I moved my stuff out on August 21, 2021 after storing it in one of their climate controlled units since February 2020.
When I opened my unit I found mold on all of my wood furniture, several duffle bags filled with clothes and sheets were damp to the touch, boxes of games were damp and collapsed...this was all obvious at a glance. While unpacking over the next couple weeks, I found countless items that were also damaged. Thankfully, I paid for insurance and Orange Door is now processing my claim, but they will not give me the full value of what it will cost to replace the furniture that was damaged, nor will they be able to properly compensate me for the sentimental items lost, such as items I inherited from my deceased grandparents and professional photos of my nephew and nieces as infants that are now warped from the dampness.
What is absolutely unbelievable to me is Public Storage's response, (or lack of response). On August 21st after I discovered the issue, I notified the MOD (manager on duty). She came down to the unit, took pictures for documentation of the larger more obviously contaminated items I left behind partially for this reason, and told my sister and I that she would refund two months payments but that was all she had authority to do and would pass on her notes and pictures to the DM (District Manager) so they could get in touch with me within the next few days. Those few days went past without word from the DM, so I went back to talk to MOD in person to inquire why, but to also come to an understanding about the items left in the unit. She said a note in my file had been made that they had called, but that my voicemail box was full and they were unable to leave a message. I immediately cleared my voicemail and the MOD said she would re-submit the issue to the DM. In regards to the items left; on my moving date I had rented a truck for 1 day, due to wanting to have some of the larger and more obvious items there for her to take note of and not wanting to move the larger furniture that was clearly covered in mold and most likely not in a condition to recover into my residence before cleaning, I only took the larger items that were all of sentimental value. After attempting to clean and treat these items on my front lawn it was clear that they were also past recovery. After careful consideration I decided that the larger items left behind were most likely the in the same condition and I also no longer had access to the truck to move them. I explained this to the MOD and asked her if we could come up with some kind of understanding for final removal from the unit, she had already offered me use of their company dumpster, I suggested either they would remove the items to their dumpster themselves or they would reimburse me for the truck rental required for me to transport the items to their dumpster. She seemed agreeable to coming to an arrangement and said she would put it in the notes to discuss with the DM. My unit was cancelled and my key removed that same day, as I did not hear back from the MOD or anyone with Public Storage about these items in the weeks afterward, I assumed Public Storage had taken care of the disposal.
4 weeks after the initial incident is the first time the DM has attempted to contact me, and her reason for contacting me was not about the fact that their storage facility failed to provide a climate controlled environment causing me to lose half of my household items...but to ask me when I was coming to remove the rest of my items from storage. Furthermore, she told me that the MOD had no authority to refund me the two months payments promised, and that she would not be willing to either and also that they would charge me for the removal of the items left behind if I did not come to dispose of them. She absolutely took no responsibility for Public Storage's care of my items, instead accusing me of bringing the items into the unit in this condition.
I have posted this story on a local Facebook page urging others to check their units. 3 people have confirmed finding mold in their units. I now suspect that the buildings on this property flooded at some point and Public Storage failed to notify unit holders! Unforgivable! read more