On June 12 I rented a 5x10 storage unit at Storage USA in Old Bridge, NJ. My entire paperwork, contract, insurance, and gate access card reflected the same unit number. My mother's boyfriend and I loaded up our cars and made several trips to the unit, making sure it was secured by a keyed padlock each time. I was told by the person who drew up the contract that if I missed a payment, they would pad-lock my unit and lock me out. To avoid that, I put the charges on my credit card ($89/month) which they took religiously!
On December 16, I went to the Storage USA to get some of my belongings. As I approached the door to my unit, I noticed there was a red lock on it, which meant, my bill had not been paid. I went down to the office and asked them why I had a red lock on my unit. They told me I didn't pay my bill. I let them know I was paying automatically.
The manager asked me for the unit number when I gave it to him, he told me he had a different unit number listed for me. I asked him what he had. He told me 2627. Then he did a search for my name I came up 2627. He told me I went to the wrong door. I had an overhead door on my unit and he's telling me that I put my belongings in a unit with a regular door. I specifically pointed to the unit which I accessed several times.
We went back to the office and pulled up unit number 2627 and it belonged to someone else! The manager pulled up unit 2621 (what is documented on my contract) and it belonged to someone else! I asked him where my things were and he said he had no idea. He said, according to their system, he had no record of me even having a storage unit there. I asked him what I've been paying for the last 6 months. He told me to file an insurance claim to be reimbursed for my payment. Ok so what about the rest of my belongings?
I called the police and filed a report.in reviewing my copy of the contract and the original that was kept on file, the employee changed my unit number from 2621 to 2627! So as I put all of my belongings into 2621, someone went in an emptied everything I own. They totally wiped out the contents. I had an entire library of books, CDs, DVDs, skis, a Sheet Music Library and several musical instruments, among many other items. The police had the manager cut the lock on unit 2627 and take pictures of what was there. He asked me if any of the items in the pictures were mine. I told him no. Again, I asked where my things were. There were three people paying on only two units. That's fraud in itself!
I have been calling the 800 number to file my insurance claim for 8 weeks now and no one answers. I have to leave my information for someone to call me back and no one does!!!
I am very disheartened at the way I've been dismissed by the insurance company and by Storage USA. Shame on GE for having a black eye such as Storage USA!
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