RENTERS BEWARE!!! HEADACHES ABOUND!!!
Simply put, these guys guys would rather nickel and dime you then to win your loyalty.
Here are the problems I have had with this storage company:
1) Management raised my rent 18% (from $56 to $66) about 6 months after I first secured the locker. This is not normal with other companies. Alternatively, Manhattan Storage (LES, Manhattan) and IStoreGreen (Forte Green, Brooklyn) NEVER raised my rent over a period of 3 years and 1.5 years - respectively (I left both because I had moved and thus terminated my contract with them).
2) Others have noted this same issue: the locker size I ended up with was smaller than the one I had reserved (by as much as 1'x1'). When I asked for the locker I reserved, they said there were no more of those units available. When I asked, they did not agree to offer a price adjustment either. So no compassion or discount for the bait and switch they performed on me, and right away I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. What was I to do, haul my belongings to another company? In hindsight, I should have.
3) When I first signed the agreement for the storage locker, they asked for a credit card for recurring payments. The card I wanted to use for recurring payment was at home. Living close-by, I would have taken a few minutes and returned with it, but I was actually leaving to catch a plane overseas. The staff person said "no problem, just create an online account using your account number and enter the credit card info there to make individual or recurring payments." When attempting to do this,the website continually showed error messages when entering my account number. I later called to give them my credit card info over the phone (for recurring payments), but they said I needed to do this in person and authorize / sign a recurring payment form. I was then told there were $25 in late fees resulting from my non-payment. I explained the issue I had with their website and that I was overseas and could not visit to authorize such payment. Upon returning to NYC, I complained to management and finally they refunded me the $25 charged for late fees.
4) They force you to get insurance, which is $20 per month on top of your normal rate for $5000 of coverage. I furnished a copy of my renter's insurance to have them waive the fee, and they would not accept the copy I gave them. THEY WANTED THE ORIGINAL, forcing me to return yet again to furnish proof of my own insurance.
5) On March 31, 2014, I contacted Storage Deluxe by phone to inform them that I wanted to vacate my storage unit sometime in early April, or a week or 2 later. I said I may not come in until the weekend (April 5th or 6th). I asked if I should put my notice in writing, as the contract states I should (contract states I need to give them 10 days advance written notice to vacate). I spoke to a Jason Dietz who works there and he informed me that I did not need to write a letter and that he would note my intentions on my account. I also asked him to remove the credit card on file for recurring payments, and suggested that I make the final prorated amount in cash. He responded by saying, "yes, when you come in I will prorate the amount you owe and you can pay however you want - cash or credit card - and it should come to about $2 to $3 per day. So don't worry about being charged a full month." Well, when I went there to remove my belongings today, April 10, 2014, to my surprise there was a manager's lock on my storage unit. I inquired and they said I owed them 1 FULL MONTH of rent PLUS $10 fee for the late payment. I explained to them what Jason Dietz promised me over the phone. The woman read his notes aloud and then called her manager to ask if she could pro-rate the amount for me. He told her "no" and asked her to suggest that I "read the contract", which does indeed state that the company does not pro-rate. what tri-state area storage companies do not pro-rate? I have used 4 different companies and all of them pro-rate the first and final months. Alternatively, I received a check for a prorated refund when I vacated my unit with Manhattan Storage. Simply put, these guys guys would rather nickel and dime you then to win your loyalty. I asked them why they didn't charge a full month when you first secure a storage unit (e.g. if you were to sign up for a unit during the last week of the month), and they said that doing so "would not be fair". As you could probably guess, my reply was "exactly!!".
6) I was pulling files from my locker there at about 10 minutes to close. When I went to leave, the doors and security gate were both closed. I panicked until I found an emergency door to 38th St.
7) Lastly, the folks working behind the counter are not very helpful nor do they seem eager to please. There is a general "take it or leave it" attitude' with them. Don't expect them to win your customer loyalty with service.
The 1-star remaining is for cleanliness.
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