Vince’s Towing owner accused of charging thousands in hidden fees for short trips
FIREFIGHTERS HURT BATTLING A TWO ALARM FIRE. I’M LIVE FROM THE SCENE BREAKING DOWN. WHY? AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH WAS NEEDED BY FIREFIGHTERS IN PITTSBURGH. A DEADLY SHOOTING CAUGHT ON CAMERA, THE SUSPECT HOLDING UP THE GUN. IN THIS VIDEO, WE ARE TAKING YOU THROUGH THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE VICTIM’S LIFE. BEFORE HE WAS SHOT FOUR TIMES. BIG CHANGES AT AIRPORTS NATIONWIDE. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ENDING FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS RIGHT NOW. PLUS A CHANGE WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR HERE IN PITTSBURGH. WE ARE BREAKING DOWN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM WHEN THOSE LAST FLIGHTS ARRIVE, FROM WHEN THOSE FIRST FLIGHTS DEPART, FROM WHEN THAT AIRPORT TRAIN STOPS RUNNING. WE’LL HAVE IT ALL FOR YOU. COMING UP. TERRIBLE NEWS FOR THIS MORNING. STARTS NOW. WE’RE GOING TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE STEELERS GAME BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER AS SKY 4 PITTSBURGH’S ONLY NEWS CHOPPER GIVING US A LOOK AT ACRISURE STADIUM THIS MORNING. THE STEELERS WITH THAT BIG WIN YESTERDAY. BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THIS MORNING. AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY LOOK AHEAD AND TRY TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE AS WE REVISIT THE STEELERS HERE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. ALSO STATING THE SITE OF THE WPIAL TITLE GAMES COMING UP ON SATURDAY. THAT’S A GOOD POINT. IT’S GOING TO BE HOPPIN SAME NIGHT AS LIGHT UP NIGHT. WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS MONDAY MORNING. LET’S GET A LOOK AT YOUR FORECAST. NOW. A LITTLE FLURRIES COMING IN THIS MORNING AS I WAS DRIVING INTO WORK GUYS. AND IT IS SURPRISING TO SEE THOSE IN THE I KNOW WE’RE AT THAT TIME OF YEAR BUT STILL VERY SHOCKING TO SEE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME UNEXPECTED SLOWDOWNS ON THE PARKWAY WEST AS YOU’RE TRYING TO GET TO THE TUNNEL. SO WE’LL GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THAT FROM SKY FOUR IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. AND THE FLURRIES SHOULDN’T BE AN ISSUE. THEY ARE MELTING ON THE GROUND AND THEY’RE VERY LIGHT. BUT YEAH, IT IS STILL SHOCKING. AND THEN BEFORE WE KNOW IT WILL BE SO USED TO IT. BUT TODAY THE BIGGER STORY IS IT’S GOING TO BE BREEZY. WE WILL HAVE SOME DECREASING CLOUDS AS WE CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WINDS WILL BE GUSTING 20 TO 25MPH. IT IS AN IMPACT DAY FOR US. TOMORROW. WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE ONSET OF THIS AROUND NINE 10:00, BUT IT’S GOING TO BE A COLD RAIN FOR THE EVENING DRIVE. AND AS KIDS ARE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL, YOU CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MIXING ALONG FOR 22 ON NORTH. NOW THAT IS FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, NOT AS COLD AND DRYING OUT ON WEDNESDAY. ALL IS CALM AND QUIET. WE ARE WATCHING THESE CLOUDS JUST CONTINUE TO BREAK UP AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A BAND TRYING TO WORK ITS WAY INTO FOREST AND CLARION COUNTY. A FEW FLAKES STILL FLYING AROUND INTO PORTIONS OF JOHNSTOWN. WE DO HAVE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR VENANGO AND CLARION COUNTY UNTIL 1:00 32 DEGREES FEELS LIKE IT’S 25. IT IS GOING TO BE BRISK AND BREEZY TODAY, BUT AT LEAST WE GET SOME SUNSHINE. WILL PEAK NEAR 42. STILL GOING TO FEEL LIKE WE’RE INTO THE MID 30S. ELENA. THANKS, ASHLEY PITTSBURGH’S ACTION TRAFFIC. AS PROMISED, I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A LOOK AT THIS. SOMETHING GOING ON? I DON’T WANT TO SAY IT’S AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WE’RE NOT SURE AT THIS POINT. THIS IS GROUND LEVEL AS YOU’RE MAKING YOUR WAY INBOUND TOWARD THE FORT PITT TUNNEL. THESE ARE JUST SOME UNUSUAL BACKUPS FOR THIS TIME OF MORNING. SO I ASKED SAM HOLLAND, SKY 4 TO CHECK IT OUT FOR US. HE’S