Storage insurance mis-selling

eddddy

archiepea wrote: »

We do have a copy of a contract which they have given us (2004) but it seems to include the recommendations of the 2008 SSA, which seems a little strange.

We would just like to see what another 2004-style contract looked like for comparison.

We are also going to go down the SAR route to get more information.

Thanks

Hi archiepea

Their contract may allow them to revise the t&cs from time-to-time. (In the same way as you periodically get updates to credit card t&cs). The contract may explain how those updates are communicated.

So your brother-in-lay may well be bound by their 2013 t&cs at the moment. (Unless you are investigating something they did in 2004 which was a breach of their t&cs at that time, for example.)

pelirocco

horacewimp wrote: »

Hhmm, I seem to have confused the MSE site with a forum for apologists for corporate sharp practice.:(

Yes, agree, research in this case was not great. Exceptional circumstances but a long story.

However, if for example no-one had challenged the legal but questionable practice of selling PPI policies to people who didn't really need them, then nothing would have been done about it.

Clearly, Safestore lose nothing if customers arrange their own insurance (as long as they can prove they're covered), except of course the back-hander they presumably get from the insurers.

Is there anyone out who thinks companies shouldn't get away with unreasonable charges just because it's in their small print and isn't actually illegal?

I may be confused but I thought MSE had a name for campaigning for a fair deal for the consumer, not just telling the victims to be a bit more careful next time.

they wont be getting a back hander from insurers , they will have a policy that covers them for an amount per customer or storage container , and will pay the insurers an annual fee for this cover

They will then sell a customer an insurance to cover their particular goods , and it is a way of making money , as is selling insurance for a house removal

At least they and you know that you will be insured .

Id like to campaign for a fairer deal for the Supplier tbh

pelirocco

magpiecottage wrote: »

According to the Financial Services register, Safestore Limited is not permitted to arrange insurances.

However, according to its website, the insurance is provided by Royal & Sun Alliance - so I suppose that is who you would need to complain to.

Im not sure if self storage companies are treated differently to Removal and Storage companies , but they no longer have to be regulated to sell insurance .........regulation only applied for a few years anyway

As an aside it is ofter cheaper to store with a removal company , you wont get unlimited access , but tbh who really needs that

I do wonder why people store stuff anyway , We own a storage company and you wouldnt believe the rubbish people keep in store .........for years too

lisyloo

I guess people have plans that don't work out, but unless the stuff is valuable it seems odd to pay thousands to store stuff like sofas and beds which could be re-purchased brand new for less money.

I guess people's lives just take turns and delays they don't expect.

magpiecottage

pelirocco wrote: »

Im not sure if self storage companies are treated differently to Removal and Storage companies , but they no longer have to be regulated to sell insurance .........regulation only applied for a few years anyway

General insurance is regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

The parts relating to general insurance came into force on 14 January 2005. They remain in force.

archiepea

Hi
Its just that they have produced a signed contract, said to be from 2004, which looks like it contains clauses rom more recent t and c.
We need to compare with with a typical contract from that era, if possible, so if anyone has one, we'd be incredibly grateful.

It's not so much the insurance side of things, just the contract wording ro back then that we'd love to be able to check.

Thanks for all your comments - its really good to have responses, and gives us good support to feel we're not alone.

archiepea

Just reading the thread through again - and I realise I should probably be in the 'consumer' board or boards.
I'm new to posting on MSE, although I am a regular reader.
I just want sure where to post when I needed some help.
Maybe someone can send me a link to the 'consumer' boards, as I'm not entirely sure where they are?
Thanks again

p00hsticks

archiepea wrote: »

Just reading the thread through again - and I realise I should probably be in the 'consumer' board or boards.
I'm new to posting on MSE, although I am a regular reader.
I just want sure where to post when I needed some help.
Maybe someone can send me a link to the 'consumer' boards, as I'm not entirely sure where they are?
Thanks again

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=173

archiepea

I am now posting about safestore and their rapidly spirally charges (and other issues) - along with our desire to see a Safestore contract try from the 2004 era - on the consumer board.

The reason we desperately want to see a contract is, that when the spaces was rented, the company was called Spaces, who were then taken over by Safestore. My family member doesn't remember signing a contract with Safestore, but they have produced one signed by him.

olly300

archiepea wrote: »

The reason we desperately want to see a contract is, that when the spaces was rented, the company was called Spaces, who were then taken over by Safestore. My family member doesn't remember signing a contract with Safestore, but they have produced one signed by him.

If your family member can't produce a copy of their own contract they signed then they cannot prove that Safestore have been up to something.

With all legal agreements it's vital you keep your own copy.

What someone else has will not help your case.

The only time it may help if a few hundred people still had their goods in storage from that time and had issue with Safestore.

The cheapest thing for you to do is find a cheaper storage company in your area, give Safestore notice and move the stuff to the new storage company. In the process your family member should dump half the stuff or give it away to charity shops.