Public Storage
Reviews and Complaints

I completely agree! I haven't had the unit a year yet and the rent was increased by $32 or 18%. I signed the contract to have the unit at a price and expected that this would be the price for a minimum of a year. Laws need to be put in place restricting the maximum increase and also limiting the increase to an annual basis. Class action lawsuit or something needed.

I absolutely agree. They reel you in with $1 a month initiation fee then over the course of years your rent becomes hundreds of dollars. For example, for the first 3 months of my thus far 3 year lease I pain $25. Now, I pay $200 a month. They insidiously increase the rent without notice- you just get a bill with increased amounts every 6 months or so.
Additionally they require insurance for your belonging while in their storage facility which is yet another way they get to charge you more.
I plan to get my item out ASAP, write a letter to their company directors and disperse this warning to anyone who is thinking of storage with Public storage.
Thank you.

The admins decided that chapter 13 of the Tasha was getting dull.

"Get off this website I talked to several members S Lang and they said they don't want you on this website. They don't want narcs on this website.' The several members Tasha is referring too, are her many alias's.

You know what OP I urge you not to use this website. This admin on this website are not helpful and they allow people like Tasha13 to troll on the website while we are treated like we are the ones in the wrong. I have tried to submit a complaint three times and they would not allow it to go through without approval. This is sad because people like Tasha13 are allowed to post rude comments to other people and not get into trouble for it. (If you click on her username she has 30 pages of comments) Yet when we post we need our posts approved. It seems like this site favors members such as Tasha13 and punishes us just for sharing our experiences. The fact that they do not allow complaints for their own website shows just how poorly it is ran and that they have no intent to improve.

Tasha does not work period. As a matter of fact she is a high school drop out. She's 15 too young to work.

Tasha forgot to log out of his MBT account and log back in to comment on his tasha account. Bwahahaha!

Tasha forgot to log out of his Middle Born Triplet account and log back in and comment as Tasha. Bwahahaha! Classic dooshbaggery.

Okay now that you got the truth you can all forget about this review.

The cops are insisting I tell the truth. I never had the clothing stolen. I removed it myself in hopes of getting if not $3000 from them at least something. They are now charging me with filing a fake theft report. They did and investigation and found out that none of the clothing was infact stolen.

Key sentence:

"unless the advertisement or offer clearly states that the property advertised is limited in specific quantity or for a specified time period"

Public storage omits this information from their sham agreements, and in our case, lied to us about it in person."

18VAC135-20-300. Misrepresentation/Omission.

Actions constituting misrepresentation or omission, or both, include:

1. Using "bait and switch" tactics by advertising or offering real property for sale or rent with the intent not to sell or rent at the price or terms advertised, unless the advertisement or offer clearly states that the property advertised is limited in specific quantity or for a specified time period and the licensee did in fact have at least that quantity for sale or rent at that price or terms at the time of advertising;

2. Failure by a licensee representing a seller or landlord as a standard agent to disclose in a timely manner to a prospective purchaser or tenant all material adverse facts pertaining to the physical condition of the property which are actually known by the licensee;

3. Failing as a licensee to tender promptly to the buyer and seller every written offer, every written counteroffer, and every written rejection to purchase, option or lease obtained on the property involved;

4. Failure by a licensee acting as an agent to disclose in a timely manner to the licensee's client all material facts related to the property or concerning the transaction when the failure to so disclose would constitute failure by the licensee to exercise ordinary care as defined in the brokerage agreement;

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 4 of this section, a licensee acting as a dual representative shall not disclose to one client represented in the dual representation confidential information relating to the transaction obtained during the representation of another client in the same dual representation unless otherwise provided by law;

6. Failing to include the complete terms and conditions of the real estate transaction, including but not limited to any lease, property management agreement or offer to purchase;

