Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

TL;DR. Texas. Repo company took my car by mistake (wrong VIN, wrong name, same address, same make/model(ish)/color/nearly year). I have car back with no damage and only time costs. Next steps to take if any?

Events:

This afternoon my car was repossessed by mistake. I took the following actions:

• Called local police to report car missing / stolen. Providing plates description of car, was informed needed to contact key holder / bank for further information as it had repossessed.

• Called my bank. Was told they had not issued any repossession order for my car; account was in good standing with them

• Recalled local police. They provided me with contact number of towing / repo company.

• Called towing company. They realized they took wrong car and returned the car back to my house. They admitted this over phone as well as tow truck driver in person when they returned car. I have this second part on video (Texas being one party consent state).

Reason for error:

• The car marked for repossession was the same make, color, model(kinda) as my car. It was off by 2 years for manufacturing date.

• The last 3 digits of the VIN were the same.

• The registration information sent over by the repo company to the towing service had a different name from mine, but my current address.

• The tow driver and towing company claimed it was both repo company order and their fault. The repo order, however, I'm assuming, was correct information just not my car (incorrect VIN).

• The initial person towing apparently only checked the last digits of VIN instead of matching full VIN number, and, I assume, figured it was correct car due to the other physical characteristics matching.

The costs so far for myself:

• $0. Car was returned to me without charge, without me needing to get ride / cab to retrieve it.

• Roughly 2 hours of my time between initial repo / me realizing it was missing and return.

• No visible damage to car physically after full look over. No issue starting or driving car.

Questions:

• What should be next steps to take?

• Is there any action that I need to or should take in regards to civil issues?

• Any action to consider from criminal standpoint? (i.e. do I still file a police report, etc.)

• Should I contact an attorney, and if so, what kind should I look for?

• Is there anyone else that I need to contact (insurance company, bank again, Texas Towing Regulatory Body, etc)?

While I'm not looking for a payday (since I have my car back reasonably quickly without damage or monetary cost to myself), I do think it's a bit reckless to take the wrong car without fully matching the VIN numbers. I just want to help ensure this doesn't happen to myself or someone else again.

I appreciate your help and advice in advance. Please let me know if there's any further information required from myself.

Cheers.