Wyatts Towing, once the largest towing company in Colorado, appears to have shut down operations over a year after being accused of illegally towing thousands of vehicles.
The closure comes on the heels of a significant legal settlement. Last week, the Colorado Attorney General’s office announced that more than 5,000 victims of Wyatts Towing’s predatory practices will receive restitution checks, funded by a $1 million settlement agreement.
“Eligible consumers have been identified based on Wyatts Towing records, and checks will be sent to them with no further action necessary on their part,” the Attorney General’s office stated in a press release.
The settlement follows a state investigation that revealed Wyatts Towing had towed vehicles without valid permits and unlawfully profited from the sale of abandoned vehicles.
“Wyatts Towing used deceptive practices and broke the law to make a quick buck,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement to CPR News last year. “While consumers who knew to complain got their money back, those without the time, training, or awareness to act as their own lawyers were cheated out of their hard-earned money.”
Earlier this year, Wyatts Towing’s legal representatives informed the attorney general’s office of a potential change in ownership but withheld details about the buyer. This week, a “permanently closed” sign was seen outside Wyatts’ tow yard, signaling the company’s official end. The company is now reportedly under new ownership and rebranded as Elite Towing.
As Elite Towing takes the reins, the company’s ability to distance itself from Wyatts’ tarnished legacy remains to be seen.
