Public Storage Consumer Reviews - Page 6

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA -- These guys use bait and switch tactics. They advertise $1 rent for the first month with $190 per month after that. I called and reserved a unit. When I got there, I was advised that it was mandatory that I get renter's insurance for another $12 per month. I am sure they have a deal with the insurance company to split the fee (if not pocket the whole amount because it is their company). This is not to protect them. You sign an agreement that they cannot be held liable for anything. Nevertheless, you have to take the insurance even if you don't want it. (By the way, the insurance is worthless. It has limitations up the wazoo.)

After I moved in, they sent me a notice within the first six months that they were raising the rent 12.5%. I am sure that they will be doing the same thing within the next six months. In other words, a yearly rent increase of 25%. Nice! Finally, the units have no lights. The only light they provide is one in the hall. However, my light has been burnt out since the day I have moved it. I have begged for them to repair it. Their response was to pound sand. As soon as I can, I will be moving out. I recommend that you do not rent from these con artists.

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA -- Opened up the unit to find about an inch of water on the floor and mildew growing on a majority of our possessions. Called the district manager that just kept repeating "read your lease" and then went on to tell me they knew the roof was leaking because they had other complaints but we were not contacted. Why? Because the district manager Tyndall ** is lazy and ignorant and obviously doesn't know how to use email, telephones or a database. Home office told us we should have been notified of issues on this property.

Thank God we have private insurance. We were told by an employee that Public Storage won't cover flooding through their insurance. Stay away from this place. Pay a little more and get a decent unit where the company actually doesn't neglect their property. These people are the slum lords of storage.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA -- I needed to move residence quickly but could not get a moving truck prior to the 7th of the month. Therefore, PS charged me the ENTIRE month anyway. I will NEVER EVER use this company again - they were not even amenable to working with me to negotiate a fair prorate amount. So much for customer service/retention! Never store your stuff here - not unless you are sure to move before the 7th of the month.

Additionally, the lock and key system seemed user unfriendly - it was overly complicated and confusing. Customer service number is a circular maze of a menu and difficult to get through. They also apparently have many technical difficulties with their online payment system but happily will charge you a $20 convenience fee if you pay by phone. AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!

CORONA, CALIFORNIA -- I was late paying my rent only by two weeks, due to my being out of town for my job as a long distance trucker. I kept in contact with them informing when I would be in to pay. When I went to their office, they had already cut my lock off and started the lean process. They wouldn't reimburse me for my $20 lock, they made me pay two months rent and a $25 lien fee in order to release my family's belongings back to me. I have five children, all we owned was in there. They are crooks, CAUTION THEY WILL TAKE EVERYTHING you own, AUCTION it off and leave your family with nothing, they are banking on it.

Public Storage says expressly in their agreement they DO NOT guarantee safety or security of their premises or any personal property they store. So, they assume no liability or responsibility whatsoever. They force you to buy insurance at their location from a provider that has a bad reputation, without even asking if you already have insurance that can cover this storage (which many people have - e. g. homeowner's or renter's insurance).

Also, they force you to buy a lock at their location. The employee that I dealt with would answer only certain questions and would ignore others, and she tried hard to make me rent a bigger storage box than I needed. Bottom line: this is a company that waives its liability and pushes high-pressure sales.

PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON -- I have never experienced anything like this! I had a unit here for 3 years (paid over 5k in rent) only to find my stuff ruined. I am sick to my stomach that antiques with sentimental value have been chewed up, peed and crapped on by rats!! These things have been handed down 2-5 generations and are priceless to me. Oh let's not forget that we found 2 dead rats, one wrapped up in the moving blanket around my head board and one dead inside one of the posts for my bed where it appeared they had made a nest.

After spending 2 days breathing in dead rats and their dropping the office offers me a mask saying,"that's really bad to breathe, you could get sick." I am then told that all of the staff (even the new girl who has been working there for 2 months) are aware of this rat problem. NO ONE EVER BOTHERED TO CALL ME???

They told me that they spray in the empty units, but aren't allowed to spray in the occupied ones without permission. I WOULD HAVE GLADLY GIVEN PERMISSION HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM!!! So when you guys spray all the rats are running to the occupied units (and some dying there). If you knew there was a problem WHY would you not notify me???

You describe your facility as "CLEAN AND TRUSTED." What a joke!!! My boyfriend had to go to the emergency room less than a week after being exposed to this filth. The doctor confirmed that he likely had a virus from either the dead rat or rat droppings.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN -- The facility is neat and clean. The staff is nice as well. It's the increasing costs and service charges that annoy once you are there. The flat monthly rental increases constantly. Nothing improves or gets better, only the rental changes. Be sure to try to get a commitment for a given term, because a month notice that increases your rate 5 to 7 1/2% with little notice is common. Late fees are another thing. The number of days allowed continues to shrink. You are brought aboard at perhaps 10 days and before you know it the allowed time is 6 or 7. Your options are to move or pay up.

FAIRFIELD, OHIO -- Public storage in Fairfield, OH committed a crime and auction my life without any notification except one phone call the day they had the auction. My invoice says we are paid until July 2011. We have called for the regional MGR phone number and they keep giving me a wrong number. Customer service (WHAT A JOKE). They never answer only music. I am OUTRAGED with such poor business manners and how many other people do they do this to. I am searching for an attorney to get this handled and will most likely set up a protest in front of their store.

SEATTLE -- I had a storage unit in the Capitol Hill, Seattle location on 13th Ave. On Jan 1st 2011, I moved out and closed my account. I specifically asked the local representative if there was anything else I needed to do when I moved out, he said "no". On the 7th, I received a postcard from the corporate offices in CA. I thought it was going to say something like "Thank you for your business, I hope you come back" (instead of going to the local competition which I WILL do next time, 4th & Madison storage seems nice and isn't too expensive). When I read the postcard, it was a VERY strongly worded collection letter for $4.07!

If I owe somebody money, even if they forgot to ask me to pay it when I moved out, I am good for it and I will pay it. You don't need to threaten me with collection action if not paid within 10 days on the first notification. Of course I paid it immediately online even though according to my calculation, one day in January should have been $2.03 (not $4.07). I found this to be extremely offensive that they felt it was necessary to treat a former customer (and potential repeat customer) with such disdain, lack of trust, giving no benefit of the doubt nor honor. I will NEVER do business with them again.

LORTON, VIRGINIA -- My older brother stored many of the household items from our father's house after his death at a Public Storage facility. He paid regularly in cash and put up with demands for larger amounts be paid on the unit for several years. He died in 2003 and because I did not have either the time to take everything out and discard the trash and find out exactly what he had saved plus the fact that I had added to what was being stored I began a policy of OVERPAYING the amount due every month.

This facility has not accounted for the overpayments, has been threatening every month to "sell-off" the contents of this storage, has routinely cut off my locks and replaced with their own. I have not been able to do anything as I am homeless BUT HAVE A FULLTIME JOB - to move any of the stuff to another storage facility so have had to endure their threats, etc. I find the business practices less than honest and ethical. If possible do not do business with the Lorton, VA facility.