REALLY EVERYWHERE. JUST TWO MINUTES AGO OVER ARKANSAS STADIUM. AND, SAM, NOW YOU’RE OVER THIS INCIDENT ON THE PARKWAY WEST. YES. AND AS USUAL, ELENA, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IT IS AN ACCIDENT. IT’S ACTUALLY FIVE VEHICLES INVOLVED HERE. CHAIN REACTION. ACCIDENT. AS YOU COME DOWN THE HILL, READY TO GET PAST PARKWAY CENTER, YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE THE LEFT LANE TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING THESE FOUR VEHICLES. AND ANOTHER A LITTLE FURTHER AHEAD. BUT YOU’RE LOSING THAT LEFT HAND LANE AND OBVIOUSLY WRONG TIME, WRONG PLACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. GOING TO PAN BACK AND SHOW YOU THOSE BACKUPS NOW. STILL NO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE. SO CREWS ARE YET TO ARRIVE. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A LONG RIDE COMING IN ON THE PARKWAY WEST TO GET DOWN TO THE FORT PITT TUNNEL THIS MORNING. ELENA. SAM, THAT’S REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU. AND I’LL GIVE YOU THAT TUNNEL TIME IN JUST A MINUTE HERE. ALSO, A HEADS UP, THOSE OF YOU WHO USE THE HOV LANES FRIDAY AT 3:00, THEY REOPENED TO DRIVERS AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THAT EMERGENCY WORK. HOWEVER, THE PERRYSVILLE AVENUE ONRAMP IS NOT OPENING AT 6:00 THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES. SO JUST A HEADS UP. IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO USES THE HOV LANES AND MAYBE WE’RE EXCITED TO START USING THEM AGAIN THIS WEEK. TEN MINUTES RIGHT NOW AS YOU’RE COMING IN ON 279 SPLIT TO THE CITY AND THE TUNNEL TIMES. ACTUALLY, NOT TOO BAD JUST YET, BUT WE’LL LIKELY SEE THAT PARKWAY WEST TIME JUMP SOON. ALL RIGHT, ELENA, LET’S CHECK BACK IN WITH PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR’S AVA RASH. LIVE FROM THE SCENE OF THAT TWO ALARM FIRE IN PITTSBURGH’S HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. AND EVA, YOU’VE LEARNED SOME FIREFIGHTERS WERE INJURED WHILE FIGHTING THIS FIRE AT THESE ROW HOMES. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US AT THIS POINT? WELL, THE CAPTAIN WHO WAS HERE ON SCENE TELLS ME THAT TWO FIREFIGHTERS WERE INJURED BATTLING THIS BLAZE, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THAT HOME. THEY WERE TREATED HERE, AND NO ONE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. SO THAT IS SOME GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING. DO YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY? CREWS HAVE JUST LEFT THE SCENE A LITTLE BIT AGO, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS ROW HOUSE, SPECIFICALLY THE HOME WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND THEN THE ONE NEXT TO IT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE’S DEFINITELY SOME DAMAGE THERE FOR SURE. THIS MORNING IT WAS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT SITUATION THEN. RIGHT NOW THERE WERE FLAMES, SMOKE ALL OVER. THIS STARTED AROUND 130 HERE ON GLENWOOD AVENUE, WHICH IS RIGHT OFF OF SECOND AVENUE. SO A REALLY INTENSE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE DEALING WITH THESE ROW HOUSES. TAKE A LISTEN TO WHAT THE CAPTAIN HAD TO SAY TO ME. SO WHEN THEY FIRST REPORTED THERE’S FIRE IN THE BASEMENT AND IT WAS A LARGE ROW HOUSE IS WHEN I DECIDED TO PUT THE SECOND ALARM IN JUST TO GET THE EXTRA MANPOWER. AND THEN THE HAMPERED ATTACK ALSO ADDED TO THAT DECISION. NOW THE HOMES ARE VACANT. NO ONE WAS INSIDE AT THE TIME OF THIS FIRE, BUT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW. THEY DO BELIEVE THAT IT STARTED IN THE BASEMENT FOR NOW COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY. LIVE IN HAZELWOOD AVA RASH. