Apartment Complex Towed Me From Visitor Parking Due To Car In My Assigned Paid Space.

I recently had my apartment building assign me a secondary space that I pay for. On Friday they told me which space and to sign the parking agreement. That same day there was a car in that space so I asked them as of when can I park there which they replied on Saturday that immediately.

The next 4 days my space was clear no issue.

On Wednesday night I come home at 10pm, there is a car in my space. I park in a visitor parking space but my wife and I have a visitor over so one visitor badge is being used by my visitor. I take pictures of the car to contact management office next day. Unfortunately my car is towed due to “no permit”.

Apartment complex claims they can not do anything about tow fees. I feel I was forced into this situation. There is no other public parking available. If I would have parked on a red curb, I would have been towed. If I park in another empty assigned space I would have been towed. I argue why not issue a warning. They tell me warnings are not issued. That anybody in violation of parking policy gets towed regardless if they even have a permit. They say even vehicles in their assigned space with no permit would be towed for no permit. The office instructs me to call them so they can have a car towed during office hours if it is in my assigned space. That they will call the owner and tell them a tow truck is in route if they don’t move. I argue why do we report our license plate numbers if they won’t use it to verify residency in the apartments. They argue it would violate our privacy to give it to security company. Yet my wife received a warning that indicated her plates have been written down if she parked in visitor space without her visitor permit. Managment says she was lucky and should have been towed too. My argument is, if my parking spot is not taken , I don’t get towed. Even if i put a parking permit or not. They insist they will tow vehicles in assigned spaces without permits as well. I challenge them if I report any vehicle without a permit if they will tow them instantly and they obviously did not like that argument.

That same day I talked to the management, I get home and there is another car in my space. I immediately send pictures of the permit and license plate to the office and request they handle it this time. They respond that they have notified the owner of the vehicle that they are in violation of parking policy. I respond to them and tell them why are they being “warned” if I was told they don’t give warnings. Why did they not call the tow truck. They did not instruct me where to park for the day. I could have easily been in another towing situation if it weren’t for not having a visitor that day. I was able to park in visitor with my visitor permit.

I wait for the security night guard until midnight to have the car in my spot towed. Next day the management reaches out to me since I had accused them of selectively enforcing their so called strict policy. They said they gave me the number to call security yet I had reported it to them during office hours so why must I have the burden of calling the security company as well as reporting it to them. Ultimately I had to go through that burden.

Anyways, they refuse to escalate the situation to higher ups as they are a huge property management company. They said there is no chance I be reimbursed my $500 towing fee. Anything I can do?

Location: California