What does it take to have your car repossessed at this Midlands airport?
Beware. Once you’ve parked your vehicle at this Midlands airport, it could be repossessed in minutes despite the absence of an active lien.
It allegedly happened to Clive Campbell last December while he was traveling over the Christmas holiday from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. His 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, which he’d parked at a long-term parking facility at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. While still on vacation, Campbell’s vehicle was repossessed on Dec. 28, 2025 by Columbia Auto Recovery & Towing at the behest of Navy Federal Credit Union.
Notwithstanding proof that Campbell owned the vehicle free and clear, the towing company refused to release the car, according to a police report and a lawsuit.
The lawsuit raised questions about whether the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Police Department routinely grants towing access to private tow companies to airport parking facilities, whether such access is governed by a contractual relationship, and whether lien status is verified prior to removal of vehicles left in long-term parking by traveling passengers, Campbell told The State in an email.
Kim Crafton, a spokesperson for the airport, told The State that the facility does not have any contracts or a policy regarding tow trucks entering and repossessing cars in their public parking lots, which are gated.
Tow trucks, however, are not allowed to enter any of their “badged lots,” which include parking for employees and premier parking members, according to Crafton.
Regarding all other parking lots, “LAZ Parking — third party vendor that manages and oversees parking (for the airport) - will send airport police a “Reposition Report” whenever a vehicle is taken from the garage or surface lots,” Crafton wrote in an email.
When Campbell discovered his car missing, he contacted airport police, who confirmed the vehicle had been repossessed. Campbell then reached out to the towing company and provided a New York State Certificate of Title reflecting no recorded lien against the vehicle, according to the suit.
Despite documentation, the towing company refused to release the vehicle to Campbell, while still continuing to rack up storage fees, according to the lawsuit.
Campbell then filed a Temporary Restraining Order against the company and obtained a police report, documenting the details of the repossession.
The report, which was attached to the lawsuit as an exhibit, shows the tow was initiated based on information allegedly provided by Navy Federal Credit Union; law-enforcement database checks revealed no active lien; documentation reviewed appeared to show the lien had been satisfied and released; and the towing company nevertheless refused to release the vehicle, according to the suit.
Campbell’s Temporary Restraining Order and lawsuit remain pending.
Meanwhile, three attempts to serve the towing company with legal filings have failed, as no one remains present at an address listed as the towing company’s registered agent with S.C. Secretary of State, according to Campbell.
