Consumers eligible for restitution from a settlement involving Wyatts Towing and the Colorado Attorney General's Office will soon receive checks, according to an announcement by Attorney General Phil Weiser. The settlement, which totals $1 million, addresses illegal towing practices identified during a state investigation.
More than 5,000 consumers will receive checks based on records from Wyatts Towing. These recipients need not take any further action to obtain their restitution. "Thanks to the settlement we reached with Wyatts Towing, consumers who were harmed by the company’s illegal towing practices will soon get some money back in their pockets," Weiser stated. He urged eligible recipients to cash their checks promptly.
The investigation revealed that between 2020 and 2023, Wyatts Towing engaged in various unlawful activities, including unlicensed towing and charging unauthorized fees. Violations of Colorado's Towing Bill of Rights were also noted, such as allowing tow drivers to approve tows contrary to regulations and failing to provide necessary notifications via certified mail.
As part of the agreement, $764,000 is designated for direct payments to affected consumers, while $236,000 represents debt forgiveness by Wyatts. Weiser acknowledged that while these payments may not fully compensate all affected individuals, they offer some relief for those who incurred illegal fees or debts due to unlawful towing practices.
Eligible consumers should expect checks shortly; some may receive additional payments in January. Information about these checks is available at coag.gov/wyatts in both English and Spanish.
The Colorado Attorney General's Office encourages anyone experiencing unfair treatment or deceptive business practices related to towing or other consumer protection laws to file a complaint at StopFraudColorado.gov.