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. AND WE’RE GLAD THOSE FIREFIGHTERS ARE OKAY. EVA. THANK YOU. EVEN MORE BREAKING NEWS RIGHT NOW. ONE PERSON SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THIS ROLLOVER CRASH IN CORAOPOLIS. WE ARE STILL WORKING TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED MOMENTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS IS A BLOCK UP FROM ROUTE 51, IN THE 1600 BLOCK OF STATE STREET. IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 1 A.M. ALL NEW THIS MORNING. TWO PEOPLE WERE HURT IN A STABBING ON PITTSBURGH’S SOUTH SIDE LAST NIGHT. INVESTIGATORS SAY OFFICERS FOUND TWO MEN WITH STAB WOUNDS ON EAST CARSON STREET AROUND 1030 LAST NIGHT. ONE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION, THE OTHER IN STABLE CONDITION. POLICE SAY THEY ARRESTED A MAN AT THE SCENE AND CHARGES ARE FORTHCOMING. RIGHT NOW, A DEADLY SHOOTING INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN PITTSBURGH. TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN. THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS THE MOMENTS THE VICTIM WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AS A SUSPECT PULLS OUT A GUN. WE’VE PAUSED THE VIDEO RIGHT BEFORE SHOTS WERE FIRED. IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY’S MIDDLE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE CORNER OF WEBSTER AVENUE AND SUMMER STREET AROUND 6:00 LAST NIGHT. THAT’S RIGHT NEAR ANNE’S MARKET. WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO A STORE CLERK AT ANNE’S MARKET. THEY TELL US THE VICTIM CAME INTO THE MARKET, BOUGHT A SNACK, TALKED ON THE PHONE INSIDE THE STORE, AND THEN LEFT. TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AGAIN. IT SHOWS THE VICTIM WALKING DOWN WEBSTER AVENUE. AND THEN THE SHOOTER COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND SHOOTS THE VICTIM. AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. POLICE TELL US THE SHOOTER RAN TOWARD SUMMER STREET. THE VICTIM WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED. POLICE HAVE COLLECTED VIDEO AND OTHER EVIDENCE. BUT SO FAR, NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. WELL, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUBPLOTS IN THE STEELERS 34 TO 12 WIN OVER THE BENGALS YESTERDAY AT ACRISURE STADIUM. FIRST, AARON RODGERS AND ESPN’S ADAM SCHEFTER IS REPORTING THAT RODGERS MAY HAVE A SLIGHT BREAK IN HIS LEFT WRIST. WE SHOULD KNOW MORE EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW, HE WILL UNDERGO FURTHER EVALUATION LATER TODAY. AS FOR WHAT CAME NEXT, THE STEELERS TURNED TO MASON RUDOLPH AS RODGERS HERE. AS YOU’RE LOOKING AT THAT INJURY, THIS IS LATE IN THE FIRST HALF AS HE WENT DOWN, HEADED TO THE LOCKER ROOM LATE IN THAT FIRST HALF. AND WE DID NOT SEE HIM THE REST OF THE DAY. SO AGAIN THAT OPENED THE DOOR FOR MASON RUDOLPH WHO WAS TERRIFIC IN RELIEF. 12 OF 16 FOR 127 YARDS PASSING AND A TD PASS WITH NO INTERCEPTIONS. WE TALKED IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND HE TOLD ME HE KIND OF HE GAVE ME THE FINGER AND SAID, HEY, YOU’RE GOING, NOT THE BAD FINGER, BUT THE THE INDEX AND SAID, YOU’RE GOING IN. AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE ARTHUR SMITH AND AND TOM WORKING WITH ME TO KIND OF. GET TO THE STUFF THAT I LIKED IN THE GAME PLAN AND TAILOR IT TO KIND OF MY FAVORITES. NFL THIRD AND NINE. MEANWHILE, THE BENGALS OFFENSE, THEY HAD BEEN LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD IN RECENT WEEKS, BUT THE STEELERS DEFENSE GIVE THEM CREDIT. THEY HELD THEM IN CHECK AND ALSO TURNED IN A PAIR OF DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS ON AN INTERCEPTION AND FUMBLE RETURN, BOTH IN THE SECOND HALF, TO BREAK THE GAME OPEN. SO ADD TO THAT THE RAVENS BEATING THE BROWNS YESTERDAY AND THE STEELERS LEAD IN THE AFC NORTH STAYS AT ONE GAME. STEELERS AND RAVENS THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED YET. THEY PLAY ON DECEMBER 7TH AND ALSO IN THE FINAL WEEK OF THE REGULAR SEASON. THE STEELERS ARE IN CHICAGO NEXT SUNDAY TO VISIT THE BEARS. RIGHT NOW, AIR TRAVEL IS INCHING CLOSER TO RETURNING TO NORMAL. JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE FAA LIFTED AIR TRAFFIC CAPACITY LIMITS THAT WERE IN EFFECT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT CAUSED THOSE STAFFING ISSUES. