Public Storage Consumer Reviews - Page 3

I've read some of these reviews, and all I can say is that these people should have paid attention when the agreement was explained to them. Here are some facts: If your things were auctioned, its because no payment was made in 60, 90, 45, etc days depending on your states laws. I make calls just about EVERY DAY to try to get people in to pay their bill to keep them from getting a late fee. It is not my fault if these people don't answer the phone or return my calls.

If you put a check in the night drop on the last day of the month, and we don't get it until the next morning, you're still going to be charged a 30 day fee. They do raise rates every year by a dollar or two. A letter is sent 30 days or more to the address that we have on file. Did you move? Well, its in the agreement that we need to know if you change your address.

Our locks are NOT overpriced. Where else can you get a disk lock for $11.99? Ace Hardware, $16.99. Home Depot, $15.99. Walmart, $13.99. Yes, I've looked. Insurance is required. People get mad at us if something were to happen, and blame us if their insurance is canceled. If you go 45 days late, your insurance cancels. You will have to reinstate it, on top of everything else. We can't force you to get it, but if you decline it, its totally on you if there is a fire or break in.

It's also in the agreement that we can ask for a key if there is maintenance that needs to be done on a unit. It is not personal, and no one wants to go through your stuff. Are you going to scream and holler and threaten to call the media if your apartment complex needs to get into your place to do some work? You were told how much the rent is after your pro rate. Just because you were charged something cheap for your second month doesn't mean that is the rate. It was explained to you. Its the dollar/admin fee/ lock and insurance for the first month, and a pro rated amount for the second, with a full payment due your third month.

It is also explained that we do not give refunds. The only way you would get a refund would be if you paid for say 6 months, but moved out after 3. You will not be refunded the current month, but will be refunded any months after the current one. The only way to have a discount in the month that you vacate is to let us know when you make that month's payment the date you intend to leave.

Your rent is due on the first. It doesn't matter when you moved in. That's how you get the pro rate for the second month. I can't believe some of the garbage I've read in some of these reviews. Public storage is not out to screw anyone. All you have to do is pay attention when the agreement is explained, and ask questions if you have any.

I recently moved out of my Public Storage unit after an awful experience with them. I rented the unit after moving to Houston from out of state to store some of my belongings that didn't fit in my new place. I planned to keep the unit for a few months until I moved into a larger place. The first month I was there was during daylight savings when clocks had to be set back. That came and went, the following Thursday I had to retrieve some sporting goods to play in a tournament that weekend. I arrived at the Public Storage at 8:15pm on the Thursday following daylights savings (almost a week earlier). I couldn't get past the gate and noticed the time was incorrect at the gate display.

Since I was leaving that night, I had to purchase brand new equipment to play in the tournament that was out of town. I called early the next morning to complain and my complaint was met by sarcasm and "I can't help you here attitude". She sarcastically stated that the problem was corrected and that was all she had to do. It was clear that they had breached the contract by not allowing me to gain access during hours of operation, but when told that, she became very defensive and referred me to management (whom never returned my call). Meanwhile, I had to purchase $450 of new equipment that I already own!!!

After this event, I decided I would move my possessions out immediately after moving into my larger place. So a few months later, I had moved to a larger house and before I could unpack, I had to leave town for work for two weeks. When I left town, my bank (without my knowledge) had canceled my bank card and reissued me a new one due to "suspicious transactions". Therefore, my payment to Public Storage was not processed. Upon returning home, I found my late fees was almost that of my rental fee for the month. So, I paid the ridiculous late fees and on the last day of the month I retrieved all of my possessions.

A couple of weeks later I received a bill for $1.92 for rent and insurance for one day. I called the clarify at the 1-800 number to find out that if I check out after 2pm, I have to pay for the following day! Today I am on my way to Public Storage to pay those vultures in pennies. I will NEVER rent a storage unit from these clowns again. And from the stories I have read, I got off lucky. Beware of high late fees and terrible customer service, even if they are at fault, they will treat you like garbage.

