Shurgard Storage - Dual Pricing Legal?

pedrolondon_2

Hi

I rented a 50ft unit from Shurgard when i moved a while back in 2011 (moved abroad for work).

I think i was given a promo offer of 1st month rent for £1, apart from that i didn't receive any further discounts.

I have recently discovered that i am being charged a much higher price to rent the unit, than a new customer would be charged for an identical unit. (based on their website charges which do not refer to the published rates being promotional or for a specific time period)

Is it legal that they can charge customers different prices for the exact same product/service?

As im abroad, moving to another storage unit isnt an option, but i resent being charged a higher price with no justification (Shurgard have actually increased my rent year on year also)

I have tried to raise this issue with them, but they are trying to fob me off (website prices are for new customers, etc) but there is no reference to this on their website, so the assumption would be that the price you see published is the price you would pay per month.

Any consumer experts that would be able to advise me?

Many thanks

Pedro

jjlandlord

It is perfectly legal to charge a different price to each different customer as long they don't discriminate based on gender, religion, etc.

Your options are to negotiate or to move to another supplier (which would indeed not be easy if you are abroad).

sinizterguy

If the new pricing came in after you signed your deal, I don't see why it would be illegal.

I can see why it would !!!! customers off, but nothing else.

If thee were 2 deals when you signed up, one for the £1 first month, followed by a normal amount, versus a different amount each month, again you had the choice to pick the deal. So nothing illegal there either.

You are welcome not to use their services.

It would be in their interest and good customer service to switch you to the lower price, but nothing says they have to.

pedrolondon_2

sinizterguy wrote: »

If the new pricing came in after you signed your deal, I don't see why it would be illegal.

I can see why it would !!!! customers off, but nothing else.

If thee were 2 deals when you signed up, one for the £1 first month, followed by a normal amount, versus a different amount each month, again you had the choice to pick the deal. So nothing illegal there either.

You are welcome not to use their services.

It would be in their interest and good customer service to switch you to the lower price, but nothing says they have to.

But if their published website price does not make any reference to (promo terms, etc) surely they would have to do this?

I dont think i had a choice of offers when i signed up, they simply just gave me 1st month for £1.

They say their pricing fluctuates, etc for new customers, but im paying about £500 per year more than a new customer would.

davidmcn

pedrolondon wrote: »

But if their published website price does not make any reference to (promo terms, etc) surely they would have to do this?

No, they don't. If you don't like the terms then you (presumably) have the right to end the contract and move your stuff somewhere else. Which I suppose you could threaten them with.

pedrolondon_2

shurgard .co .uk/self-storage-prices


Our prices are transparent; you can find the price for your storage unit on our website.

ok maybe not illegal, but surely its something trading standards could get involved with?

If you offer customer A one price and offer customer B a cheaper price for the same product/service - surely you have to make clear to all concerned that you may not be paying the same price?
Especially if your website doesnt mention this?

BitterAndTwisted

Lots of suppliers of goods or services do this kind of pricing. You were reeled in by an introductory offer and most people stay with a particular supplier through inertia.

My internet provider claims to charge about half of what I'm paying them now but I won't be a new customer to them, so won't qualify for that deal any longer. You're in a similar boat.

Trading Standards won't have any interest in your situation so your choices are to stay and pay or find an organisation who would be willing to move your stuff to a cheaper storage company and wait for them to do precisely what Sureguard are doing to you now.

Nobbie1967

Each year I do a price comparison on my car insurance renewal and My current company almost always comes up cheaper on the results. Nothing illegal about it, it's just the way the market works. I usually phone up my insurance provider and they drop the price.

Why don't you get a quote from alternative storage providers and then tell them you want to move. You could always pay someone to move the stuff if the saving was good enough and the current provider wasn't willing to drop the price.

caprikid1

As has been said either get another quote and negotiate or get over it.

If I walk into B&Q and flash my trade card I pay about half the price for a bag of cement that Jo Public does. Not the same for all items but still pretty much the same.

columbo78

Reel you in on an offer..then push your price up..

No real way of proving they are targeting you that way since their prices change so often and you'll never meet another customer who has the exact same unit or start date as you!

To all of you that say move..its not easy when you have a house worth of stuff (and these guys know it too) not to mention the fact that you'll be moving from one snake to another.

Advice: Get yourself a council garage (private companies dont really offer that much more security anyway) or rent from someone private

columbo78

But people often search for stuff in much the same way I did. Adding my 2 pence worth might be useful to others