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT RACHEL HERXHEIMER JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR WASHINGTON BUREAU. ALL RIGHT, RACHEL, THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS HOW WILL IT IMPACT THANKSGIVING TRAVEL? MICHELLE. JANELLE, EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. SO IF YOU ARE FLYING FOR THANKSGIVING, IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR THE LAST TEN DAYS. FLIGHT DELAYS AND CANCELLATIONS ARE TRENDING DOWN. IT DOES LOOK LIKE THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE. SO GOOD NEWS ON THIS MONDAY MORNING. ON SUNDAY, THE FAA ANNOUNCED IT’S LIFTING ALL RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS THAT WERE IMPOSED AT 40 MAJOR U.S. AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW, THIS COMES AFTER THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN AMERICAN HISTORY CAUSED SAFETY CONCERNS FOR FLYING, STAFFING SHORTAGES AT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES. THEY WORSENED AS CONTROLLERS MISSED THEIR PAYCHECKS. THE FLIGHT CUTS STARTED AT 4% AND GREW TO 6% BEFORE THE FAA ON FRIDAY ROLLED BACK RESTRICTIONS TO 3%. BUT IN A STATEMENT, THE FAA SAYING AN AGENCY SAFETY TEAM RECOMMENDED THE ORDER OF LIMITING AIR TRAFFIC TO BE RESCINDED. AND TODAY WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THAT PLAY OUT. NOW, TRIPLE A DOES PREDICT THAT 6 MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE FLYING DOMESTICALLY DURING THE THANKSGIVING TRAVEL PERIOD, WHICH STARTS A WEEK FROM TOMORROW, AND AIRLINE LEADERS DO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT FLIGHT OPERATIONS WILL RESUME AS NORMAL BY THEN. IN WASHINGTON, RACHEL HERXHEIMER, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR HERE IN PITTSBURGH. TODAY MARKS THE FINAL DAY OF THE CURRENT LANDSIDE TERMINAL. OVERNIGHT, ALL OPERATIONS WILL SWITCH TO THE NEW MODERNIZED TERMINAL. WE’VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR’S CARLOS FLORES JOINS US LIVE FROM THE AIRPORT. CARLOS, WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY’RE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT TODAY? WELL, WE’RE 24 HOURS AWAY. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY FROM THE OPENING OF THE NEW LANDSIDE TERMINAL. IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON CATCHING A FLIGHT, HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU REALLY KIND OF NEED TO KNOW. TSA IN THE CURRENT LANDSIDE TERMINAL WILL CLOSE AT 11 P.M. LATER TODAY. FROM THERE, WE’LL SEE THOSE LAST COUPLE OF FLIGHTS COME IN. THE LAST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT IS EXPECTED TO COME IN AROUND 9:15 P.M. FROM LONDON. THE LAST DOMESTIC FLIGHT WILL BE COMING IN FROM ATLANTA FROM AROUND 12:30 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING. FOLKS IN THOSE LAST COUPLE OF FLIGHTS WILL BE GETTING THEIR BAGGAGE AT THE BAGGAGE CAROUSEL, AND FROM THERE, THOSE ONCE THOSE FLIGHTS ARRIVE, IT’S A COMPLETE TRANSITION. THEY’RE GOING TO START DOING ALL THE WORK THEY NEED TO TO PREPARE FOR THAT NEW TERMINAL. TO REALLY OPEN. THAT MEANS PUTTING UP NEW SIGNAGE, CHANGING THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, HEADING OVER TO THE NEW TERMINAL. THE AIRPORT TRAIN WILL STOP WORKING CLOSE TO AROUND 2:30 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING, AND CHECK IN WILL START AT THREE, WITH THOSE FIRST ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES HAPPENING AT 5 A.M. SO PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT SURROUNDING THE OPENING OF THE NEW TERMINAL. DON’T WORRY, WE’LL HAVE YOU COVERED FROM START TO FINISH RIGHT HERE ON WTAE. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CARLOS FLORES, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. ALL RIGHT, THANKS, CARLOS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT NEW AIRPORT. 611 IS THE TIME RIGHT NOW. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER, ANOTHER CHILLY ONE OUT THERE. TIME FOR THE KIDS TO BUNDLE UP. HEADING TO SCHOOL TODAY. YEAH, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, I FEEL LIKE WE’RE GOING TO BE SAYING THAT FOR SURE. AND IT IS A CHILLY START. THOSE WINDS ARE STARTING TO PICK UP KIDS. YOU’LL STAY IN THE LOW TO MID 30S AS YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR, HEADING TO SCHOOL. A FEW FLURRIES IN SOME SPOTS, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT RIDING HOME THOUGH IN THE LOW 40S. STILL A GOOD DAY TO GET OUTSIDE FOR SOME FRESH AIR. JUST MAY HAVE TO CUT THE TIME A LITTLE BIT. NOT TOO LONG. WE ARE GOING TO BE BREEZY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER CHECK OF WEATHER AND TRAFFIC HERE RIGHT AFTER THE B
