This is one of those things that tech really didn't "fix" and now I have to select from one of 20 apps instead of just paying with cash or even a credit card.
Consider an AWD BMW without badges. If it's a 3 series or above all you know is that it's either RWD or AWD.
If they tow it by the rear wheels you blow up your transfer case. But try and prove that it was THAT action that blew it up.
Criminals are quite efficient at getting things done
In New York it has gotten so bad that even first responders have been subverted
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/gang-members-and-others...
Also, tow operators are generally pretty shady. Because they operate in a second responder capacity, they have personal relationships with cops and sheriffs, repair garages, etc.
It was only a couple of pounds or so. I haven't been to these parts of town for years so I have no idea if this practice still goes on.
You know that what you said isn’t true. Or you are really badly informed.
It's not just money you pay to shady people. If he charged you $5 for parking, but allowed you to pay when you came back, but it would be $10 instead, you could say the additional $5 was the vig as that represents a 100% interest on a short term loan.
Not so much the guys that insist on spraying your windshield with soap at every traffic light.
"Party A pays 1 Pound Sterling for the item owned by Party B"
Crime: Party A blackmails Party B into selling them the item at a discount
Commerce: Party B offers the discount to entice Party A to try the item out, so that they can sell more at full price in the future
Altruism: Party B wants to give the item to a good home rather than destroying it (if that would cost them, then it's even mutually beneficial altruism from both parties)
Clearly it is the context about how the contract was made that distinguishes the situations. It would be a mistake to try to classify every possible contract as legitimate based on its semantics alone.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/44749/inside-the-tow-truck-maf...
All industries who's generous profits depend on monopolizing a fixed pie, they need to tightly control the amount of competition in order to maintain their profits, so they eventually devolve into a maifa-like organization, regardless if they're blue collar or white collar.
The only difference is the blue-collar mafia is way more visible as they solve their difference with valence, while the white-collar mafia doesn't need to resort to barbaric acts but simply lobbies their political friends in power to put enough laws and regulations in place to stop any newcomers entering their turf.
If only the towing industry could have taken a page out of Canada's telcos' book and lobby their way.
Ah, Brujah vs Ventrue.
My pet peeve is hearing how I don’t understand corruption because I live in a functioning country now.
It solved a very real problem of surveillance/advertising and skimming a little cream off the top in the process