I own a BMW. I was driving it with my friend and it started surging and just dying. The transmission wouldn't shift. So I had it towed to 'All American Transmission Repair' on Fountain View on Saturday. They were closed. I was hoping they would work on my car when they returned.

My friend dropped me by on Sunday, my car was gone. 'Big Bob' was there as they were decorating the office for Christmas. I said, 'Where's my car?' 'I had it towed here to be worked on?' With a straight face, he told me it was okay, that he owned the tow truck company that towed my car and there would be no charge. He then took my information down.

He also has no 'tow signs' anywhere on his property, so towing me was illegal. But what bothered me the most was the fact I towed the car there to have it worked on. Its like dropping someone off at the emergency room and someone driving them off somewhere else. It ranks as one of the dumbest business moves ever.

After I contacted the Houston Police department, they told me where to go. I went and got my car out of the tow yard for $260. 'Big Bob' did not own this tow company, it was a large privately owned tow company.

I then had my car towed back to another mechanic who fixed the car. 'Big Bob' advertises that 'Honesty is our Policy'. Its a shame he bold faced lied to me and illegally towed me. My screwup was I didn't take him to Harris County Tow Court, where if someone doesn't have a towing policy posted, they have to reimburse you.

I can't speak to the quality of work, since I didn't have my car worked on there, and I'd cut my arm off before I went back there. But the owner's characteristics of 'honesty' were apparent to me.