Vince’s Towing owner accused of charging thousands in hidden fees for short trips
Updated: 11:37 AM EST Nov 17, 2025
The owner of a Pittsburgh-based tow company is accused of using deceptive practices and tow-related costs. Vincent G. Fannick, the owner of Vince’s Towing, has been ordered to pay $379,279 and has been prohibited from working in the tow industry. According to a release from Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, an investigation was done after reports of “astronomical bills for short tow trips.” The release said the plot began to unravel in 2023, when investigators learned a consumer’s insurance had been charged $11,390 by the towing company for short-trip the owner of the vehicle didn’t request. Of that price, $4,250 was marked as an “accident services” fee. According to the report, some insurance companies reported being charged between $9,460 and $13,105 for a short trips. Fannick is accused of charging $9,805 for one-third of a mile. “These actions targeted unsuspecting members of our community during their most vulnerable moments,” Superintendent Christopher Kearns of the Allegheny County Police Department said.He has since pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception and insurance fraud and misdemeanor execution of documents by deception.To avoid jailtime he must pay the full restitution within the 30 days. In addition, Fannick has been ordered to serve five years of probation, with six months on house arrest. “This defendant preyed on motorists in a pinch by hiding fees and inflating prices, leaving them and their insurance carriers with enormous bills to retrieve back their vehicles,” Attorney General Sunday said. As a way to help educate Pennsylvanians on predatory tow companies, the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authorities has launched the following website: www.knowyourtow.org.
PITTSBURGH —
The owner of a Pittsburgh-based tow company is accused of using deceptive practices and tow-related costs.
Vincent G. Fannick, the owner of Vince’s Towing, has been ordered to pay $379,279 and has been prohibited from working in the tow industry.
According to a release from Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, an investigation was done after reports of “astronomical bills for short tow trips.”
The release said the plot began to unravel in 2023, when investigators learned a consumer’s insurance had been charged $11,390 by the towing company for short-trip the owner of the vehicle didn’t request.
Of that price, $4,250 was marked as an “accident services” fee. According to the report, some insurance companies reported being charged between $9,460 and $13,105 for a short trips. Fannick is accused of charging $9,805 for one-third of a mile.
“These actions targeted unsuspecting members of our community during their most vulnerable moments,” Superintendent Christopher Kearns of the Allegheny County Police Department said.
He has since pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception and insurance fraud and misdemeanor execution of documents by deception.
To avoid jailtime he must pay the full restitution within the 30 days. In addition, Fannick has been ordered to serve five years of probation, with six months on house arrest.
“This defendant preyed on motorists in a pinch by hiding fees and inflating prices, leaving them and their insurance carriers with enormous bills to retrieve back their vehicles,” Attorney General Sunday said.
As a way to help educate Pennsylvanians on predatory tow companies, the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authorities has launched the following website: .