LONGMONT, COLORADO -- I rented from public storage in Longmont co. I am very disappointed in there service and attitude that I dealt with at this location. I found them online and thought "€œhey what a deal $1 for the first months rent that'™s great."€ So I made the call to hold a unit for me. They called back that day to conform my arrangement to hold the unit for me. What great customer service they have I thought to myself. They called to set up a time for me to look at the unit before I signed for it, and to make sure I knew that I will need to have one lock for the unit. Duh. So we set up the time for 2:00pm on a Friday afternoon.

On that Friday I got another call from a different person from the same store to make sure that I was going to be able to make it to the appointment. When I got to Public Storage the informed me that I have to pay a one time administration fee of $22. What? I asked. It said nothing of that online. We'€™re not required to tell you about that online. That'€™s B.S. I didn't care that much about that $22 I knew that the one month for $1 was to good to be true in the first place. But then they told me that I have to have insurance on the unit to rent it. And it'€™s only $8 dollars a month and only covers up to $1000. That'€™s a scam.

I have insurance and I don'€™t need yours at all. I told the lady that was there. Well you have to have our insurance to rent here and if indeed you have insurance than you can have your insurance fax us proof and then we will return your eight dollar plus tax. The lady told me. I told her that I know for a fact that my insurance covers my stuff no matter where it is all I have to do is tell them where it is and they will cover it. Your $1000 dollars doesn'™t even cover my CDs in storage. I don'™t need your insurance nor will I sign it just to appease you.

She told me that she will get written up if she doesn'€™t get both signature on the sheet. I told her to have a nice day and that I will be rent somewhere else then. She didn'€™t like that so she than told me that I don'™t have to sign for the insurance. Just initial it stating that you are declining the insurance. So I did. I also wrote on the line that I am declining insurance though public storage.

I had my insurance fax them proof that my stuff in there storage unit was covered. When I went in the next day to pull some stuff out and put other stuff in the storage unit I was asked by a different older lady if I had two locks on my unit. I told her no there is only one on the unit that is all that I was told to have. She asked if the other lady had told me that I had to have two locks on the unit. I again told her no I was only told to have one. The lady replied that you must have two on the unit at all times and we have the best locks you can buy for $15.99.

I told her that I will put another lock on the unit but I'€™ll run out to Wal-Mart to get it. She than told me that Wal-Mart's locks aren't as good as our locks. Ours have seven pins and Wal-Mart has only four or five pins. Ours can't be picked and if there drilled it takes five minutes to drill through the lock and with Wal-Mart'€™s locks it only takes three minutes.

Wow a whole two minutes quicker. I'€™m not buying Wal-Mart brand its "Brinks" not a crappy Wally-world brand lock. I told her She replied with. Well Wal-Mart didn't give you a storage unit for $1 for the first month like we did. That may be true but Wal-Mart did have a hidden administration fee of $22 either or even try to scam me with some insurance plan. By the way did you get the fax from my insurance company stating that my unit is covered?

Oh you'€™re that Guy she replied. WTF is that supposed to mean. Because I read contracts before I sign them that I a P.O.S. I thought to myself. So after she was finish with her pushy car salesmen act I finished with my storage unit ran to Wally-World bought another lock and put it on the unit. Not three days later one of the ladies called me saying that the is an $8.20 fee for holding the unit that I failed to pay when I was there the first day to start renting the unit.

Another hidden fee. I'm not going to pay this because I know its from the insurance that I didn'€™t take because I have insurance. it hasn'€™t even been two weeks yet and I'€™m pulling everything out of the unit in just three more days. I'™m sure there going to love me after that. DON'€™T RENT A STORAGE UNIT FROM PUBLIC STORAGE IN LONGMONT CO.

WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT -- If they verbally agree to something...can they renig??

This is long, so please pardon me. Thanks!!!

Hi.
I was searching for complaints on Public Storage and ran across my3cents.com.

I'm in a dilemma with Public Storage in West Haven, CT. In March, 2006, I became homeless after my landlord did not pay her mortgage and the bank foreclosed. The bank wanted the house empty and, I was forced to place my belongings in storage. I chose public storage because of a $1.00 special they had.

When I obtained my unit, I also applied for the 3 month stay special. I was forced to stay in a hotel, that literally took all my savings. A friend found out and told me I could stay with him. But by this time, I was all out of money and had to start over trying to save, knowing I had a storage bill. My first month prorated bill in April was $147. I paid that, but then in May, it jumped up to $211, the 2nd month. I paid it. I paid June, July and August bills of $211, sometimes $235 (late fees after the 8th).