7. Failing to include in any application, lease, or offer to purchase identification of all those holding any deposits;

8. Knowingly making any false statement or report, or willfully misstating the value of any land, property, or security for the purpose of influencing in any way the action of any lender upon:

a. Applications, advance discounts, purchase agreements, repurchase agreements, commitments or loans;

b. Changes in terms or extensions of time for any of the items listed in this subdivision 8 whether by renewal, deferment of action, or other means without the prior written consent of the principals to the transaction;

c. Acceptance, release, or substitution of security for any of the items listed in subdivision 8 a of this section without the prior written consent of the principals to the transaction;

9. Knowingly making any material misrepresentation; and

10. Making a false promise through agents, salespersons, advertising, or other means.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2105 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR585-01-1 § 6.11, eff. July 15, 1987; amended, Volume 05, Issue 23, eff. October 1, 1989; Volume 07, Issue 14, eff. May 15, 1991; Volume 08, Issue 13, eff. May 15, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 18, eff. June 28, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 05, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 19, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2003; Volume 24, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2008; Volume 31, Issue 26, eff. November 1, 2015.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

As a service to the public, the Virginia Administrative Code is provided online by the Virginia General Assembly. We are unable to answer legal questions or respond to requests for legal advice, including application of law to specific fact. To understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult an attorney.

We were baited ans switched. We signed up online for $158 / month. I asked at the store in person if this was an introductory rate and we were told that sometimes the rates might go up "like after a year or something, but usually only by like $5 dollars." Obviously I wasn't comfortable with this answer so I read every word of our agreement and there was no language citing that this was an introductory rate, nothing specifying a time frame for a rate increase, or any other verbiage of the sort. Six months in, I notice my AMEX is getting auto-hit for $199. I'd say $41 is a little more than "like $5 dollars." Pure bait and switch from a company that pays its CEO $7.5MM per year+. Awful and stressful experience. It's said that they have to resort to unfair and deceptive practices such as this. Public Storage has so many units and so many properties, grabbing $100+ from every one of those units is more than enough to enrich themselves, but instead they run a highly competitive sales game with districts and regions, and focus solely on the bottom line, which unfortunately, gives them the peace of mind to screw people.

GO See my "pissed consumer.com" public storage complaint posted 04/09/15 its about the same as everyone else, but with an "Ignore them " twist. Got less than two weeks to fix a situation (no written notice, but a hate filled tirade on the phone where I was using computer) NOW their ears are covered, their eyes are shut, they are saying over and over Who? who are you? in person I marched in, and proved my key fit the lock, how did I do it if I am not at that Pomona Ca facility ? Yes, it is so wrong to lie and say I don't rent there. They want your money and your spare change. By the way, Charging you to pay( And making it the only way to pay) MUST BE ILLEGAL. Period.

The law firm of Berger & Montague, P.C., located in Philadelphia PA, is currently investigating unfair and deceptive trade practices involving this business, including excessive termination fees. If you have any information concerning this company's termination procedures or practices, please contact Kim Walker toll free at [protected] or [protected], or by e-mail: info@bm.net. For more information about this case, visit our website www.bergermontague.com.

Berger & Montague, P.C., attorneys are licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, and some of our attorneys are licensed to practice in additional jurisdictions, including New York, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., California and Connecticut. Our firm litigates cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. On occasions where the firm practices in jurisdictions in which one of our attorneys is not licensed, we associate with that court on a "for that case only" basis and/or associate with locally licensed counsel.

Advertising Material

Agree - no customer gets the first month for $1!.
we are investigating this and also gate lockouts & excessive late fees and appreciate all comments.
Dale Washington, Attorney [protected] washington.dale@gmail.com

Public Storage certainly appears to use bait and switch tactics. The sales reps at the physical locations say that they don't have internet, so they can't see the prices and therefore won't honor them. They also claim that they can't hold a unit that was reserved online. Then they offer you another unit for slightly higher price.

I agree about the bait and switch!

