[mmcd]

More than likely, it was the contractor doing the lot that called to have your car towed as opposed to the rental company. The viability of your claim most likely depends on the terms of your lease, or whether the apartment complexes method of notice was reasonable considering the circumstances. Whoever you talked to probably has no authority to pay you back. Send them a letter by registered mail. Even better if you have an uncle/friend/whoever that is a lawyer send it. Then they'll have to run it up to their surperiors who would probably rather just pay the 400 bucks than fight you in court. Generally, I don't think you have as strong a case as others here seem to. It seems like an extraordinary circumstance that someone would be gone from their apartment for several days, but still have a car parked in the lot, so their method of notice seems reasonable to me. As it was probably the painters/pavers that called the tow truck when they discovered your car was in the way, I don't think there was any possibility of you being notified by phone or whatever.