STATE COLLEGE — After close to four years of litigation, Walk’s Service Center reached an agreement with Attorney General Michelle Henry on Monday, July 22, regarding private parking “tickets” dating back to 2012 .
The State College towing company was originally sued in 2020 by the Office of the Attorney General for, according to the settlement, “allegedly engaging in deceptive and unfair business practices by issuing private parking ‘tickets’ in State College that look similar to government parking tickets.” However, alleged violations dated back to 2012, eight years before an official lawsuit was filed.
“This company was demanding that consumers pay additional private ticket fees under false threat of prosecution or the retention of their towed vehicle,” Henry said in a statement. “In those instances where the ‘ticketed’ vehicles were towed, consumers that were already facing substantial costs related to the tow were then subjected to private ticket fees imposed by Walk’s.”
Under the agreement approved by Centre County Judge Brian Marshall, the State College towing company agreed to pay $15,000 to individuals who filed official complaints with the attorney general’s office.
As a result of the settlement, Walk’s is prohibited from requiring payment of private parking tickets before releasing towed vehicles. Additionally, the towing company must make it explicit on the ticket that Walk’s is a private company and tickets are privately enforced, and that the company cannot threaten collections or add on fees unless clearly signified at the parking location.
The attorney general’s office encourages anyone who received a ticket from Walk’s Service Center to file a complaint with the Borough of Consumer Protection of the attorney general’s office by Tuesday, Nov. 19, of this year. To file a complaint, call 800-441-2555 or email scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