Mr. David Lee, I hold you personally responsible for the illegal, unethical treatment I received from Public Storage. What you do to people in need of a storage unit during these trying times is unconscionable. The internet has served you well in your quest for money, creating chaos, covering up the truth, leaving customers in your wake of confusion, at a loss, low on funds, defeated, knowing they have been ripped off, yet too overwhelmed to fight. You deliberately destroy people's lives, setting them up to lose money and their belongings. First you don’t honor your advertised price, you demand we give you our CDL along with our banking information for autopay telling us it is more convenient for us when the reality is you abuse the control of our money and make unauthorized withdrawals, in fact you do not except payment online unless we sign up for autopay, you overcharge, overbill, send false lien notices, illegally sell our belongings for pennies, and continue to bill us for storage rent after the sale of our belongings. Shame on you.

Enlighten yourself, Mr. Lee and learn the results of your actions as the CEO of Public Storage, this is what your company does to people:

Public Storage is dishonest, your business practices are unethical, you start by NOT honoring the advertised one month for $1.00 promotion, then switch customer over to the 50% off one month promotion, false advertising, bait and switch, this is just the beginning of grooming the customer to think Public Storage is always right, like we are a bunch of idiots, throughout all your business transactions you will never admit your mistakes, you never make any price adjustments in the customers favor, you will always be charging us more any way you can, could be unethical, illegal, or illegal with possible loop hole, you play the predatory billing game, you bombard us with an overabundance of confusing inaccurate bills, sending constant letters and emails, changing the bill due date, showing unexplained late and lien charges, saying we are late when we are not, you make critical errors that you do not admit, negligence, you base your billing on these errors and unlawfully charge us more money, you do not post our payments, the late charges keep coming, more wrong amounts, you send us lien threats more late notices, give unlawful rent increases30% or more every 6 mo. or less. We have no way to fight you, get your attention, get answers, you do not answer calls, you do not return calls or messages, we cannot send you emails they are returned; you act like it’s a fake website doing all the crazy billing and harassment but it’s really you, fraud, in order to take our money you don’t allow customers to pay online without giving CDL and bank information, you want people to sign up for your autopay, you tell your managers not to except payments at the location, store hours are often not kept and therefore not accessible for us to make payments or get customer service, your website only collects money and does not offer customer service, we cannot send you a message or contact you through the website, no

message center, you restrict our gate access even when our account is paid up to date, you will not allow a 2 weeks' notice to move out, you do not prorate a month for anything except to switch $1.00 month for the 50% month, you require a 30 days' notice to move out then add on an extra month, or you ignore our move out notice all together, you lie to your employees which in turn they lie to us, employees keep telling us to go online to communicate with management this cannot be done, to add to the confusion you send out contest notices where all we need to do is give you our CDL to enter and win $1000, a scam to get our information, you make it impossible to call you by deliberately recognizing a customer's phone number as NOT a customer, this is done on purpose after a lien is placed so we cannot get a hold of you, even if we pay your ridiculous bill you just keep adding on more charges, when we give notice to move we get more outrages bills to pay thus making it impossible for us to move out, you always leave our account in bad standing just to keep us locked out, we are not allowed to get our belongings and you try to get more money out of us, you unlawfully schedule auctions, you wrongfully auction off our storage contents, and finally to add insult to injury you continue to bill us for storage after the auction.

I was sent a notice that said “pay this today or we keep adding charges on every day”

There is no end to your manipulation, no bill is ever final with you Mr. Lee, your company focuses on stealing money from people by getting their bank information, then you try to convince the customer it’s their fault, you send out fraudulent statements to see if you can get even more money, like maybe we won't notice or we are stupid or desperate enough to pay, you tell us to pay at that very moment or else, the customer is exactly where you want them pay, pay, pay, or lose their business, life’s work, and all of their belongings. You don’t work with people or provide them with a service, you take advantage of them during hard times, drain their bank accounts, and destroy their dreams. You refuse to work with the BBB, an organization who helps people. If not for the judicial system, we would have nowhere to turn.

God bless America.

