Washington Towing Company Threatening To Sue After Chargeback — Do We Actually Owe $1,567 For A Recovery They Did Not Complete?

Location: Washington
My partner and I were traveling through Snoqualmie Pass, WA during a severe snowstorm on April 15, 2026. Our Chevrolet Malibu became stuck in the snow, and we were stranded for several hours. We contacted a towing company for emergency recovery assistance.

We signed their service authorization, which states that we authorized towing/recovery services and that pricing was communicated prior to or at the time of service. However, the actual events did not go as we expected. The first truck they sent out was unable to recover our vehicle. The driver told us they should have sent a bigger truck, eventually got himself unstuck, and left. We were still stranded.

After that, we contacted the company again and were transferred to what they described as a “sister company” because they supposedly had larger trucks. We continued trying to get assistance, but ultimately we were able to get ourselves out when a snowplow came through. My partner had to physically push the vehicle while we dug around it using whatever we had available. We later became stuck again for approximately 30 minutes, until a Washington State DOT truck that had become stuck behind us was able to get out and push our vehicle.

The towing company charged us two separate amounts: $802.20 for the initial emergency recovery response and $764.90 for an additional recovery truck/resource response, totaling $1,567.10.

The following morning, April 16, we contacted the towing company to request a refund. During that conversation, the woman we spoke with told us that she had “gotten in trouble for sending trucks out”. We were also having significant difficulty getting in contact with a manager. Because the company denied our refund request and we were unable to resolve the issue with them, we disputed the charges through our bank. The chargeback ultimately concluded in our favor.

The company has now sent my partner an email stating that they disagree with the chargeback and claim there is an outstanding contractual balance of $1,567.10. They sent an “evidence packet,” but the packet only contains the service authorization/contract we signed, photographs of our vehicle that my partner had sent them, and their settlement offer.

They are now offering to settle for $783.55 (50% of the alleged balance), but state that if we don’t pay by September 6, 2026, they are prepared to pursue the full $1,567.10 through civil court, plus potentially filing fees, court costs, and other amounts they claim are recoverable.

One thing that stands out to me is that their email repeatedly says the services were “performed” and that their personnel and equipment were involved for several hours. However, the first truck did not successfully recover our vehicle, and we ultimately got ourselves out with the help of a DOT truck. Their email also says the charges were flat-rate emergency snow-recovery charges based on the circumstances and resources committed, rather than an hourly rate.

I’m trying to understand where we stand legally. Does signing the service authorization automatically mean we owe the full amount even if the contracted recovery was unsuccessful? Can they legally pursue the entire $1,567.10 after the chargeback was decided in our favor? Does their evidence packet actually establish that the services they charged us for were performed? And would it be advisable to respond to the settlement offer, negotiate, or simply wait to see whether they actually file a lawsuit?

We have screenshots of the contract, the towing company’s emails, our call history, and documentation of what happened that night. I’m particularly interested in advice from anyone familiar with Washington towing/recovery laws or consumer-contract disputes.

*** edit here is the contract

The Customer authorizes (company)
to perform towing and/or roadside assistance services as requested, including but not limited to vehicle towing, recovery, winching, jump-starts, lockouts, tire changes, and related services.

The Customer acknowledges that all service pricing was communicated prior to or at the time of service. The Customer agrees that the charges accurately reflect the services requested and authorizes (company) to charge the provided payment method for the full amount due.

The Customer acknowledges that towing and roadside assistance services are immediately rendered services. Once services have been completed, all charges are final and non-refundable except where required by law.

The Customer agrees that their electronic signature or initials constitute a legally binding agreement equivalent to a handwritten signature.