DRIVERS have been forced to fork out $240 for a towing fee despite previously paying for online parking service.
Chicago Bear fans Matty Yunker and Mark Wolfkiel had reserved a parking spot through SpotHero service before the game.
Over 40 drivers had their cars towed due to an ‘error’[/caption]
However, the garage they had a reservation at was full and they were redirected to another parking lot owned by the same person.
To the fans’ surprise, they could not find their vehicles after the game was over.
The parking lot was empty and all the cars had been towed.
Yunker told WGN-TV: “I just went into straight panic because my car is gone.”
Wolfkiel added: “The Uber driver was like, ‘No, you got towed. I can tell. This happens and I know where it is.’
“He knew exactly where it was towed to because apparently this has happened before.”
Over 40 drivers had their vehicles confiscated and had to contact 911 to be sent to the E&R Towing’s impound lot.
They were then told that the owner of the parking lot had requested for all of the cars to be towed.
Yunker said: “They didn’t care that we were actively showing them our SpotHero reservations.
“They just said, ‘Too bad. We got you. We got your car.’ That was their explanation.”
The lot’s owner disputes that he ever agreed to let SpotHero park on his land.
The parking service said there’s been an “error” and all customers affected will be reimbursed.
SpotHero told WGN-TV: “While it appears these tows resulted from an on-site error at the facility, we know this is not the ideal experience for SpotHero customers, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience it caused.
“SpotHero has temporarily disabled the facility pending the outcome of our investigation to ensure the best service for our customers.”
The drivers should get the $240 towing fee and the initial reservation costs refunded.
Although some customers have been reimbursed already, others are still waiting.
Many are hesitant to use the service again after the incident, which left them unable to get home.
Wolfkiel said: “Pretty doubtful. It depends on how they handle the situation obviously.
“A lot of people had their night ruined because of this.”
Yunker, who lives close to Ottawa, struggled to return home until 5am while Wolfkiel had to take an Uber.