How was your issue resolved? They claim that it was solved

I have had good experiences in renting with small storage companies and generally good experience with Public Storage as far as the service from the employees concerned. One exception was an employee in Boynton beach FL who did not warn me she was giving me a unit which required their specialty lock for extra $20.00. But generally, behind PS is a greedy bunch of people, whoever they are...investment bankers? They give you "teaser" internet rates, and soon jack your rate up substantially. I assume they figure you will continue to pay more instead of moving your stuff...LOL. I didn't want to move a full 10X20 even when the rate got over $200, a ridiculous amount for an empty tin box with a cement floor! My suggestion is think twice before renting from them, look for other places, or ask for a written guarantee of a price for a period of time...not verbal promises. They're laughing all the way to the bank, of course!

On Tuesday May 29, 2018, I got stuck at Public Storage on Lee Highway in Centreville, VA. I was there for about 3 hours from 8 to about 11. While there I called Public Storage’s corporate and talked to people who did nothing but blame me for being stuck. I told them the door was malfunctioning. They told me it’s not opening because I left late. That was not the case. Something was wrong with the gate. They berated me and yelled at me. One of the women I talked to was so rude scolding at me “pay attention”, but I was trying to talk to bother her and the police officer, who was on the other side of the gate to help me. Not once did any of them agree with me that the door was malfunctioning. After multiple attempts, I talked to a representative, who told me to call the local police, as they should have a code to open me. So I called the police who tried codes they had. None worked. He talked to them and spent two hours punching in codes to no avail. No one in that company told me of any plan to get me out of there. At around 11, I parked my car in the back and the police drove me home. The next day I called Public Storage about 20 times. Literally. I was nervous about my car being towed while I was working. At about noon I took Uber and got my car from public storage. When I got there the alternative gate was opened because the normal gate was malfunctioning like I told them. I went inside and told the employee that I had to leave my car overnight. Her response was “Oh, so that is why your car was there this morning” I was waiting in line to talk to her about how I had to take uber and how I believe the company should pay for it. She then said to me “So what do you want?” Stunned at her unempathetic response, I just left and got out of the line. It was so rude.
When I went home I wrote a review both on their Instagram page about what happened to me and them on Yelp and Google. The Public Storage Instagram blocked me. The next day (Thusday) I got a call from Public Storage District Manager Jillian Gonzalez. The very first sentence out of her mouth was “how do you feel?” Bewildered by that question, I said I feel fine. Second sentence was to tell me that she called me because she saw my review and then told me to delete it because it would hurt her performance. Taken aback by the same apathy I got from the woman when I picked up my car, I said I would think about it. I didn’t think they did anything to justify me removing the bad review. Because to me, if I knew someone got stuck in a facility I was in charge of and I couldn’t find that person, especially a woman, I would call that person ASAP to make sure they are okay. She didn’t do that. The other ‘manager” who supposedly checked up on me didn’t do that. The woman working at Public storage when I picked up my care couldn’t care less as well. Jillian also told me she talked to me that night I was stuck. So she knew I was stuck there. No excuse why she waited till a negative review to check up on me. She then went to tell me she had someone come to check on me two nights prior. She never told me of this person that night that I called. In fact, I left that place believing no one would come to open the gate for me and that Public Storage, including Jillian Gonzalez, shrugged their shoulders and left me there.