Recently I fell behind on the payments. I was late for my September payment. After the 8th day, they attached a late fee that made it $235. After the 15th day, they attached another $75. I called and told them I didn't have the money. That took me into October. Late September, my part time job folded, and I had no income.

So now, I couldn't pay October bill. But I had asked the manager to bear with me. By the 3rd week of October, I found a job. But I had to wait to get paid. The storage manager agreed verbally, that I can make payments little by little until I bring the bill down. By my figurations, I thought that by the time I get paid, I would owe, about $700.

I get direct deposit, and my funds are placed every 16 and 5th of the month. My first paycheck was in the bank on the November 5th. On the 5th, I immediately submitted $500 to Public Storage, online payment. My bill showed that I owed $741. That would bring me late, but current with November. On November 10th I received a letter stating that they were going to auction my unit on November 14th. I called and told them I made their payment and it went through online, it was not declined. They stated that my bank informed them that they could not release the $500, and because they did not get the check, they were going to auction the unit.

I called my bank, and they told me that because it was a new account, certain restrictions were place on ATM and online debits for my protection. I explained to public storage the restrictions and told them that I can give them money everyday until the bill was paid. They agreed that I make weekly arrangements to pay a certain amount each week.

I kept those arrangements, took funds out of my bank everyday, and paid them the money on the day it was due. I had to make 3 payments in two weeks. The last week, Thanksgiving week, my final payment was $210. I was short $6.00. On November 28th, the day before my final payment, I informed them, and they told me that I will be charged an additional $75 if I didn't pay the $6. By this time, I was literally crying, but arguing the reasoning behind that... for only $6.00. The clerk offered to put in the $6.00 if I promised to pay her back.

On November 29th, I submitted my final payment of $204 ($6.00 was put in by the clerk), to a clerk, whom I did not know of. He stamped my bill as "Paid in full". I requested to vacate. They told me that in order to not owe another bill, I would have to vacate by November 30th, the following day. I told them, impossible, I would not have any funds until December 5th. I gave them all I had.

On the same night I paid the bill in full, I borrowed the money to get a big truck from Uhaul, paid a driver and another guy to help me move. We went to Public Storage. I keyed in my access code, and it stated, "access denied". But I didn't give up. The gate was open, and the guys had the idea to get my things and bring them to the gate to load the truck. I went to my storage unit, and it had a lock on it. Now I had no way to get my things, before the deadline, and I paid money for a truck and help. $150.

The following day, I went to Public Storage, paid the clerk her $6 and explained that I had come there the night before with a truck to get my things, but, there was a lock and I could not get them. She explained that she would have felt uncomfortable if she left my unit opened. I told her that I spent a lot of money on a truck I could not even use, and now I had no money for another truck or help.

I told her that now, the only way for me to get my things out is to use my Blazer. But that would take a while. I have 6 rooms of furniture!! She told me that under the circumstances, she would work with me. I promised her that I will move my things out day by day, after work. From December 1st through December 9th, I have been moving my things day by day with my Blazer. When I got paid on the 5th, I had to pay back, the person I borrowed the money to get the truck, and that left me with only $64. So, I still don't have the money for a truck.

Today, December 10th, @6AM, I went to Public Storage and took another load. Seems like it will take only about 4 more loads before I'm all moved out. At 2PM, I went back to Public Storage to get another load, and my access was refused. Now they are telling me that it's past the 8th, and before I can get anything else, I have to pay them $86. Is there anything I can do? I won't have any more money until the 16th, and it seems that they are putting me deeper and deeper in the hole. I can't wait to stop dealing with Public Storage. I just want them out of my life!!!

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- I made the mistake of using their self storage company back at the beginning of September 2006. I have never used self storage before so I booked a reservation online with Public Storage. Their website was easy to navigate and setting up a reservation was actually pretty easy. My movers were on time and everything was actually going smoothly as far as the moving process. I followed the online directions and the Public Storage location I had printed out driving directions on was not there! I stopped into a Shurgard Storage and they had let me know they were in fact the Public Storage and something about Public recently merged with them.

