consumers Association of Penang refers to the report “Towing, car repairs to cost more from today” (NST, July 1) by the president of the Federation of Workshop Owners Association of Malaysia which stated that towing charges are to be increased by between 25 and 50 per cent with immediate effect.

According to the association, new towing charges for the first 20km would be RM100 during the day and RM150 at night, with every subsequent kilometre to cost RM1 by day and RM2 at night.

The move by the association to increase towing charges by up to 50 per cent, and to do so in such a manner, is exploitation of innocent road users.

It is unclear whether prior study, consultation with relevant authorities and feedback from the public were taken into account before towing charges were increased.

We feel that before the association decides to increase towing charges, it should first ensure that the services provided by tow truck operators are satisfactory and efficient.

Probes by CAP since 2001 have revealed that tow truck operators are rough and they often insist that damaged or stalled vehicles can only be repaired at selected workshops and not at a workshop of the vehicle owner’s choice.

There have also been cases where workshop owners tow away vehicles following an accident without the approval of vehicle owners, an offence under Section 51(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

This section states that vehicle owners have full rights to determine which workshops they want their vehicles to be towed to for repairs.

Workshop owners also remove registration number plates without first consulting vehicle owners. Section 14(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 states that “the registration number assigned to a motor vehicle on the registration thereof, or a new registration number assigned under Section 11 shall, unless otherwise provided, be displayed and illuminated on such motor vehicle in such manner as may be prescribed by rules made”.

Therefore, workshop owners, with or without the consent of vehicle owners, have no right to remove registration number plates from vehicles, as by law registration number plates have to be displayed.

CAP calls on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to look into this issue as consumers could easily be exploited and denied their right to fair services.

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS, Consumers’ Association of Penang

Source: NST – July 24, 2008