Later when I got home, I saw a self-gratifying email District Gonzalez Jillian Gonzalez sent me where she said things to the tune of ‘I am sorry I tried so hard to help you and you couldn’t be helped’, ‘I am sorry that I sent someone and when they came you were not there’ “I…, I…, I …, I…”. I emailed her back and asked her why she never told me that she sent someone to help me? I got off the phone with her thinking no one would come and that they didn’t really care. I got off the phone with them STILL accusing me of leaving late, and still giving me new codes to put in the access system, after telling them multiple times that the gate was malfunctioning. She emailed me back saying she told the police officer she was going to bring someone. I told her why would you tell the police officer and not me? It makes NO sense. I am the paying customer of this storage facility who happened to have gotten locked inside because of a malfunctioning gate. But you tell a third party, who never told me, that you are bringing someone. I am a woman stuck outside of a gated facility that has NO lights, pitch dark and I’m frightened. Also the police officer told me himself that I should call them the next morning and “let them have it.
I told her I won’t remove my review to help her work “performance”, which I took to mean her BONUS check would be affected by me leaving a bad review. Her response to me was to tell me that her boss knows everything and sat there with her during her phone call where she told me to remove my review so she could get a better performance score. She also told me she has tried time and time again to apologize and make my experience pleasant. In the same email she told me about a man named Dilraj who “who left his 6 month old BABY at home with his wife to drive to the property.” And I found that comment about the baby to be not only laughable but asinine. REALLY? I felt like she was guilting me by saying he had to leave his 6 month old to come get me. He is a manager doing his job. I am sure he doesn’t take his baby to work. And I’m sure Jillian doesn’t take her daughter to work. I don’t take my kids to work. No one does. That is how it is. I never complained to her about leaving my family to be stuck, nor did I say how when I went home my family was asleep. Because I never blamed her nor Public Storage for being stuck there. Because I know it was a mistake. When you are a manager you are responsible for unintended problems that arises. That is what Dilraj and Jillian Gonzalez signed up for.
She then told me she offered to pay for my Uber fare because she felt sorry for me, but she can tell that cannot turn my experience around. No you should offer because you are LEGALLY responsible for paying it. You are not doing me a favor. I sent my receipt to her MULTIPLE times with NO reimbursement. I have tried calling her, because I felt her emails to me were her self-serving way of telling her bosses what she did, instead of conversing with me. She doesn’t pick up. In fact she stopped communicating with me. Half her emails were also about how “my boss knows everything” “I am forwarding this to my boss”. Which tells me she never meant to pay me back in the first place. Her whole purpose in contacting me, which she admitted to when she first contacted me TWO days after the incident, was to make sure I remove my review, for her to get a lucrative payday. When I didn’t her boss and her obviously came up with a plan to ignore me, because they were going to lose money due to a bad performance review. Jillian Gonzalez knows better. She worked at Target as a team leader for 3 years after working there for another 4 years, and knows customer service. I’m sure having a degree in English from Stony Brook University didn’t help much but she has worked in customer service enough to know that you don’t dodge a customer for 7 months. I didn’t know how to go about it because it was obvious she was upset, but why should I remove a review for a woman who did nothing but SCOLD me about someone leaving their BABY at home to take care of a customer who was stuck at a place for 3 hours at night? Having been a manager before. I would have made it right with my customer. And made sure to follow up. She hasn’t contacted me, but I have made attempts to contact her. To me she is retaliating by ignoring me.

Please do not use this company. Jillian Gonzalez is a horrible District manager and the worst manager of ANY company I have ever dealt with. When I left public storage, my items had water damage ALL over them and also water was all over my items. And there are BUGS. I called them about that several times, and they never pick up. Public storage directs phone calls by if you are a current renter or not. If you are not people will pick up, if you are good luck getting someone. Once you are a customer they don’t care. Jillian needs more training in being a manager. She has failed big time.

After calling with complaints about your employee misconduct by joyce harassing with verbal and physical intrusions by placing obstacles and removing assistive devices to restrict accessability that prevent customer to conduct peaceful quiet uninterrupted business. This is ongoing since price was increased from quote heard on speakerphone and among 6 contract violations perpetrated by public storage employee against Gary Rosenthal. The discriminatory practice are excessively impeding my attempts to remove my storage prior to incurring additional fees and afterwards you told me to pay anyways for Jan when I agreed on the contingency that there were workers at a building that i supervise and I believe that will be done by 3 and they weren't so I called you and I have called you several times and left 3 messages to reschedule the appt to pay you and pick up my things as you know joyce at public storage on Venice stands outside smoking her cigarette and quickly goes in side and locks door loudly obviously so I can hear her while she deliberately prevents our agreement and Joyce has breached several contract terms on several occasions that I recorded during the time I fully paid for 2 months in advance. I had not been allowed gate access like everyone else and forced to wait for ridiculously extended time periods for her to tell me she knows I'm there because she watching the camera but Joyce says I have to wait because shes too busy to let me in.
..