I gave them my reservation number, and the person working there went to show me the storage unit. When they opened it there was a drunk man sleeping inside the unit. I was shocked. Not only was he apparently living in the storage unit he was using it as a restroom. I was utterly disgusted. The manager apologized to me and offered to transfer me into another unit, and said they would take care of the situation later. We spent another 30 minutes in the office trying to locate a space that would accommodate me while my movers where waiting outside.

My movers were being paid by the hour and I had been there just a little over an hour and nothing had been moved in yet. The person behind the counter told me there was no more units to move into and offered to go take care of the situation so I could move in. I said NO WAY. She then found a unit for me at a facility another 20 minutes drive from that location and transferred my reservation. When I arrived there I found a sign on the door that said they would be back in the next 15 minutes... 50 minutes later I see this person come up and unlock the door and let me in.

This individual who claimed to be the manager had to have the worst personal appearance I had seen that day aside from the vagrant found in my original storage unit at the other location. With no apology for the delay the manager proceeds to take their time, shows me the unit which I found was acceptable. More time passes while my movers wait because the manager is going over the 30 minutes of paperwork that I had done for the second time. I bought my lock and was given a code to access the gate.

The manager let my movers in to get me moved finally and I thought all the calamity was over. It turns out I finished the move after the office had closed. I put my code into the gate correctly and the gate DID NOT OPEN. I called the office number to see what I could do and I was rolled over to the manager's voice mail. I eventually waited until someone came to access the property to exit with my movers. After paying an enormous moving bill I called the store again to complain where I had moved into. It turns out the manager was illiterate and wrote the wrong code on my card. They told me next time I came up there they could fix that issue for me.

I asked if I could get the code over the phone because I needed to go there later that evening after the store closed. They told me they couldn't give codes over the phone and I just had to wait until I could come in during business hours. I plan to get my items out of storage as soon as my home is ready to move in. The sooner the better. I just hope my stuff is safe for the time being.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA -- Raised rates again $50/mo. 2nd increase in less than two years. Would leave immediately but had recent back operation and unable to lift for four months.

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Advertised enticing rates. Accepted. Happy at the time.
Robbed within a week.

While filling out report with police:
Cops called on another robbery same place same day.

EVERYTHING I HAD = GONE.
Money can replace some things, others not.

Family heirlooms from father, grandfather. Gone.
Personal writing, sound recordings, music. Gone.
Carpentry tools, mechanics tools MADE IN USA. Gone.

Any faith in Public Storage. Gone.

Stay away.
Stay away.

MINNETONKA MN -- The manager Suzanne was more than helpful. She picked out a unit that exactly fit my needs. She showed me the unit and how to operate the lock. She went over the paperwork with me. She answered my questions appeared to enjoy her work. She was well spoken, intelligent, and solution oriented. She made me feel very welcome. My only problem with public storage is that they sent out a bill for a second month when I was only renting for one month. I suspect that second month invoice will be retracted since I have now vacated.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA -- Received notice that my storage rent was due "BEFORE NOV 2ND 2013". If not paid a lien would be placed and my lock cut and unit to be scheduled for auction. That in itself is acceptable terms as I was running a month behind on paying my rent for the last 2 previous months but I was always able to get my payment in just under the lien date deadline. When I received the preliminary Lien Notice I was okay with its terms because I receive my temporary disability (emergency surgery) payment on November 1st. 2013. So I proceeded to go into the facility cash in hand to pay my bill on Nov 1st at 9 AM which is before Nov 2nd it is right or is there another calendar I'm unaware of.

LOCK IS CUT, LIEN PLACED, UNIT SCHEDULED FOR AUCTION and when did this occur I asked and the very rude representative said it occurred at the stroke of midnight Oct 31st/Nov 1st I showed him the notice where it stated payment due before Nov 2nd he stated that they could take possession of the unit any time they wanted.

I completed the "DECLARATION IN OPPOSITION TO LIEN SALE" Public storage filed in small claims court we go to court Jan 14th at 8:30 AM Dept N10. Any direction of regulations or codes that anyone believes would be relevant would be great. Oh and they were also charging me a $30.00 late fee but legally at most they can only charge $15.00 civil code 21713.5