Storage Unit

domquark

I was wondering if anyone could advise me. Since moving last year, my partner and I have rented a storage unit with a large storage company. One of the main reasons for choosing this particular company was 24 hour access. Since the lockdown, the company has restricted access opening hours from 24 to 12 hours per day. Because of this are they still allowed to charge the same amount for storage/access?

bradders1983

Well you could ask them if they intend to reduce the price. If not, vote with your feet.

[Deleted User]

The problem with storage units is they hold your goods and you either move your goods if your not happy, which is obviously not easy to do at the moment or you don't pay in which case they take ownership of your goods and also chase you for unpaid rent. Your lucky in some ways they are open at all and surely being 12 hours that's ample time in a day to do what you require. Who needs to use a storage unit past midnight anyway?

domquark

Hi Daveym79, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I am a "key" worker - my working hours mean that I don't get a chance to go. Going out of hours was (and is) the only way I can gain access.

bradders1983

domquark said:

Hi Daveym79, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I am a "key" worker - my working hours mean that I don't get a chance to go. Going out of hours was (and is) the only way I can gain access.

You work seven days a week?

Grumpy_chap

Given everything else that is going on, assuming your stuff is still being stored securely, this is a level of inconvenience that I imagine any company would say is more than reasonable.  How often do you need to access the storage unit?

domquark

Grumpy_chap, but don't you think that it is also reasonable that if I am paying for a service, I should receive that service in full? After all, you wouldn't put up with your electricity supplier saying that they were only going to supply electricity for half the day, but still charge you for the whole day? Secondly, there is a serious question of if I am allowed to visit the storage unit at all? Does visiting a storage unit count as essential travel under Government guidelines? I could understand if I was renting storage as part of a business, but is it permissable as an individual? I know that the storage company are keeping my chattels secure, and I am not expecting to pay nothing. I just feel that I am paying full price for a service I can't fully use.

kazwookie

Why not ring the unit manager up and ask your question to them.

Ask about access after hours for you

Ask about the price and now not 24 hours.

bradders1983

bradders1983 said:

domquark said:

Hi Daveym79, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I am a "key" worker - my working hours mean that I don't get a chance to go. Going out of hours was (and is) the only way I can gain access.

You work seven days a week?

Is that a yes or a no?

Grumpy_chap

OP - is this really impacting you, or are you just looking for a bit of a reduction in rate?  What hours do you need to go to the storage unit that you can't go?  If they are still open 12 hours each day, that should be possible to go and avoid your work at some point.  Even if their open hours exactly match your shift pattern, there are still your non-working days.  The analogy with the electricity supplier seems spurious.  As to whether visiting the storage unit is essential travel, that surely depends on what you are going to collect?

domquark

Kazwookie:

I have talked to the manager. They won't let me in after hours or give any reductions. They have agreed to allow up to 30 days for payment, but they charge extra for this facility.

bradders1983:

I am currently working 6 days a week, but can be called out on the 7th, so I have to be ready at a moment's notice to work.

Grumpy_chap:

I had planned (before COVID) to have vacated the unit by now, but the lockdown has prevented me from having the time to sort it. I really can't afford to risk not being available to work. The analogy was the first one that I could think of! But wouldn't you feel the same if you were paying for something that you are not getting? As for essential travel, I can survive without anything that I have stored, so I think my original question still stands?