The "$1 move-in special' is just to get the phone to ring.

My total for the absolutely smallest space they had was $57.35

The force you to purchase insurance to cover $3, 000 and up even though there are no less than 3 safegaurds to access the facility (one even on each elevator ride!) making this insurance completely frivilous and a rip off.

Then they add administration fees.

Buyer beware.

I have well had a storage at public storage in Sacramento ca.. A few days ago I went to get some things out of it my code wouldnt work so I went in and thee manger tells me we have till 3pm to get are things out because we are evicted due to breakin contract rules. How can she do this and just keep my families stuff? She knows my family and I are homeless and everything we have is in there. We tried to get it all out but we couldn't find a uhaul then my sister and my son were in a car accident so now no car. I really can't believe they can do this all my moms things I just lost my mom in October.. If anyone knows what I can do to stop them please let me know... I have tried talking to main manger but she won't return my calls.

Why do consumers bother with public storage anyways, their is plenty of mom and pop self storage areas with good customer service, safe and affordable.
I found one here in Pasadena, CA 91105 they are called Raymond Avenue Self Storage on Raymond between Del mar and California if you are familiar with the area. The manager Carlos is very nice, respectful and professional. I got a unit for 3 months 1/2 off just the other day and they told me up front that the rates never go up. Only two employees work their and they keep the place clean and safe. Call them let them know Mr. Lee sent you for a great discount. Overall look around your area for a self storage facility and stop giving your money to big business like public storage.

Me again - I should have mentioned that I got in on a half-price special offer (they offered, I didn't ask), and I scrupulously pay on time. The manager has seen my car (a very nice car, but borrowed) and he's seen how fully packed but nicely organized my space is. I've been visiting my space more frequently lately. I just wonder if all this info somehow was involved with their decision to bump my rent by ~28% in a single 6 month period..

My rent just got jacked nearly 28% (not counting the insurance) after only six months, after promises made (on the phone and in person when I moved in) that the rate would be locked in as long as I kept the unit.
For a storage operator's viewpoint about when to raise rent, see this article (it's "always", by the way):
http://www.insideselfstorage.com/blogs/speak/2012/02/10-things-to-consider-when-raising-selfstorage-rent.aspx
archived at http://www.webcitation.org/6GqrJa7jI
In the article, it's said that long-time renters of larger units on upper floors tolerate increases. Mine is a large unit on a high floor, and I just moved in. Let's just see how well I "tolerate" 28%. Will advise.

I worked for PS years ago and now rent a unit from them. I rented two years ago and have had two rent increases since then. I can't wait to move and get our things out of their facility. They are heartless and make me feel at times that they want to be able to auction off your property to make even more money. When I worked for them in the 1980"s. I do not recall us raising customer's rent thay ofen...it is just sad how they operate!

you need to provide which state you are in because permissible late fees, notices and things differ.

You probably had nothing but crap stored in the first place. Good luck suing, jackoff.

Rent is ALWAYS due on the first of each month. Between the 7th and 11th is when a late fee incurs (this is dependent on if you are a former Shurgard tenant or PS tenant.) After 30 days of non payment a $50 lien fee is assessed, and your lock will have been cut off and replaced with a secured company lock at this time. The following month, auctions are held towards the end of any given month. In total, an individual will have had 6-7 weeks to pay their entire balance owned to retain their possessions. During this time frame, we call tenants on a weekly basis, for the delinquency. We mail out certified letters to the address on file, if the letters are returned to us (Invalid address, unclaimed, refused, etc.) we retain it in your file. These letters are mailed out 15 days after rent becomes overdue. Also, the public auction information is published. PS has strict procedures for handling delinquent tenants, and in my district, if there is even the smallest problem in our legal procedure we do not sell them. You signed a lease stating all these guidelines. The amount you owe is less the amount paid by the bidder who purchased your possessions. Consider paying your bills ontime.

You're a clown.