1-STAR REVIEW - BEWARE OF THE "LOW" INTRODUCTORY RATE
I would give ZERO stars if Google allowed it.
My experience with Public Storage has been extremely frustrating and, quite frankly, feels like a bait-and-switch.
When I originally rented my unit, the advertised monthly rate was $145. The office staff wasn't familiar with the pricing, so I was directed to the Public Storage website to complete the rental. I paid the additional $21 for the lock, plus taxes and an administrative fee. Fine. I understood those were additional charges and expected my monthly rental rate to remain at the advertised $145.
I also understood that I would receive a benefit/discount for setting up automatic payments.
Based on that rate, I made the decision to move my belongings from another storage facility in Kutztown. I rented a truck, spent the time and money to move everything, and transferred all of my belongings to this Public Storage location because it was newer and approximately 15 minutes closer to my home.
Three months later, I received a letter telling me my rent was being increased.
My new rent would be $207 PLUS $12.42 in tax, for a total of $219.42 per month.
Let that sink in.
$145 $207 in rent.
That's a $62 monthly increase--more than 42%--after only approximately three months. Once taxes are included, I'm now paying $219.42 per month.
If I had been told upfront that my $145 rate could jump this dramatically within just a few months, I never would have moved my belongings here in the first place.
And getting someone to actually address the issue has been another problem. I made multiple attempts to contact Phil Blazejewski and did not receive a return call. I eventually spoke with Linda, who offered a $20-per-month concession for only three months.
I appreciate that Linda attempted to help, but a temporary $20 concession does NOT resolve the problem. What happens after those three months? I'm right back to paying $219.42.
There is also another significant inconvenience: even though we have a key card to access the facility, there are specific hours during which customers are permitted to enter. So despite having a key card, we cannot simply access our belongings whenever we need to. This is another limitation that should be made very clear to customers before they make the decision to move their belongings there.
And here's the part that really says something about how I feel about this experience:
I currently have TWO additional storage units at this same property for two family members.
After this experience, I am now seriously considering moving ALL THREE UNITS somewhere else.
Public Storage may have the right under its rental agreement to increase rates, but customers also have the right to decide whether this type of business practice is worth their money. A more than 42% increase after only a few months is unacceptable to me.
The real issue isn't simply that prices can increase. It's the magnitude of the increase, how quickly it happened, the lack of clear communication, the difficulty getting someone to return my calls, and the fact that I incurred the expense and inconvenience of moving everything based on the original advertised rate.
I feel like I was attracted by a $145 rate, invested considerable time and money moving my belongings, and then was hit with a dramatically higher rate once my belongings were already there.
That's not the kind of customer experience I expect from a company as large as Public Storage.
Public Storage needs to seriously reconsider how it handles rental increases and how clearly those increases are communicated to customers before they make a significant commitment and move their belongings.
I am asking Public Storage management to personally review my account and provide a reasonable, sustainable monthly rate--not another temporary concession.
Until then, I cannot recommend Public Storage. In fact, based on my experience, I would strongly encourage anyone considering renting a unit here to ask exactly how long their quoted rate is guaranteed and how much their rent can increase before moving their belongings.
I wish I had asked those questions before I moved. read more
